Mission Branch Library Sets a November 14 Reopening After Its Seismic and Energy Renovation

The Mission Branch Library at 24th and Bartlett streets will reopen on Saturday, November 14, the San Francisco Public Library says on its project page, with a community celebration that afternoon. The branch has been closed for a seismic and energy renovation, and Mission Local reports that the temporary branch at 1234 Valencia St. serves its last day on October 31.

What Changed Inside

The building is one of seven Carnegie branch libraries in San Francisco and was designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh. It was designated a San Francisco Landmark in 2004. The renovation, designed with architects from San Francisco Public Works, keeps the historic shell and rebuilds what is inside it.

According to SFPL, the project restores the original entrance on 24th Street, the central staircase and the upper-level reading room, and preserves the historic Carnegie reading room. A small addition on Orange Alley holds a new teen space on the main floor and an expanded children’s room on the ground floor. There is also a flexible community meeting and program room, a new courtyard on Bartlett Street and additional restrooms. Mission Local reports the meeting room holds up to 100 people, that the building no longer uses natural gas and that it now has solar panels.

SFPL’s July update lists charging lockers, a water bottle filling station, new self-checkout machines and an original artwork by local artist and educator Juana Alicia, which the San Francisco Arts Commission approved in 2021. The collection includes a large Spanish-language fiction and nonfiction section, and the branch is SFPL’s newest “Vinyl Destination,” with a record collection across many genres.

Cost and Delays

SFPL’s project page lists a budget of $40.7 million. A Public Works representative told Mission Local that $36.5 million had been spent so far. A 2021 SFPL FAQ estimated $24.7 million, and Mission Local reported a $19.8 million estimate in early 2019. Construction began in August 2023 with a two-year estimate. The reopening slipped from a spring 2026 target and was pushed back again in May 2026.

Address

SFPL’s July update gives the reopened branch’s address as 3359 24th St., reflecting the restored 24th Street entrance. Earlier project notices used 300 Bartlett St., the corner address of the same building. Until November 14, SFPL’s branch directory still lists the temporary Valencia Street location.

Getting There

The library is about a block west of the 24th St. Mission BART station. The 14 Mission runs on Mission Street one block east. Hours for the reopened branch had not been posted as of October 12; check sfpl.org before you go.

For more of the neighborhood, see our Mission District guide and the Mission District food tour.

Photo: Dreamyshade, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.