The Library offers 24/7 live chat assistance to students, faculty, and the SF State community! Get your questions answered by a librarian early in the morning, in the middle of the night, and even on weekends. We and our team of fellow librarians at other universities are ready and waiting to chat with you.
Drop by Wednesday, Sept. 3, or Thursday, Sept. 4, between noon and 2 p.m. to meet librarians from three different libraries near you! Ask about the free services and resources you can get from each one:
J. Paul Leonard Library — We can help you spend less on textbooks, find great study spots for your style, explore unique archival materials, or borrow games and gear from our Library of Things. Say hello and take home a pen, bookmark, or limited-edition sticker!
Merced Branch Library — Get your San Francisco Public Library card on the spot for access to audiobooks, streaming movies and shows, music, bestsellers, and more.
Sutro Library — Discover rare books, historical collections, and extensive genealogy resources available at this California State Library branch on the top floors of the SFSU library building.
Photo caption: Five librarians from San Francisco Public Library, Sutro Library, and J. Paul Leonard Library gather for a selfie after an event outside the SF State library building in August 2024.
Stop by for a cup of coffee or tea with some of the people who make your Library work! We’d love to say hello and explore how our free services and resources can help you achieve your goals this year:
Some materials you need for class might be free to use in our Course Reserves collection
Before you buy your books, check at the Library! You can search in our Course Reserves list or in OneSearch for your professor, course code, or book title.
Although we can't get a copy of every textbook, we work with the bookstore and the Disability Programs & Resource Center each semester to create a list of all the required books and course materials that we do have for you to use.
Most ebooks on the list can be used by many students at once. Others are limited to one, two, or three users at a time, so they might be unavailable when you try to access them. In that case, check back a little later!
Sometimes you can download a chapter or even the full book to read offline. Other ebooks can only be read online.
Our Course Reserves list also includes print books and other physical materials that we keep behind the desk for students to borrow for a few hours or a few days. These short-term loans allow many students to use a single item, and the loan period is set by the professor.
Not finding what you need? Ask a librarian for help!
Other places to look for free books:
Get a guided tour highlighting spaces, services, and resources that you might not guess exist at your Library. Everyone is welcome!
Meet your guide at the Book Checkout & Pickup Desk on the first floor. Tours last about an hour. We'll start by exploring the building and end with tips for finding what you need on our website.
Interested in a special tour for your class or group? Need an accommodation, such as ASL–English interpretation, for any scheduled date? Send a request to libsse@sfsu.edu.
Daily drop-in tours will be offered Monday – Friday between Aug. 19 and Sept. 5 at the times listed below: