2025

You Came, You Saw, You Read

Here’s What San Francisco Was Reading and Listening to in 2025

SAN FRANCISCO — Through contemporary art and writings, the new traveling exhibit 

San Francisco Public Library presents its Native American Heritage Month celebration, titled First Person, this November, featuring a lineup of programs that honor Indigenous cultures and traditions. As we live, learn and play on the traditional homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the Library invites its community to join in recognizing the enduring contributions of Native peoples, not just this month, but all year long. 

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) is thrilled to announce its newest One City One Book title, the memoir The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li. This selection marks the 20th anniversary of the One City One Book program, marking two decades of community reading and conversation.

The Filipino American Center of San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) presents Bangon Kabayan: Pistahan sa Fulton, a vibrant barrio fiesta-style celebration in honor of Filipino American History Month (FAHM). This family-friendly event pays tribute to the powerful legacy of Filipino boxing in San Francisco and beyond — from the turn of the 20th-century to today’s most beloved champions.

SAN FRANCISCO – In a collective act of remembrance, San Francisco Public Library is hosting a gathering at the Portrait of a Phenomenal Woman monument on the Larkin Street steps of the Main Library on Friday, October 3, at 12 p.m. to honor the voices of women who refused to be silenced. The event will feature a reading of Dr. Maya Angelou's work and a flower ceremony.

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) announces the opening of a powerful and provocative new exhibition, Living Tattoo Traditions: American Irezumi and Beyond opening Oct. 2, 2025 and on view through March 1, 2026. Through photographs and interviews with 24 artists in the Bay Area and beyond, a hand-painted mural and original artworks, video interviews, sculptures and hand-carved masks , the exhibition explores the unique way in which the art of the tattoo tells stories of identity, place and cross-cultural embodiment and experience.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2025) — Join San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) in celebrating 14 years of Rock! Play! Learn! with the annual all-ages music celebration, Tricycle Music Fest. Throughout October, families are invited to sing and dance along to weekly live performances hosted by SFPL across San Francisco, with a chance to win a special prize at each show.