News Release

The San Francisco Public Library announces:

San Francisco – In the early months of 2001, San Francisco Public Library staff began making grim discoveries in the book stacks at the Main Library. Shoved under shelves and hidden from public eye were vandalized books, ranging from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics to women’s issues and HIV/AIDS. Staff collected over 600 badly damaged books. The torn and slashed books were deemed beyond repair and withdrawn from the Library’s collection. The offender was eventually caught and charged with a hate crime.

The San Francisco Public Library held onto these books and is turning a destructive act into a creative platform for artistic expression and a lesson in tolerance. “We were horrified when the discoveries were made, we didn’t know what we were going to do with the lost items but felt strongly that discarding them would complete the vandal’s crime,” said Susan Hildreth, City Librarian for the San Francisco Public Library. “When the idea of Reversing Vandalism was raised we were very excited to offer this unique opportunity to the community.”

The project is being spearheaded by the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center of the Library. The damaged books will be offered to artists who complete a submission form and grant the Library exclusive rights to display the works of art in the Library for an upcoming Reversing Vandalism exhibition. “Book requests will be accepted until August 31 or when inventory runs out, whichever comes first, and artists have until October 11 to return the completed art pieces to the Library,” said Jim Van Buskirk, Manager of the James C. Hormel Center.

To obtain a book request form or for more information on how to participate in Reversing Vandalism, visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4566.

EDITORS NOTE: Images of the destroyed books and interviews are available. Please contact Gabrielle Jones, 415-557-4282. Staff and interns working on this project will be sending out the first batch of the books to artists on Thursday, July 22, 2003 at the Main Library beginning at 2:00 p.m.