StoryCorps @ Excelsior Library - Record your San Francisco story on Tuesday, November 19, 6-8:30pm

Take part in our annual One City One Book: San Francisco Reads celebration by recording your own truly San Francisco story. We are recording stories around the themes of Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, such as growing up in San Francisco, your neighborhood, your high school, your family, or social justice efforts you participated in. Bring a partner, friend or loved on to tell your story to, or just come by yourself. At the end of your session, you'll receive a free broadcast-quality CD to share with family and friends, and a second copy will be archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Schedule an appointment to record your San Francisco story by calling 415-557-4277 or email at publicaffairs@sfpl.org

For more information and program dates at other branches, please click here: Link to StoryCorps page of sfpl website

A True San Franciscan: Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, Tuesday, August 6, 7-8:30pm

The Grateful Dead was not merely a rock band but a subculture, the lasting representative of the San Francisco music renaissance of the 1960s as well as the Haight-Ashbury "hippie" subculture of that era. Although each member of the band contributed to its musical and social structure, Jerry Garcia had perhaps the largest influence, and his contribution was directly connected to his San Francisco upbringing and the distrinctly San Francisco values he brought to his life and the Dead.

Dennis McNally, the band's long-time publicist and authorized biographer (A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead) will talk about those values from his perspective as a trained historian as well as a member of the band's staff.

Join us for this program presented in partnership with Jerry Day 2013. For more Jerry Day celebrations, see the official website at http://www.jerryday.org/

Hills of San Francisco

Photo curtesy of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library



Have you been enjoying the Hills of San Francisco series in The Chronicle? Check out the original 1959 series at Excelsior Branch: The Hills of San Francisco

Ask for it at the Reference Desk today.



Season of the Witch - An author event with David Talbot, Tuesday, July 16, 7-8:30pm

San Francisco history buffs, join us for an author reading with David Talbot who will talk about his bestseller Season of the Witch, the May/June On the Same Page book club selection.

David Talbot recounts the gripping story of San Francisco in the turbulent years between 1967 and 1982 – and of the extraordinary men and women who led to the city's ultimate rebirth and triumph. Season of the Witch is the first book to fully capture the dark magic of San Francisco in this breathtaking period, when the city radically changed itself – and then revolutionized the world.

A book sale by Bird & Beckett Books and signing will follow the program.