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April 2020
A Message from the City Librarian
 
Dear Beloved Library Patrons,

This April, we had hoped to bring you a slate of exciting library events and classes, storytimes and author talks focused on climate action, but the COVID-19 outbreak turned our plans upside down. So instead, in honor of Earth Day’s 50th anniversary and in recognition of the increasing severity of the effects of climate change, the Library has curated a list of books and resources, available free and online with a library card, that will inspire patrons of all ages to take action for a safer, greener and more sustainable future.

With the City’s extended Shelter in Place Order, we are sad to say that our locations will be closed through May 3, possibly longer, depending on how things progress. However, we are STILL HERE FOR YOU with free access to expanded eResources and to helpful librarians through LibAnswers and our TIP Line (415-557-4400). For those of you who are holding on to a stack of books. Please keep them with you as our book drops are also closed until we reopen. Likewise, for those of you who have holds, your books will be waiting for you when this is all over. And remember, SFPL is FABULOUSLY FINE FREE so even if you get a notice that says otherwise, you are golden. Some of our automated systems are catching up with this new state of being. Thank you for your patience as we continue to adapt. 

San Francisco Public Library has been around for 141 years and has survived major earthquakes, fires and other catastrophes. We will get through this, and when we do, we will throw open our doors and rejoice with all of you!

Be well, stay safe and enjoy SFPL from home,

Michael Lambert
 
COVID-19 Resources
Visit SF.GOV for the latest multi-lingual information on the outbreak, City services and resources. 
 
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Five Essential Ways to Take Action for Earth
  • Become a recycling pro. Recology SF now recycles Tetra Paks, bundled plastic bags, CDs and more. See everything you can recycle at sfrecycles.org.
  • Use the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living App when choosing products (sunscreen, toothpaste) to buy. Ratings are based on health and sustainability. Download the app.
  • Unused medicine is a threat to public health and the environment. SF’s Department of the Environment provides a list of locations that can dispose of meds properly at sfenvironment.org/meds.
  • Feel good about eating right by choosing sustainable seafood with help from Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.
  • Receive 100% renewable energy with CleanPowerSF’s SuperGreen program. 
Green Reads for Climate Action Month 
Spend the month of April sheltering in place while reading more about the Earth, science and nature and learn what you can do when the COVID-19 pandemic is over to continue to combat climate change. Every day can be Earth Day by making small changes that have a big impact on the environment. 
 
Fiction
Enjoy a bounty of timely and thrilling novels. 
Non-Fiction
Immerse yourself in the political, philosophical and spiritual responses to the climate crisis.
Children & Teens
Inspire activism in kids of all ages. 
ON THE SAME PAGE
In connection with Climate Action Month, our April selection is Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn. This prescient novel was a winner of the Philip K. Dick Award for science fiction in 2018.
 
Bannerless
by Carrie Vaughn

In a post-apocalyptic world where birth control is mandatory and people must earn the right to bear children by proving themselves, an Investigator looks into the suspicious death of an outcast by reviewing the past and the very foundation of her society. Bannerless is the first book in the Bannerless Saga series. 
 
READ ALIKES
 If you liked Bannerless, then try these thought-provoking, post-apocalyptic novels about sustainability and survival. Click through the book titles to see eBook and eAudiobook versions available to check out now.
 
Digging Deep into Environmental Issues with eResources 
 Did you know that an example of human-triggered climate change was described in a book published in 1846? The chapter, written by then-Lieutenant Governor of Canada, Sir Francis Bond Head, was
cited in an article that can be found by searching “’Climate change’ and the ’butterfly effect’ in an 18th-century monograph,” on the Articles and Databases page.

For a seriously deep dive into environmental topics, try the EBSCO’s GreenFILE database, which draws
on the connections between the environment and a variety of disciplines such as agriculture, education,
law, health and technology. Topics include global climate change, green building, pollution, sustainable
agriculture, renewable energy, recycling and more. Find GreenFILE on the Articles and Databases page under letter “G.”

If documentaries are more your taste, log in to streaming video source, Kanopy, and browse by subject “Environmental Science.” 920 possibilities will take you way beyond An inconvenient Truth (though that’s there if you want it). Happy digging!
 
At Home with SFPL
eResources to Help You Cope with COVID-19
  • eAudiobooks: Listening to an ebook can be a meditative and relaxing activity. We offer a variety of platforms for you to try. You can listen to self-help, mysteries, classic fiction, and non-fiction. Chilldren’s books are also available!
  • Music: sure, you can listen to Spotify for free and enjoy many commercials, but how about something a little less commercial and a little more unusual?
    • Alexander Street Press—features a range of playlists you can choose, such as—Smithsonian Global Sound, where you can pick your country and listen to music from the past or present. 
    • Hoopla—you can listen to popular artists and Disney movie soundtracks or peaceful piano collections. Easy to use on a hand-held device or in your car.
  • eBooks: the joy of reading a book for pleasure or for learning has seldom been more satisfying. Choose from multiple platforms.
  • eLearning: Life-long learning—ready to kick off that new language? Want to learn to be an Excel master? How about learning some code? SFPL has a range of learning products that you can enjoy.
 
