Film: Free for All: The Public Library Screening and Discussion

A partnership with KQED and Independent Lens
Saturday, 1/18/2025
2:00 - 4:00
Koret Auditorium
Koret Lobby
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room A
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room B
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400
Register

Preview the new documentary Free for All: The Public Library and join a special conversation on public libraries with City Librarian Michael Lambert and former City Librarian Luis Herrera. Filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor will also introduce the film.

Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all. (NR, 80 mins., 2025. Closed captions (CC) in English.) 

After the film, stay for an onstage panel with Michael Lambert, Luis Herrera and KQED Senior Editor Rachael Myrow on San Francisco Public Library’s vision for an equitable, connected and vibrant city. 

Michael Lambert is the City Librarian for the City and County of San Francisco. During his tenure, the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) was named the 2018 National Library of the Year by Library Journal. Lambert has championed increased and equitable access to libraries through expanded hours and a fine-free library system. Lambert serves on the Children and Families First Commission, and the City’s Committee on Information Technology. He is the first Asian American to lead the San Francisco Public Library. He currently serves as the President of the Public Library Association (PLA).

Luis Herrera served as City Librarian for the San Francisco Public Library for 13 years, where he led a transformative $200 million capital improvement program, completing the renovation of 16 neighborhood branches and constructing eight new libraries. Under his leadership, SFPL was named Library Journal’s Library of the Year in 2018. Before his tenure in San Francisco, he directed the Pasadena Public Library and held leadership roles in the San Diego and Long Beach Public Library Systems.

Throughout his 40-year career, Herrera has been committed to positioning them as vital community assets. Since 2018, he has consulted with libraries nationwide on organizational development, strategic planning and leadership training, contributing to projects for Tacoma Public Library, Boise Public Library and others. A champion for equity and leadership development, he has coached in programs such as the California Racial Equity Initiative and Pacific Library Partnership’s GOLD program. His accolades include being named Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year in 2012 and induction into the California Library Hall of Fame in 2019.

Space limited. Reservations required: kqed.org/events. (pending)

This Indie Lens Pop-Up screening is presented by KQED, San Francisco Public Library and Independent Television Service (iTVS).   

Connect: 

Indie Lens Pop-Up - Website | Indie Lens Pop-Up - Facebook | Indie Lens Pop-Up - Instagram

Film & Video

Watch party and film discussions. 

Spotlight

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.