Twenty years have passed since the San Francisco Main Library first opened its doors to great acclaim on April 18, 1996, and that anniversary is being celebrated with more than 20 lively programs, events and exhibits.

Today, the Main is busier than ever, greeting more than 1.8 million visitors each year, and checking out close to two million items. The Main Library is open more than 3,000 hours a year.

Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk via Flickr

San Francisco Main Library 20th Anniversary Happenings

Anniversary day on April 18, 2016

Feature music, refreshments, performances and more, starting at 12:30 pm on the Larkin Street steps of the Main Library at 100 Larkin Street. In honor of the original 1996 opening events, the anniversary celebration will feature a performance by BANDALOOP, a pioneer in vertical performance.

Under the artistic direction of Amelia Rudolph, BANDALOOP re-imagines dance, activates public spaces, and inspires wonder and imagination. BANDALOOP has performed for sold out crowds at sites throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Additional Selected Events: 

• April 8: Library Treasure Hunt starts in the atrium of the Main Library at noon. Participants will explore undiscovered gems of knowledge and complete mini-challenges at six or more stops throughout the building.
• April 12:  The Matter of Black Lives will feature comedian and activist Sampson McCormick, poet Amanda Johnston, and social justice activist and popular culture scholar and writer Shawn Taylor, who will discuss their views on the current state of Black America. Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 6 pm
• April 13: A distinguished panel of architects will discuss Twenty Years: A Renaissance of Library Architecture. Learn how architecture reflects the evolution of library services with Marsha Maytum, Mark Schatz, Cathy Simon, John King, and Charles Higueras. Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 6 pm
• April 26 and 28: Save Your Stuff and Pass it On. Learn how to preserve your precious personal memories and archives. Books & Paper, April 26; Photos: April 28. Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, 6 pm

Selected Exhibitions:

Animal House: Anthropomorphic Selections from the Schmulowitz Collection of Wit and Humor. Have some fun with an exhibition showcasing animals behaving like humans in cartoons, comics and literature from artists of the 19th and 20^th centuries. April 1 – May 31, Main Library, Skylight Gallery.

Queerest.Library.Ever. #Hormelat20: Selected items are drawn from the Hormel LGBTQIA Center from its archival collections of personal papers and organizational records, including rare posters, photographs, correspondence, documents and objects. April 16 – Aug. 7, Main Library, Jewett Gallery, Skylight Bridge, and Hormel Center, plus Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch.

Main Library at 20: Exhibition includes original blueprints, photographs, reports, press packets, and newspaper accounts from the planning, construction and opening of the Main. April 18 – June 30, Main Library, San Francisco History Center.