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Librarians on Film: Clips + Commentary (SF Main Library)

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Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium | 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Event Details

Depictions of librarians in feature films include stereotypical tropes as well as positive portrayals. This presentation by former SFPL librarian Jim Van Buskirk will offer carefully selected scenes providing perspective on the image of librarians – humorous or poignant – throughout a century of cinema, in honor of National Library Week.

Film clips will feature both favorite and long-forgotten films, including ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’, ‘Shadow of a Doubt’, and ‘Desk Set’. See Marion the Librarian avoid the advances of The Music Man, Holly Golightly’s first visit to New York Public Library, Bette Davis battle censorship, and “Party Girl” Parker Posey embrace the Dewey Decimal System.

Jim Van Buskirk is the former manager of the Hormel LGBTQIA Center at San Francisco Public Library. He is a book group facilitator, writer, editor, public speaker, exhibit curator, and collections manager. He lectures frequently on film history, queer history and Jewish literature.

Presented by San Francisco Public Library

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Categories: In Person, Lectures & Workshops, Literature, Movies
Venue: San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium
Address: 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102