Summer Stride of Library Love

“Summer Stride is our biggest program,” said San Francisco Public Library Mission Bay Branch Manager Jana De Brauwere. “We prepare all year for it.”  

As part of Summer Stride, the main and all 27 library branches offer tailored programs and activities, distributing free tote bags to those who engage in 20 hours of reading, listening, and/or event attendance from June to August.

Summer Stride is, “a big effort and our patrons show up time and time again,” said Potrero Branch Manager Rachel Bradshaw. “Last summer, we had more finishers than ever before.” 

According to De Brauwere, Summer Stride tote bags have become popular collectible items.  This year’s sack was designed by San Franciscan Kenard Pak, a picture book artist and animation art director. It features parrots enjoying books and comes in two sizes. Qualifying participants, or “finishers” – who self-report their 20 hours – can choose between a regular size tote bag or a smaller version.  SFPL will have enough bags for all finishers through Summer Stride’s August 31 end date.    

As part of Summer Stride both branches give away books; visitors can choose one volume a day to adopt. The libraries hold monthly raffles, with prizes donated by museums, movie theatres, Bi-Rite Market, San Francisco Giants, and Golden State Warriors. Visitors can enter once per person daily; frequent branch guests increase their chances of winning. According to De Brauwere, Mission Bay receives between 600 and 800 entries a month.    

In addition to Sumer Stride, the Mission Bay and Potrero branches sponsor art shows.  Through August 22, Potrero is hosting the Annual Potrero Hill Artists Exhibition, featuring works of artists who “live, learn, work, or worship on Potrero Hill or Dogpatch,” according to Bradshaw.  

The Mission Bay Branch, located at 960 Fourth Street between Berry Street and the Mission Creek Channel, is on the ground floor of a Mercy Housing residence for low-income seniors, some of whom have lent or donated works for display.  South-of-Market-based 6th on 7th Photographic Workshop is also exhibiting at Mission Bay.  

Both branches screen films.  Potrero movie night is on occasional Wednesday and Thursday evenings, featuring Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Miracle Worker in July.  In August, the Potrero Branch will show Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, The Secret of Roan Inish, and The Black Stallion.

Mission Bay shows one film a month in the afternoons. It’ll conclude its science fiction film series with Back to The Future on July 5 and begin a horror film series with Lost Boys on August 30.  

Both branches offer an eclectic set of programs for adults, children and families.  On July 9 Potrero will feature Pollinators in Your Neighborhood, in which children and their families can “explore the area surrounding the library with a Planet Bee scientist, documenting observations of plants, birds, insects, and all living things.”  Other Potrero Branch programs include Crafting Greeting Cards and Crochet Circle. Watermelon Basket will be held on July 20, offering adults and families an opportunity to “carve a watermelon basket, filling it with an assortment of fresh fruit to create a stunning fruit salad display.”  Self Defense for the People, for adults, will be held on August 7; Octo-Play and Giant Jenga for children and families will be on August 13.  

Mission Bay Branch programs for families include a Sock Puppet Party on July 6 and Upside Down Yoga Kids on August 16.  On July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mission Bay will host its annual Open House, with henna craft, story time, cookies from Gus’s Community Market, and live music by the Dave Rocha Jazz Trio.  There’ll be activities on the patio, only open for special events, which features views of Mission Creek.  The Giants have a home game at 1 p.m. that day against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

“It’s going to be a busy day for us,” said De Brauwere, who expected 200 to 300 visitors.

The branches offer regularly scheduled toddler, baby, and family story times, their most popular programs, throughout the year. Parents and kids are often turned away due to limited room capacity.  According to Bradshaw, Potrero’s maximum occupancy is 30 people; De Brauwere said that at Mission Bay it’s 54, with 80 individuals sometimes lining up in the morning before the branch is open.  Mission Bay also offers family story time at Spark Social, with unlimited capacity, on the third Monday morning of each month.  

Mission Bay is SFPL’s most visited branch – besides the main library – and issues the most library cards each month.  Visitation often swells during Giants and Warriors games.