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The library is happy to announce librarian Myles Cooper as our new Library Manager! Myles has been with Mechanics’ Institute for 8 years, first as an on-call Library Assistant and progressing into teaching classes and overseeing various book groups, becoming an essential part of the programming team. Myles has a background in teaching, loves providing adult education services, and is eager to focus more on the library, management, and operations. In addition, Myles will be overseeing our archives to ensure the continued legacy of Mechanics’ Institute history, so if you have any questions about our archives or special collections, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Myles will be working with the Senior Director in the library and with the library staff directly on projects to enhance and invigorate our library space and services. When not immersed in history in the basement archives, you can generally find Myles on the 2nd floor of the library. 

Congratulations Myles!

After close to 16 years, Taryn Edwards - librarian, writer’s advocate, history nerd, and guardian of Mechanics’ Institute’s past - will be leaving the Institute as of Friday, May 5th. Taryn joined the Institute in 2007 during a lull in activity in the library, and she helped bring in a new vibrancy that included updated programming, member initiatives, networking with like-minded organizations, and many celebrations! Taryn helped build and foster the Institute’ writers’ programs, running our monthly Writers’ Lunch and facilitating classes and lectures on the craft of writing. She also organized large events in the spirit of our historical industrial fairs such as Book’toberfest, Our Story, and Wine, Women and Start-ups (honoring local beer and publishing, local history, and local entrepreneurship respectively). One of her largest events was a costumed celebration honoring Emperor Norton’s 200th birthday. Proud of Mechanics’ Institute’s place as one of the oldest cultural institutions in the region, Taryn connected the Institute with San Francisco’s other heritage groups as an organizer of the annual History Days Festival at the Old Mint at 5th and Mission. She also was instrumental in getting the Institute listed on the San Francisco Legacy Business Registry.

Taryn is changing course and will be using her research and writing skills in a new role on the other side of the Bay. Her understanding of the rich history of Mechanics’ Institute and her ability to connect it to current programming will be missed. Everyone at Mechanics’ Institute wishes  Taryn success and appreciates everything she has done for the Institute. She promises to stay in touch, but if you’d like to say goodbye in person, please come by before she leaves to bid adieu.

From Taryn:

I have met my dearest friends at MI - staff and members - and had truly the best of times over the past 15 years. I am fiercely proud to say that I am a librarian for the Mechanics’ Institute of San Francisco. It is truly a society like no other.
Be Just And Fear Not.

We’ve had a busy 2016 at the Mechanics’ Institute, including several building projects that helped freshen up our appearance. Some of these include finishing up our 18-month façade restoration; painting, cleaning up, and building out the retail space for the DaDa Art Gallery and Bar; and replacing the glass, painting the walls, and refinishing the wood railing on our signature main lobby stairwell.

We expect to continue beautifying and upgrading our building in 2017. The following projects are scheduled for the New Year:

• A wiring upgrade throughout the Mechanics’ Institute will increase our network and internet speeds for members and staff.
• We will be upgrading all lighting to more energy-efficient LED.
• Building-wide plumbing fixture replacement will increase our water conservation efforts and improve our facilities.

In addition to these upgrades, we have several projects planned to help us improve and maintain our beautiful, historic building. If you would like to donate to our continued building improvement efforts, please visit milibrary.org/give.

Thanks to the generosity of the Victorian Alliance of San Francisco, this summer the Mechanics’ Institute completed our year and a half long façade restoration project by applying gold leaf gilding to our name above the second floor windows and to the rosette medallions over the entranceway. Our name sparkles against the bright white exterior, and the beautiful rosettes welcome members and guests to the building. These decorative highlights were part of our building’s original exterior design and add a special touch of class to our façade.

We also added a striking new banner and matching flag that catch the eye and help to bring attention to our building. These banners and those of our storefront tenants coordinate to contrast beautifully with our updated color scheme. We hope you like the new look.

Without the support of organizations like the Victorian Alliance of SF and contributions from members and friends, the Mechanics’ Institute would not have the foundation, building structure, and amazing programs, staff, and services we have today. Please consider contributing to future beautification and restoration projects for our building. It is something we are proud of and hope to maintain well into the future.

Beginning June 12^th, and running through the finals on July 13^th, the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will captivate and unite soccer fans throughout the world. Thirty-two countries will battle it out for the chance to lift the trophy in the sweltering heat of the Amazon. The United States has been grouped with three-time winner Germany, Portugal, and Ghana in what is being referred to as “the Group of Death”, but their never-say-die attitude has won them countless fans and support. The U.S. plays their games (within their group) on Monday June 16^th, Sunday June 22^nd, and Thursday June 26^th. You can see the full FIFA World Cup schedule here.

Mechanics' Institute Library has several World Cup and soccer related titles to help spur your interest in this quadrennial event of the most popular sport in the world.

Fútbol action starts this month. See you on the pitch!

Eight World Cups: My Journey Through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer  by George Vecsey (796.334 V413)

By good fortune, New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey has been able to report on eight World Cup tournaments beginning with the 1982 games in Spain through the last event in South Africa. This book is a culmination of those writings and is part memoir, travelogue, and social analysis. He condenses the tournaments into the key highlights and revisits the most infamous incidents to have taken place during the games including Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and Zidane’s red card head butt. He’s clearly a fan and isn’t afraid to outline the corruption within FIFA that has marred the tournament, but these scandals have not been able to tarnish the love and enthusiasm that brings fans together for this celebration of the beautiful game.

