Your Health and Safety Is Our Priority

Based on the recommendations issued by the Department of Public Health related to aggressive social distancing to help curtail further spread of COVID-19 in our community, all locations of the San Francisco Public Library are closed until further notice. During this period, we will continually assess this developing situation to determine the length of closure.

For our interim policies regarding renewals, returns, holds and other account-related inquiries, please visit our Library Closure: Frequently Asked Questions.

Protect, Prepare and Know the Facts

As a reminder, the best ways to reduce risk of getting sick, as with seasonal colds or the flu, still applies to prevent COVID-19:

Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Cover your cough or sneeze.

Stay home if you are sick.

Avoid touching your face.

Try alternatives to shaking hands, like an elbow bump or wave.

If you have recently returned from a country, state or region with ongoing COVID-19 infections, monitor your health and follow the instructions of public health officials.

Vulnerable individuals, which is defined as 60+ years or who have health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and weakened immune systems, are recommended to limit outings, avoid large gatherings, telecommute if possible, stay home if they are sick and avoid people who are sick.

Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Library Access from Home

The Library’s robust digital services give card holders 24/7 free access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, classes and more.

For official updates about the coronavirus text COVID19SF to 888-777. You can also stay informed by visiting SF72.org and sf.gov/topics/coronavirus-covid-19.

Additional recommended resources regarding the novel coronavirus include:

While We Are Closed

While the Library’s doors have been closed to the public, SFPL staff is actively deployed, working in service of the City of San Francisco as Disaster Service Workers (DSWs) to assist in the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The DSW Program ensures that all City and employees serve, as designated by both State and City law, as Disaster Service Workers when the Mayor declares a citywide emergency. SFPL staff has been working in a variety of critical roles, including the following: contact tracing; providing food for communities in need at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank; monitoring hotel sites for vulnerable populations; working at the City’s Emergency Operations Center in Communications and Community Outreach roles; and more.

Read more about the DSW program: