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Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Branch Library was the
seventh branch established in the San Francisco Public
Library system. The first Noe Valley Branch building was
located at 1308 Castro Street. In 1912, Andrew Carnegie
granted the city $750,000 to build new libraries. Soon
after, work on the present Noe Valley Branch Library was
begun. The building, two-story and with a Spanish-style
façade of brick and terra cotta, was completed September
17, 1916, at a cost of $45,499, including furnishings.
The architect was John Reid, Jr.
The Branch was renamed the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn
Branch Library in February 1992, in honor of Sally Brunn, a
longtime library supporter.
Like many Carnegie buildings, the Noe Valley Branch features
many embellishments, including a grand marble staircase,
decorated high ceilings and bold Roman lettering on its façade.
Housed in a triangular pediment above the library's ornate
front entranceway is the Latin inscription, "Vita Sine Literis
Mors Est,” (Life without Literature is Death).
Historical Photograph of the Noe Valley Branch
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