Research Your Roots from Home
With US census data from 1790-1940, Ancestry is one of the finest compilations of information for genealogy research. For a limited time, you can access it from home, using your Library Card. Take a look!

eScapes and eDiversions 
From eBooks to eLearning and streaming videos, here are some librarian-curated lists to help you make the most of your time at home. 
 

"Big Books" 
Time to tackle those BIG books now that you have time.
Cooking & Baking
Want to try a new recipe? Check out a wide range of cookbooks and start cooking right away.
Cinematic Masterpieces
Iconic films that you always meant to see, but haven't, yet. 
 
Home Workouts
Release endorphins, reduce stress and strengthen your body and mind with this assortment of workouts.
Lesser-known Classics
Some alternative classics available in electronic formats.
Working from Home
If you're new to working remotely, these eLearning courses can help you stay productive and maintain balance.
Important Happenings 
 2020 Census is Here
 
Today is Census Day and SFPL has partnered with the Census Bureau, Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs and Art + Action to ensure that every San Francisco resident is counted. It just takes 10 minutes to fill out 9 questions to bring $20,000 into your community and to protect your voting power. Get started and also check out our downloadable coloring sheets featuring artwork from the COME TO YOUR CENSUS campaign. Here are some other great Census-related resources for kids!                                 
 Artwork by Innosanto Nagara
 
Navy aerial of San Francisco (1934). Photo: NASA 
Golden Gate Park Turns 150! 
On April 4, the City's largest park celebrates its sesquicentennial. Even though the public celebrations have been postponed due to COVID-19, 
on Saturday the Recreation and Park Department and San Francisco Parks Alliance will launch Virtual Golden Gate Park, a platform hosted on GoldenGatePark150.com, that will bring some of the best of the Park to millions of people around the world. 
 
You can also honor this historic moment by learning more about this beloved icon, how it began and what San Francisco was like 150 years ago. Here is a list of librarian-recommended resources. Click through the book titles to see eBook and eAudiobook versions available to check out now. 
 
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month 
 
We at the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library love our volunteers so much; they are an integral part of who we are and why we were created. This month, we are delighted to introduce you to Kelenia Olsen our Volunteer Services Manager who uplifts us with her dedication and hard work every day. We hope she inspires you to become involved as a volunteer.
 
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Kelenia, a California native, living and working in SF for the last 17 years.

How does one become a Volunteer Manager?
I’ve been working in advocacy since a young age, and I’ve always wanted to work with people. Most of my volunteer experience came from my experience campaigning, and my community outreach experience came from working in the public sector. Good causes are important to me. Libraries are a cause I believe in, as they create a safe place for people who don’t always have one.

What is the impact of Volunteers on the Friends organization?
Friends would not exist without volunteers, and that’s something we need to remember. They are our eyes and ears in the city. They are the library supporters in the community. We are a small organization, and our volunteer core allows us to have a greater impact.
 
Anything else you want to tell everyone?
Please come volunteer! It’s so much fun! Corporate groups are always welcome too! We’ve created such great relationships with groups that a lot of employees come back on the weekends to volunteer on their own time. Send me an email or give me a call to get involved. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
 
ALSO THIS MONTH
To celebrate San Francisco's Month of Climate Action, Friends has an exclusive interview with award-winning author and journalist Mary Ellen Hannibal about San Francisco, Covid-19 and citizen science. In her most recent book, Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction, Hannibal digs into the origins of today's tech-savvy citizen science movement – tracing it back through centuries of amateur observations by writers and naturalists. You can find our interview with her at FriendsSFPL.org/blog, and lookout for a special episode of our Library Friends Podcast featuring Hannibal later in the month. Also, check out Mary Ellen Hannibal's new TED Talk about Monarch Butterfly migration, human souls, and citizen science! 
 
 
Find out the many ways you can support your library today!
 
Check Out Our Podcast 
 The Library Friends Podcast is a way for you to get more connected with the Library.

Our latest episode, The Future of Our Library: Inside Out, is a presentation from City Librarian Michael Lambert and Executive Director of Friends of the Library Marie Ciepiela. They discuss Friends’ Strategic Plan for the Library and the three upcoming renovations at the Mission, Chinatown and Oceanview Branches.

Find the podcast by searching “Library Friends Podcast” on your favorite podcasting app, or by going to friendssfpl.org/Podcast
View the PDF edition of At The Library Newsletter
Thank You to Artist Jane Kim
This newsletter features work by local visual artist, science illustrator and the founder of Ink Dwell, Jane Kim who shared her beautiful illustrations with SFPL to help celebrate Climate Action Month. Learn more about Kim and her projects at inkdwell.com.

San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4400
sfpl.org
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