San Francisco Public Library

Name

San Francisco Public Library

Legal name

San Francisco Public Library

Website

https://sfpl.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending
• Community programming
• Research databases
• Specialized collections

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Tax Revenue): SFPL is a municipal library system funded by the City and County of San Francisco through tax revenue and budget allocations. Fiscal year budgets are publicly disclosed, with FY 2024-2025 budget information available.
2. Donations and Private Support: The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library organization raises private funds to support library programs and services. The library accepts gifts and donations.
3. Grants: The library receives grant funding for specific initiatives, such as the Preserving LGBTQ Historical Highlights Grant Project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The San Francisco Public Library provides free public access to physical and digital library collections, research databases, computers and Wi-Fi, and community programming through a network of neighborhood branches plus bookmobiles. Offerings include lending of books, audiobooks, music, and films; digital lending through OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla, and Flipster; specialized centers serving LGBTQIA+, Black and African American, deaf and hard-of-hearing, immigrant, and other communities; and free online tutoring, language learning, and job/career resources. Service is funded by the City and County of San Francisco and free at point of use for residents and visitors.

Product overview

San Francisco Public Library is a public library system comprising the Main Library at 100 Larkin Street and approximately 28 neighborhood branches, offering physical and digital collections, specialized centers, and community services. The core offering includes traditional book/media lending through BiblioCommons-powered catalogs, eBook and eMagazine collections via Flipster, research databases, and digital archives through SF Digital Collections. Specialized centers include the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, Deaf Services Center, Talking Books and Braille Center, Wallace Stegner Environmental Center, African American Center, Chinese Center, Filipino American Center, San Francisco History Center, Book Arts & Special Collections, Business/Science/Technology Center, Jobs & Careers Center, Art/Music Center, Children's Center, Digi Center, and Government Information Center. Digital services include Discover & Go cultural passes, eLearning resources, Flipster eMagazines, and BARD audio/braille downloads. The Mix at SFPL provides teen-specific programming including a recording studio. Accessibility services support patrons with disabilities through assistive technology, ASL interpretation, and homebound services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical and digital book and media lending Free borrowing of physical books, audiobooks, music, and films from SFPL branches using a free SFPL library card, available to San Francisco residents with proof of address and to limited-card holders and fee-based non-resident card holders.
• OverDrive / Libby digital lending Free digital lending of e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines to SFPL library cardholders via the OverDrive/Libby platform and mobile app.
• Flipster digital magazines Free digital lending of magazine titles through the Flipster platform to SFPL library cardholders.
• Hoopla digital streaming Free digital streaming and borrowing of music, video, audiobook, and comic content through Hoopla to SFPL cardholders.
• Research databases and online learning Free access through sfpl.org to subscription research databases and online learning platforms including Brainfuse, Tutor.com, and Transparent Language for homework help, tutoring, job and career resources, and language learning.
• SF Digital Collections Free online portal providing access to digitized historical photographs, documents, and archival materials related to San Francisco history, operated in partnership with the Internet Archive.
• James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center SFPL center dedicated to LGBTQIA+ patrons, providing specialized collections, reference services, and community programs on LGBTQIA+ history, culture, and resources.
• African American Center SFPL center dedicated to Black and African American patrons, providing specialized collections and programs related to Black history, culture, and community.
• Deaf Services SFPL service line for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons, providing accessible communications, collections, and programming tailored to signed-language and hard-of-hearing communities.
• Talking Books and Braille Center SFPL service providing Braille, recorded, and large-print materials for blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled patrons, including talking books for adults and children.
• International Center and multilingual collections SFPL International Center providing multilingual collections and resources serving immigrant, ESL, and foreign-language reader patrons across San Francisco.
• Bookmobiles and outreach services SFPL mobile library and outreach service operating bookmobiles that bring library materials and services to neighborhoods, schools, and community sites across San Francisco that lack immediate access to a branch.
• Public computers, Wi-Fi, and meeting room access Free in-branch access to public computers, internet, Wi-Fi, and reservable community meeting rooms for SFPL patrons and community groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% waste diversion rate
• +2 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Francisco EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Stacks partnership between SFPL, San Francisco Environment, and Friends of SFPL to inspire and inform users about greener living through public events, booklists, sustainability resources, and eco-friendly library initiatives including LEED certifications.
• Friends of the San Francisco Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that raises private funds to support library programs and services. Partners with SFPL on Green Stacks environmental initiatives and general library support.
• BiblioCommonscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides the discovery layer interface for SFPL's online catalog, enabling users to search catalog contents and external web-based content in a unified interface. User accounts and activity stored on BiblioCommons servers.
• Wallace Stegner Environmental CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at the Main Library, the Wallace Stegner Environmental Center is a partnership resource dedicated to environmental education and sustainability, part of SFPL's Green Stacks initiative.
• Consulate General of Ireland in San FranciscominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented the Bloomsday and Beyond 2026 celebration with SFPL and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, honoring James Joyce's Ulysses and Irish contributions to San Francisco.
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presented Bloomsday and Beyond 2026 celebration at City Hall and multiple Muni stations, combining transportation venues with cultural programming.
• Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually ImpairedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the Talking Books and Braille Center, providing resources and support for blind and low vision community members.
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community Resource Alliance (DCARA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides COVID-19 resources and advocacy for the deaf community, partnered with SFPL's Deaf Services Center.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Public Library: Public library system serving Chicago with a central library and 81 branches. Directly comparable as a major U.S. municipal library offering free lending, digital services, and community programming.
• Houston Public Library: Public library system serving Houston with a central library and 40+ branches. Comparable as a large U.S. urban public library offering free services, digital lending, and community programming.
• Boston Public Library: First large free municipal public library in the U.S. (1848), operating a central library and 25+ branches. Comparable as an established urban public library with extensive special collections and free public services.
• Los Angeles Public Library: One of the largest U.S. public library systems with a central library and 72 branches serving Los Angeles. Comparable as a major urban municipal library providing free access, specialized departments, and community services.
• Brooklyn Public Library: Public library system serving Brooklyn, NY with 60+ branches and a comparable range of free public services, multilingual collections, and community programming. Directly comparable in operating model and urban service delivery.
• Free Library of Philadelphia: Public library system serving Philadelphia with a central library and 50+ branches. Comparable as a major U.S. municipal library providing free lending and community services.
• Seattle Public Library: Public library system serving Seattle with a central library and 26 branches. Comparable as a Pacific-coast municipal library of similar scale and free-service model.
• New York Public Library: The largest U.S. public library system, operating 92 branches across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Directly comparable as a large urban public library serving a major U.S. city with extensive specialized research centers and free public access.

Broad incumbents

• Library of Congress: National library of the United States and the largest library in the world. Operates at a much broader federal scale with research, preservation, and national service mandates — comparable as a public-sector library institution but with a vastly wider scope.

Others

• BiblioCommons: Technology vendor providing the discovery layer and online catalog platform used by SFPL (and many other public library systems). Included as an ecosystem/enabling partner, not a direct peer — relevant for understanding SFPL's technology stack and vendor ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SFPublicLibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SanFranciscoLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/sfpl.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-francisco-public-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfpubliclibrary

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Francisco Public Library