Curated over decades by librarians in the General Collections & Humanities Center, the SF Public Library’s Arcane Knowledge Collection features over 2,500 titles on esoteric subjects including: astrology, Celtic magic, divination, Hoodoo, neopaganism, Obeah, runes, Santería, secret societies, tarot, Vodou, Wicca, witchcraft and more. With new titles added each month, the collection continues to expand in size and diversity.
Arcane Knowledge books and eBooks to borrow can be found throughout the system. To see a list of all titles, run a search in our catalog for Subject: Arcane Knowledge. The search can be limited with additional keywords and refined by location, publication date and other criteria.
The Arcane Knowledge Reference Collection, which includes many rare and out of print books, is stored in areas of the library which are not open to the public. Individual titles can be viewed by request on the 3rd Floor of the Main Library. Visit the Humanities Center Reference Desk for assistance.
Many titles in Arcane Knowledge subject areas hail from small presses with limited print runs. In order to preserve access to the knowledge of these books, we have set aside many library-use-only copies to form an Arcane Knowledge Reference Collection. Because the reference collection includes many rare, out-of-print and irreplaceable books, these titles are stored in areas of the library which are not open to the public. Individual titles can be viewed by request on the 3rd Floor of the Main Library. These books will appear in our catalog with a location of MAIN - 3rd Floor - Page Desk/Ref.
For locating titles on subtopics within the reference collection, see the Navigating the Collection section above.
For assistance, please connect with staff at the Humanities Center Reference Desk: generalcollections@sfpl.org or 415-557-4545.
To view a book with location listed as MAIN - 3rd Floor - Page Desk/Ref:
- Write down the call number on a slip of paper with the words “Page Desk/Ref”
- Bring the slip to the Page Desk on the 3rd Floor of the Main Library.
- Staff will page the book and take your library card or photo ID as collateral. You may take the book anywhere on the 3rd floor and read it until the Page Desk closes.
- Return the book when you finish, and collect your library card/ID.
- Revisit the Page Desk to view that book and/or others as many times as you like.
*For patrons who cannot visit the Main Library in person, select reference materials may be sent to a branch location for viewing there. Please call or email us for more information: generalcollections@sfpl.org or 415-557-4545.
