The Friends and Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library is dedicated to creating, stewarding, and supporting a superior free public library system in San Francisco. We are committed to raising the standard of excellence of our libraries by funding programs and services beyond what's allocated in the City's budget. We believe in free and equal access to Information for all.

Description:
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library is a member-supported, nonprofit organization that advocates and provides critical support to the San Francisco Public Library.

Our role is simple: we provide the community with opportunities to invest in the success of the Library. We raise money and we raise our voices to ensure a first-class public library for San Francisco.

From our dedicated staff to our committed Board of Directors, from our enthusiastic members to our extraordinary volunteers, from our generous donor base to the thousands of people who benefit from the programs we support, we are what our name implies: a collection of committed, caring individuals who share a common vision of a superior, free public library.

History:
Formally established in 1999, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library is the union of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the Library Foundation of San Francisco. Although initially called Friends and Foundation, the organization is now called Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Through the years, Friends soon began to play an active role as an advocacy organization for the Library. Those efforts culminated in 1988, when Friends realized their long time goal of a new Main Library by championing Proposition A, a bond issue that would fund $109.5 million to build a new Main Library. To help pay for costs not covered by the bond, the Library Foundation of San Francisco was established. After an extraordinary outpouring of more than 17,000 donations from the residents and organizations of San Francisco and beyond, the New Main Library opened its doors on April 18, 1996.

Contact people:

Andrea Blum, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email) Byron Spooner, Program Director, (phone), (email) Mark Hanson-Lind, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (415) 626-7500
Office fax number: (415) 626-7525

Address:

391 Grove Street San Francisco, CA 94960 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.friendssfpl.org

Directions:

We are in the Civic Center, on Grove Street. Our corner is Gough Street.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Civic Center,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: Van Ness, 5 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	16
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes