Tutorial: Read Essence Magazine on Flipster and in Print (Encore)

Friday, 2/28/2025
1:00 - 2:00
Computer Training Center - 5th Fl
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

Find out how to use the Library’s tools to read Essence magazine online and in print and get help troubleshooting Flipster, the eMagazines platform.  

Did you know SFPL provides access to the complete archive of Essence magazine issues? Learn how to use the Periodical Finder tool to look up different ways to read Essence through the Library, with an emphasis on reading new issues on Flipster. We’ll also have a selection of vintage Essence issues from the Main Library’s bound magazine collection on hand for you to browse. Every month the new issue of Essence is on display in the 5th floor reading room at the Main Library, as well as at eleven other SFPL locations.  

Essence magazine was founded in 1968 as a lifestyle magazine directed at upscale African American women and the first issue was published in May 1970. Since then it has been continuously published as a monthly magazine and remains a pillar in Black publishing. Read about the magazine’s 50th anniversary on the Essence website to learn more about the life and legacy of the people who made the magazine into a singular publication with a unique voice. Check out co-founder Edward Lewis’s autobiography The Man from Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women to learn about the magazine from a firsthand entrepreneurial perspective.  

Flipster is an eMagazines platform that works on a desktop Internet browser or as an app on your iOS or Android device. Read more about Flipster. 

Librarians from the Magazines and Newspapers Center will be on hand to lead this workshop and offer personalized support to participants. 

More Than a Month: Black Interest

Connect to engaging discussions and performances related to the Black community.

More Than a Month recognizes important events in Black history, honors community and national leaders and fosters steps towards collective change. Programming features authors, poets and craft classes. 

Spotlight

What's News

Programs that highlight how the library's vast periodicals collection can help you dig deeper in your research, expand your horizons and stay informed.

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.