JUNE 2008

Supporting Libraries & Literary Communities

When it comes to books and literary events, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library Book Bay bookstore is the place to be in Fort Mason Center (FMC). Located in Building C, Book Bay Fort Mason is open every day and stocks more than 20,000 books. The FMC store and another store in the San Francisco main library are part of Friends’ multifaceted approach to help local libraries.

“We fund library programs,” said Donna Bero, Executive Director of Friends. “We also raise money for capital projects and branch renovations, advocate for libraries from grassroots to national levels, and run stores, sales, and literary programs such as Green Ink, Poets 11, and Writers Remembered.”

Promoting Books & Literary Events
Library lovers donate hundreds of thousands of books and other media to the Friends’ Donation Center in FMC’s Building D each year. All donations cycle through room D-265 where dedicated volunteers sort, price, and pack enormous quantities of books and other items, such as CDs, DVDs, and tapes. Staff and volunteers regularly replenish stock at both bookstores from these donations.

“We have more than 30 volunteers helping us stock 100 to 200 books into the store each day,” said Sarah Rosedale, Manager of Book Bay Fort Mason. “Many have been here five to 10 years, some more than 25 years — even original volunteers from the 1960s.”

In addition to great books, Book Bay also promotes free literary events and book-themed exhibits. Authors read from their books at the Green Ink ecology series and many other events. Certain events for the Friends’ International Poetry Festival take place at the store and in FMC’s Building A Conference Center.




“Part of our partnership with Fort Mason Foundation is to have public programming as well as a store,” said Byron Spooner, Director of Book Operations for Friends. “Our programs make Fort Mason Center a more dynamic place and bring people to the Center.”

Friends also sponsors literary events at libraries and other sites throughout San Francisco.

“Readings help us support local literary communities,” Spooner added. “With fewer and fewer bookstores in the area, our programs give people opportunities to see and hear authors at live events.”

Supporting Library Programs & Collections
Friends supports numerous library programs, including summer reading programs for teens and younger children that reach more than 9,000 eager readers. The group also funds a project to help students transition to life after high school. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers enjoy Storytime and Lapsits library programs funded by Friends.

The organization contributes to various adult programs at the main and branch libraries. This support helps the libraries offer free events for the public — from readings by mystery authors and poets to the latest political nonfiction pundits. The main and branch libraries also present museum-quality exhibitions with Friends’ assistance.

Funding from Friends helps the libraries develop special collections in areas such as local and California history, ethnic and cultural heritage, the arts, the environment, and reading and educational materials for people with disabilities.

“We provide a tremendous amount of donations to libraries for their collections from our Donation Center at Fort Mason Center,” said Spooner. “Books donated for collections amounted to $10,000 in 2007 and included a signed copy of John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony.

Advocating & Collaborating For Libraries
Since its founding in the early 1960s, Friends has been a strong advocate for library issues. In 1988, around the time that the FMC bookstore opened, Friends scored a huge advocacy success when Proposition A passed, allocating more than $100 million to build the new main library. The Library Foundation, which later merged with Friends, raised additional money to finish the new library in 1996.

Following that stellar achievement, Friends set out to raise funds and help pass propositions to renovate 19 branch libraries, replace four leased facilities with city-owned branches, and build a branch in San Francisco’s new Mission Bay neighborhood. In 2000, San Francisco voters passed Proposition A, which set aside more than $100 million for branch library renovations. In 2007, Friends mounted a successful Proposition D campaign to bring more than $1 billion to library projects over the next 15 years.

“We have momentum from the Prop D campaign to build partnerships with groups like LitQuake and the CitySpeaks program at the Mayor’s office,” Bero said. “We are also working with the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, and other groups to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s Origin of Species in 2009.”

Collaborating with groups at FMC is another vital element for Friends’ plans. Greens Restaurant and the Children’s Art Center have participated in bookstore events and sales. Plans are underway to team up with organizers of the influential Slow Food Nation event at FMC and throughout San Francisco later in 2008.

Friends strives through advocacy efforts, book stores, sales, and literary events to raise the visibility of libraries and help people recognize their importance as cultural and information centers in their communities.

— Claudia Willen

Book Bay Bookstore Images:

Left to right: Executive Director Donna Bero, Director of Book Operations Byron Spooner, Book Bay Fort Mason Manager Sarah Rosedale.

Alejandro Murguia reading May 7 as part of the San Francisco International Poetry Festival

Book Bay Bookstore visitor

All Photos: Bradford Gregory