San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB)

Non-profit organization · Potrero Hill

San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB)

Non-profit organization · Potrero Hill

375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Highlights

At the San Francisco Center for the Book, you can dive into the art of bookmaking with friendly instructors, explore fascinating exhibits, and nab unique local goods.

375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103 Get directions

sfcb.org

@sanfranciscocenterforthebook

@atlasobscura

"The San Francisco Center for the Book is dedicated to the art of the book, everything from the art and craft of letterpress printing to bookbinding. The center holds regular book arts workshops and has a fully equipped letterpress print studio with over a dozen antique printing presses, wood and metal types, plus a bookbindery and arts and crafts room. The gallery exhibitions range from private collections to retrospectives featuring book artists’ work. Founded by Mary Austin and Kathleen Burch in 1996, 2016 marks the Center for the Book’s 20th anniversary." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

8 Cool Shops in San Francisco

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@afar

"If you're a book lover, you'll be intrigued and delighted by this rare space dedicated entirely to the appreciation and teaching of the art of traditional bookmaking. The first center of its kind on the West Coast, San Francisco Center for the Book opened in 1996 as a home and community press for Bay Area book artists. Today you'll find a roster of more than 300 hands-on classes inletterpress art, bookbinding, restoration, calligraphy, papermaking, and much more. Looking for a cool thing to do with the kids? Check out the Lego letterpress printing class for parents and children. A variety of exhibits, retrospectives, and events are held throughout the year, too, and all are open to the public."

The Best Things to Do in San Francisco

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Kalley Lovegood

Google

I had a great beginner class here. The instructor was friendly and very informative. The building is nice with interesting equipment. I look forward to taking more classes

Scott Bluerock

Google

I wandered around the workshop and paper art exhibit. I enjoyed seeing all the bookbinding equipment and letterpress supplies. Seems like a cool place to attend a class.

Mendy Graux

Google

OMG had a blast. Roots of Motor Power from Willits Ca Brought a 1923 Kelly Spring field steam roller.

Lauren Gust

Google

SFCB is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area - they have a small store onsite with independent books and paper goods from local artists, as well as a gallery space with rotating exhibitions. They also have an excellent slate of 1-day and multi-day workshops, including book binding, printing press / typesetting, and paper marbling. Class sizes are generally small (and popular classes usually sell out) so it's best to sign up ahead of time.

Samuel A

Google

Always interesting things going on at the center. Loads of classes from printing to book binding. Their shop is large and they have many different machines to print in. The staff is friendly and helpful. Check out roadworks, where they bring out a cool fired steam roller to print on the street!

Maddy Quine

Google

Learning about the history of print is a surprisingly interesting hobby! The old machines they have are incredible and I highly recommend the annual print festival.

Michelle Lemaster

Google

Such a wonderful place full of history and book-making magic! SF Center for the Book has a knowledgeable staff who are able to tell you all about the traditional book-making arts. They also have exhibitions of amazing and creative books. This place also offers classes and is a resource to for those who choose to self-publish (ie digital tools to rent/use for modern book-making). The museum is also no more than a block away from the Wattis muesum- which is also free! One can make a nice day of museum hopping just between these two, terrific places!

Kirsten Murray

Google

I did an evening letterpress workshop at SFCB and loved it. The class was taken by talented designer and letterpress printing extraordinaire, Adam Ewing. He made the printing process look easy but, as we soon found out, it's a highly skilled process and labour of love. The studio is a like a sweet shop for typography lovers, with drawer after drawer of old wood and metal type. The workshop gave me the opportunity to pull a print using both a Vandercook cylinder press and a tabletop platen press. The white ink on black paper worked beautifully. I'm still trying to decide where to hang the finished print. With many other workshops specialising in different printing techniques, book binding, and hand lettering, I'd sign up for a different class every week (if only I lived in SF!).

@atlasobscura

8 Cool Shops in San Francisco

View Postcard for San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB)

@afar

The Best Things to Do in San Francisco

View Postcard for San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB)

Kalley Lovegood

Google

I had a great beginner class here. The instructor was friendly and very informative. The building is nice with interesting equipment. I look forward to taking more classes

Scott Bluerock

Google

I wandered around the workshop and paper art exhibit. I enjoyed seeing all the bookbinding equipment and letterpress supplies. Seems like a cool place to attend a class.

Mendy Graux

Google

OMG had a blast. Roots of Motor Power from Willits Ca Brought a 1923 Kelly Spring field steam roller.

Lauren Gust

Google

Samuel A

Google

Maddy Quine

Google

Learning about the history of print is a surprisingly interesting hobby! The old machines they have are incredible and I highly recommend the annual print festival.

Michelle Lemaster

Google

Kirsten Murray

Google