In partnership with San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) is proud to announce that the Read to Recovery program is now available at all Library branches. This initiative provides free-to-keep recovery program titles from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, LifeRing and Refuge Recovery, along with supplemental and supportive volumes addressing various aspects of addiction and recovery.

The concept behind Read to Recovery is simple. Any member of the public may take books  from the Read to Recovery collection for themselves or for a friend or family member. The books are to keep, not to borrow, and no library card is required. The books are designed to support anyone on the journey of recovery and wellness. Patrons can easily locate the Read to Recovery collection at each of San Francisco Public Library’s 27 branches or the Main Library in Civic Center. Plans are in the works to extend the service to Treasure Island via SFPL’s Bookmobile.

The need for such resources has become increasingly urgent over the past decade, particularly in light of the ongoing opioid crisis. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that 2023 surpassed 2020 as the deadliest year on record for overdose deaths in the city, with 810 fatalities—nearly four times the number in 2017 and almost double that of 2019. City Supervisors Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelman and (then Supervisor) Catherine Stefani introduced the “San Francisco Recovers” resolution in September 2022 to address drug overdose deaths and incentivize recovery. Legislation was signed into law in fall 2024 to make books on addiction recovery free of charge at all SFPL libraries. San Francisco was the first city in the country to fund universal access of free-to-keep literature related to all recovery traditions.

“Literature and basic texts play a foundational role in most recovery traditions, and by expanding access to free-to-keep recovery literature citywide, San Francisco Public Library’s ‘Read to Recovery’ program is eliminating costly barriers and better supporting thousands of San Franciscans seeking to recover from addiction or alcoholism,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “As a beneficiary of recovery programs for most of my adult life, I’m proud of this program that sends such a powerful message about San Francisco’s commitment to sobriety and long-term recovery for all who seek it. It’s inspiring to see thousands already benefiting from this worthy program, and I’m excited to see it expanded to all 27 branch libraries citywide.”

“We fully believe in the transformational power of literature,” said City Librarian Michael Lambert. “While recovery texts can change the course of someone’s life, some of them can be out of reach because of cost or accessibility. SFPL seeks to mitigate that issue by making the books free to take and keep. It is just one way that the Library is committed to improving people’s well-being every day.”

As of July 2025, the program has distributed 8,205 free books through its locations. The Sunset and Chinatown Branches were the latest branches to launch Read to Recovery in June. Word has quickly spread about this resource. Local recovery program organizers frequently visit the library to collect copies for their meetings. The initiative has already inspired at least one other library system; the Saratoga Springs Public Library in New York launched its own Read to Recovery program in May 2024 after consulting with SFPL.

“Free recovery-focused literature is instrumental to assist people not only in the pre-contemplative stages of substance use disorder but to continue to support those already in recovery,” said Thomas Wolf, president of the Pacific Alliance for Prevention and Recovery. Since SFPL has intentionally removed barriers to access, no check-out or library card is needed, and the books are prominently displayed in libraries. Titles such as The AA Big Book and Narcotics Anonymous are available in English, Chinese, and Spanish, among other languages.

The Read to Recovery program reflects SFPL’s ongoing commitment to serving those in need, similar to its pioneering decision to hire a full-time embedded social worker in 2009. The program is supported through SFPL’s Library Preservation Fund, ensuring that vital resources remain accessible to the community. For more information, visit: sfpl.org/read-recovery.