San Francisco Public Library

10/29/2026

We are excited to announce that From Street to Stage with Beaver Bauer opens one week from today at San Francisco’s Main Library on November 5!

The exhibition surveys more than 50 years of creative work by costume designer and artist Debra “Beaver” Bauer, from her early day with experimental Angels of Light Free Theatre to her celebrated costume design career. She is one of the Bay Area’s most respected and celebrated costumers designing for American Conservatory Theater Berkeley Repertory Theatre Brenda Wong Aoki & Mark Izu Theatre of Yugen and Teatro ZinZanni ®. Her approach is based in drawing and a lifelong inspiration from the Angels.

The exhibition includes original renderings, performance photography, video clips and elements from costumes drawn from her expansive work and runs through April 11, 2027, as part of Further Triennial.

To expand your experience, the Main Library has planned a set of related exhibitions throughout the building and special programs throughout the run including a panel discussion and a festive closing parade!

Co-curated by Mark Dean Johnson, Theo Lau, 𝕿𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖆 𝕷𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖘𝖔 𝕲𝖔𝖑𝖉𝖇𝖊𝖗𝖌 and the SFPL Exhibitions team.

Please join us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, November 5 at 5 p.m.

San Francisco Public Library, Main Library, Jewett Gallery

Tashi Shimada (photographer), The Angels of Light Parade on Haight Street, 1972.

Learn more: https://sfpl.org/exhibits/2026/11/05/street-stage-beaver-bauer

10/28/2026

🎃Voting can be fun! Help decide our pumpkin decoration contest winners by casting your vote here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=z8LVIj7OPUSaf9_MAjH3P_gggh4wj-tGtgSOc7qSIqlUODhHOUhKUDVBSFJOSFZBMkVLWVlBSFIyNS4u&route=shorturl

Voting ends October 29.

10/24/2026

Gourd vibes only at SFPL! Cast your vote for your favorite at the link in our bio. And don’t forget to stop by your neighborhood branch to see their pumpkin IRL 🎃

10/21/2026

🚀3... 2... 1... blast off! Join us at the Bandshell this Saturday for our free 2026 Bay Beats Launch Party. Expect an out-of-this-world experience as we celebrate our fourth year with four bands, four genres, prizes, food trucks, games and more. Featuring the earworm pop sounds of Spencer Noble, the Afropop vibes of Frankie Maston, the silky smooth funk of William Johnston's Extravagant Superband and the high-energy punk of Skip the Needle. Check out baybeats.sfpl.org afterward to listen to our brand new 2026 collection, all for free.

📅Saturday, Oct. 24
🕒2–6 p.m.
📍Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

10/21/2026

🎃 Spooky season has officially arrived at SFPL! 🎃

Our staff always goes all out with the pumpkin designs, and this year YOU get to help pick our winners. Vote for your favorites in four categories:

👻Scariest
😂Funniest
✨Most Whimsical
📚Library Life

Vote by October 29: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/DZ0MbCKSju

We’ll announce the winners on October 30!

10/19/2026

Join us on Wednesday!

Ever dreamed of watching Rocky Horror in a library?! On a Wednesday? For free?
If so, that's weirdly specific, but you're in luck.

Come out and support the San Francisco Public Library because reading is what? Fundamental.

📅Wednesday, Oct. 21
💸 FREE
🕒Doors at 5pm, show begins at 5:20
📍Koret Auditorium, SFPL Main Branch, 100 Larkin St, San Francisco

10/19/2026

Explore meaningful careers in hospice nursing, death work, and end-of-life doula care.

Join us on Thursday, October 22, from 2:00–3:00 PM for Careers in Hospice Nursing and Death Care, part of the Career Insights series.

Amelia Coplan, RN, BSN, an experienced hospice nurse and death worker, will share insights from her work supporting patients and families through serious illness, end-of-life transitions, and compassionate care.

Register at: https://on.sfpl.org/DeathCare

10/16/2026

Looking for a rewarding career with paid training and competitive wages? Discover the opportunities available through union construction apprenticeships!

Join us on Monday, October 19, from 11:00 AM–12:00 PM for Explore Union Construction Apprenticeships with CTWI.

Juan P. Calderon of the Construction Trades Workforce Initiative (CTWI) will discuss apprenticeship opportunities, application requirements, and local training and test preparation programs to help you get started.

Register at: on.sfpl.org/CTWI

10/15/2026

San Francisco: get ready to go intergalactic. 👽 On October 24, Bay Beats, San Francisco Public Library’s free local music streaming platform, is launching its 2026 collection, featuring 150 new albums that will take you across genres, space and time—including rap, punk, folk, lo-fi, electronic, R&B, classical and more.

To celebrate, Bay Beats is throwing a free, day-of interstellar bash at the Bandshell featuring artists from the new collection. Swing by for a full afternoon of live music, prize giveaways and more. Learn more about Bay Beats, discover new artists and enjoy curated playlists at baybeats.sfpl.org.

📅Saturday, Oct. 24
🕒2–6 p.m.
📍Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

10/15/2026

It’s Ask an Archivist Day! Ever wondered what it means to visit the archives at SFPL? Hear from Adrienne, our City Archivist, about what to expect on your first visit. Come see us on the 6th Floor of the Main Library.