@SutroLibrary

Adolph Sutro's collection of 90K vols of rare books & 100,000 pamphlets given to the @CAStateLibrary for the edification of all

 San Francisco, CA
library.ca.gov/Sutro
Joined February 2016
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This episode of Shelf Life takes us to México in the 1600s with a manuscript in the Nahuatl language on āmatl paper. From our Sutro Collection. @SutroLibrary
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The best season of all: Virgo Season (the social media staffer is a Virgo, so there's some bias) This earth sign started as The Furrow with Barley Stalk in ancient Mesopotamia & changed into the Maiden when the zodiac was invented. It's associated with fertility & harvest
Black and white illustration of a female figure in long flowing tunic, with angel wings, raising her right hand, with left hand resting at her side holding a sheath of wheat. She's framed by a dark purple border with pale yellow moons, stars, and hands. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the Sutro logo is in the bottom right.

ALT Black and white illustration of a female figure in long flowing tunic, with angel wings, raising her right hand, with left hand resting at her side holding a sheath of wheat. She's framed by a dark purple border with pale yellow moons, stars, and hands. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the Sutro logo is in the bottom right.

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This one's for the birds!  A little bird told us that Sutro Library had a spectacular book about pigeons that we just HAD to feature in a Shelf Life episode. Do you have a favorite? @SutroLibrary
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Sutro Library retweeted
CA State Library@CAStateLibraryJul 6
Shelf Life pages through history with this 1776 edition of Common Sense by Thomas Paine from our Sutro Library.
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Splashing into summer w/ the water sign, Cancer. The crab was crushed by Hercules, and then placed in the stars by Hera. In earlier times, it was also represented by a lobster, which is what it looks like from the 17th c astronomy book by Stanisław Lubieniecki @SutroLibrary
Black and white illustration of a lobster with the word "cancer" above it framed by a dark purple border with pale yellow moons, stars, and hands. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the Sutro logo is in the bottom right.

ALT Black and white illustration of a lobster with the word "cancer" above it framed by a dark purple border with pale yellow moons, stars, and hands. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the Sutro logo is in the bottom right.

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#Gemini's Twins! Welcome to this sociable air sign! The Gemini constellation was cataloged by Ptolemy. Gemini represents the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology, who have ties to Babylonian representations.
Black and white illustration of twins in the spoon position. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the sutro logo is in the bottom right.

ALT Black and white illustration of twins in the spoon position. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the sutro logo is in the bottom right.

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Sutro Library retweeted
CA State Library@CAStateLibraryMay 5
Hidden book paintings transport you to another world! From our Sutro Library collection. #libraries
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This week’s episode of Shelf Life takes us back, waaay back with a unique fossilized binding. #libraries #shells @SutroLibrary
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This week’s shelf life examines a bespoke embroidered book from 1886 held at Sutro Library. Can you guess what the cover is made out of? #libraries
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This week’s Shelf Life dives in to dazzling bespoke books from our Sutro Library. The book featured is “Essays: First Series” by Ralph Waldo Emerson from 1902. #libraries #books
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We got a request for donkey photos so Sutro Library staff stepped up! These delightful donkey photos are from books titled: “Mammalia,” “The animal world,” and “Natural History Picture Book, Mammalia”from our Sutro Library collection.
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It's Pisces season! 🐟Pisces is usually depicted as two fish and is a faint constellation. The image here comes from a 17th century astronomy book by Polish scholar Stanisław Lubieniecki titled "Theatri cometici pars prior communicationes de comotis." From our Sutro Library.
Black and white illustration of a fish with dragon like face in a dark blue template with gold suns, hands and stars. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the sutro logo is in the bottom right.

ALT Black and white illustration of a fish with dragon like face in a dark blue template with gold suns, hands and stars. The CSL logo is in the bottom left and the sutro logo is in the bottom right.

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Shelf Life this week is from our Sutro Library, showcasing an original letter from George Washington from 1775. #libraries #presidents
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Travel the length of CA via livestream to 3 of Ca's Coastal estuaries w/ staff & scientists of the @CaliforniaDFW on May 29 via Zoom. Learn about these special habitats, their wildlife, & their importance to our ecosystem. Register at libraryca.libcal.com/event/1… #libraries
Promotional graphic for a Conservation Lecture Series event titled “Where Land Meets the Sea: Exploring California Estuaries.” The background features an aerial view of an estuary. At the center is a circular logo with a stylized poppy with the text “Conservation Lecture Series.” Below the image, with a salmon colored background, white text reads: “THURSDAY, MAY 29 • 12–1:30pm via Zoom.”

ALT Promotional graphic for a Conservation Lecture Series event titled “Where Land Meets the Sea: Exploring California Estuaries.” The background features an aerial view of an estuary. At the center is a circular logo with a stylized poppy with the text “Conservation Lecture Series.” Below the image, with a salmon colored background, white text reads: “THURSDAY, MAY 29 • 12–1:30pm via Zoom.”

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Got a question or need help with research? Just use the “Ask a Librarian” feature on our website. #AskALibrarian #California #libraries libraryca.libanswers.com/for…
Two women sitting behind the reference desk in Gillis Hall of the state library, looking at the camera.

ALT Two women sitting behind the reference desk in Gillis Hall of the state library, looking at the camera.

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It's National Library workers day! Library staff in CA do it all- from children's storytime to signing your whole family up for a library card, library staff are here for you & your communities. Head to your local library and let staff know how much you appreciate them! #nlw2025
Library staff sitting at a table outside in hat, beige vest and long sleeved white button up shirt holds out a library card to a mother with two children.

ALT Library staff sitting at a table outside in hat, beige vest and long sleeved white button up shirt holds out a library card to a mother with two children.

In a library, 2 library staff sit in chairs in front of a group of children. the woman on the right holds a book to her chest, and the woman on the right holds a book up vertically to show the children the illustration.

ALT In a library, 2 library staff sit in chairs in front of a group of children. the woman on the right holds a book to her chest, and the woman on the right holds a book up vertically to show the children the illustration.

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PRESS RELEASE–The CA State Library has been notified by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services that, effective 4.1.25, the 24-25 federal grant awarded under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) has been terminated Read more here: library.ca.gov/uploads/2025/…
First page of the press release with the CA State Library Starburst logo at the top with the title "California State Library Receives Notice of Termination of Federal Grant by IMLS" followed by contact info for the state library and the text of the press release.

ALT First page of the press release with the CA State Library Starburst logo at the top with the title "California State Library Receives Notice of Termination of Federal Grant by IMLS" followed by contact info for the state library and the text of the press release.

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PRESS RELEASE – Every Californian with an email address and an internet connection can now visit California’s Bookshelf and access more than 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks. Read the full press release here: library.ca.gov/uploads/2025/…
Page 1 of press release with CA State Library Logo and title: "Get a new virtual bookshelf and access more than 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks."

ALT Page 1 of press release with CA State Library Logo and title: "Get a new virtual bookshelf and access more than 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks."

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Happy 175th Birthday to us! 🎉🎂🎁🎉 #library #birthday
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Choose Your Adventure is back! While we've hosted CYA at past Museum Days and Archives Crawls, it's now a standalone program. This collaborative storytelling activity is loosely inspired by Dungeons & Dragons! Learn more at libraryca.libcal.com/calenda… #ttrpg #history
Graphic advertising Choose Your Adventure with the California History Section, In Person on August 27-29, 2-3 PM and 3-4 PM.

ALT Graphic advertising Choose Your Adventure with the California History Section, In Person on August 27-29, 2-3 PM and 3-4 PM.

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