Best free perks with a San Francisco Public Library card

You already know that you can check out free books from the San Francisco Public Library. But did you know that’s just the beginning of all you can do with your San Francisco Public Library card?

We spoke to city librarian Michael Lambert and Dolly Goyal, chief of public services for the San Francisco Public library, about the array of free programs and perks linked to the 28 San Francisco Public Library locations, which range from free California state park passes to financial coaching to cultural events like concerts and dance performances. 

Make sure you’re in the know about upcoming events by checking the San Francisco Public Library website or by enrolling in the library’s newsletter. In the meantime, here’s a taste of some of our favorite free activities offered to library card holders through the San Francisco Public Library. 

If you’re planning a visit to a state park, your San Francisco Public Library card has a pretty sweet benefit: free admission. Simply drop by your local library to check out a pass for over 200 participating state park sites. (Passes are valid for a day-use admission for vehicles with a capacity of 9 passengers or less.) Even though passes are for day-use only, they can be checked out for up to three weeks at a time and can be used for multiple parks. Go ahead: check one out prior to your next road trip. 

Who says kids should be the only ones to take field trips? People of all ages can participate in a local excursion through the San Francisco Public Library. Lambert and Goyal say that social field trips to local parks like the Presidio or Alcatraz have buses that will shuttle you to and from libraries. The field trips are part of the Summer Stride program, which also includes StoryWalks and Nature Boost Fridays. All events are offered in partnership with the National Parks Service. Space is limited for these fun excursions and you’ll generally need to sign up in person at the hosting library branch, but check upcoming events for details. Recent field trips have included Muir Woods and Rodeo Beach. 

Can you use a few more vegetables in your diet? (Couldn’t we all?) If so, check out the seed lending library at the Potrero Hill branch. Browse through the seed collection, make your selection and plant them when you get back home. Since planted seeds can’t be returned, patrons are asked to pay it forward by saving seeds from their best crops and bringing them back to the library for someone else to enjoy. 

Even the most boredom-prone teens will likely find something to interest them at The Mix, the hub for kids aged 13-18 at the San Francisco Public Library. At the Main Library at 100 Larkin St., during select hours and special events, teens can access a music studio fully equipped with instruments, recording software, amps and mics. They’ll also find a video studio with cameras, green screens, lights and editing software and special events, like 3D printing, boba making, a sourdough starter class and a sewing basics class. While most of the high-tech stuff is at the main branch, there are also special events for teens across all of the San Francisco Public Library locations. You can filter through locations to see what’s coming up in your neighborhood.

If you want to do something with your younger ones at home, the San Francisco Public Library has online story time resources as well as in-person story time. There are also workshops for younger kids dedicated to hands-on activities like making slime and tie-dye shirts. With so many fun activities, the kiddos might even forget they’re learning new skills. 

San Francisco Public Library card holders can stream movies and entertainment at home through the Library’s eVideos page. Lambert and Goyal say that while you’re going to find different content than you will on Netflix or Apple TV+, the San Francisco Public Library offers a curated collection you won’t find anywhere else. The collection includes documentaries, musical and dance performances and educational children’s content alongside mainstream movies and television programs. You can also access Kanopy to stream movies and TV with your San Francisco Public Library card.

The General Collections & Humanities Center on the third floor of the Main Library offers an extensive collection of library-use-only materials such as books on British nobility, family crests and instructional guides on genealogical research. If you prefer to do your research in the comfort of your own home, members can also access online databases, newspapers, obituaries, military records and more with their library card. 

The San Francisco Public Library can help you take your career, your finances, your education and your computer skills to the next level with its online and in-person resources. In-person tutorials include career coaching, resume assistance, one-on-one financial coaching with a certified financial coach and support for small business owners. Lambert and Goyal add that with your library card, there are other online resources like free access to LinkedIn Learning, Treehouse and Gale.

Don’t let a lack of funds prevent you from exploring the city. The Discover & Go program allows users to make reservations and print free or reduced-cost tickets to the zoo, theaters, museums and more. Residents can reserve tickets or passes up to three months in advance. The number of people admitted varies per attraction, so be sure to check the details before you make your reservation. To snag your tickets, log in with your library card credentials and browse by your desired date or attraction. 

The San Francisco Public Library offers a variety of workshops for learners of all ages. Browse through the events calendar and you’ll find everything from guitar lessons for teens, arts and craft workshops and classes in basic Mandarin language and culture for both children and adults. Online classes include California DMV practice tests, language learning through Rosetta Stone and Udemy Video courses focused on business, design and technology. 

According to Lambert and Goyal, there are more than 18,000 live events at San Francisco Public Library branches each year. These include dance programs, magic shows, readings with authors, concerts, puppet shows and more. 

In addition to live performances, library branches host a rotating roster of special exhibits throughout the year dedicated to fine art, history and culture. Past exhibits have been dedicated to the art of Christopher E. Korman, celebrations of Black hair and the art of Edward Gorey. 

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com.