Chasing the Game: America and the Quest for the World Cup  by Filip Bondy (796.334 B711)

Covering the 2010 U.S. World Cup team in the lead up to that year’s tournament in South Africa, New York Daily News columnist Filip Bondy traces the evolution of the sport in America. He recounts highlights from past U.S. World Cup participation including the improbable 1950 victory over England to the 2002 team’s over-achieving to reach the quarterfinals, and also describes the disappointment of the 2006 team as they barely managed 4 shots on goal. He gives an insider view into some of the personalities of that 2010 team that helps give perspective and insight into the mind of the American player and fan.

A History of the World Cup: 1930-2006  by Clemente Angelo Lisi (796.334 L76)

As the title describes, this book gives the full history of the World Cup via game summaries, statistics, and photos from each of the tournaments beginning with the inaugural games won by Uruguay in 1930 through the 2006 tournament won by Italy. Profiles of some of the more famous and controversial figures of the sport are featured including Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and Pelé. Of special note is the inclusion of the U.S. teams over the last few tournaments and their contribution to the event.

The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup  edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey (796.334 T443)

Published in the lead up to the 2006 games in Germany, The Thinking Fan’s Guide to the World Cup includes the requisite history of the tournament, the complete 2006 match schedule, and profiles of each participating nation and their players. What stands out about this book are the essays written by thirty-two writers and journalists regarding the thirty-two nations that qualified for the tournament. Their perspective provides a fresh view of soccer from all ends of the globe.

Why Soccer Matters  by Pelé with Brian Winter (796.334 P381w)

It’s not his first book, but Why Soccer Matters by one of the world’s most well known soccer players is timed perfectly with the 2014 tournament in his home country. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, has come full circle with his fame and popularity and shares his story of rising up the ranks in Brazil, winning three World Cups for the country, and his final playing days as a member of the New York Cosmos. He describes “Pelé” as the persona he allowed the public to see that protected him against celebrity and shares his observations on how the sport has changed since his first World Cup in Sweden at the age of 17.

Here's a few additional books about the World cup and soccer that can be found in our collection:

Distant Corners: American soccer’s history of missed opportunities and lost causes

Soccer in a football world 

Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: The World Cup, the Olympics, and the Fight for Democracy

How soccer explains the world: an unlikely theory of globalization

Home and away: one writer’s inspiring experience at the Homeless World Cup

Outcasts united: an American town, a refugee team, and one woman’s quest to make a difference

The global game: writers on soccer

Soccer in sun and shadow

Soccernomics: why England loses, why Germany and Brazil win, and why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey and even India are destined to become the kings of the world’s most popular sport

Every year, we have what we call March Magazine Madness which means - out with the old and in with the new. We begin with a spring cleaning: putting our magazine titles back in order, sending out journals to get bound with covers, and selling off the oldest editions in the collection. This year is no different and we are happy to offer up old copies of popular titles for our members to purchase. Our annual magazine sale runs through the end of March and gives our members an opportunity to get some classic issues of Bon Appétit, Rolling Stone, Daedalus, and more.

Not only are we spring cleaning but we are also introducing the new magazines we’ve added to the collection. Based on member suggestions and staff recommendations, we now subscribe to a mix of new titles that include international newspapers and journals, health related subjects, writing, literature, and other popular topics.

Come to the 3^rd floor and take part in our March Madness. Buy a bundle of old magazines and then check out the new titles available in our magazine department. You can also browse our magazine titles online at: http://search.milibrary.org/search/n

Here’s a small sampling of the new titles we’ve added:

The Guardian Weekly

The latest edition to our newspaper collection has an international flair; the Guardian Weekly compiles articles from four of the world’s top newspapers – the Guardian (UK), Le Monde (Paris), the Washington Post (USA), and the Observer (UK). Originally founded after WWI to keep the US informed of world events, the Guardian Weekly provides a round-up of comprehensive news, features, commentaries, and analysis of world events, politics, business, and culture. You can find the latest issue of the Guardian Weekly hanging on the newspaper rack on the 3^rd floor.

Glimmer Train Stories

Looking to get your story published? Glimmer Train Stories is a tri-annual short story journal that publishes reader submissions, offers writing contests, and offers support for emerging writers and those interested in the medium. Published by a team of two sisters, Glimmer Train Stories is advertiser free, promoting the work of their writers and presenting eclectic mix of literary stories and fiction.

MORE: For Women of Style & Substance

Our newest women’s magazine, MORE: For Women of Style & Substance, caters to a mature audience and celebrates smart and sophisticated interests in beauty, travel, and reinvention. The magazine claims to skip the frilly and mundane pieces usually found in other women’s journals and puts the MORE filter into their articles relating to fashion, career, health, and current events. The magazine offers a positive outlook on aging and addresses issues women face as they reach new perspectives in life.

Monocle

An international lifestyle, travel, and business magazine, Monocle addresses a “mobile global audience” and also operates a website, online radio station, and has storefronts and cafes in several major cities. Stylish and fresh with a colorful cover that outlines their core A-E topics (Affairs, Business, Culture, Design, and Edits), Monocle is a welcome addition to our collection of lifestyle and culture magazines.

Don’t miss these additional titles:

Diabetic Living

Shop Smart: Consumer Reports

Life Extension

The American Interest

The Baffler

If you have been up on the 3^rd floor recently, you may have noticed that our circulating magazines have been moved from Balcony 2B to the shelves behind the 3^rd floor circulation desk. You can now easily find a 2 year old recipe from Cook’s Illustrated or research Bookforum reviews from 2010. Members can borrow up to 5 magazines at a time, from either the hanging files or the older magazine shelves, but if you are overwhelmed by the rows and rows of titles at your disposal you can also browse through our magazine collection on our website.

The Annual Magazine Sale is also currently in progress so don’t hesitate to come up to the 3^rd floor and pick out your favorite titles to take home!

We are always adding new and interesting magazines to our collection. Here’s a small sampling of magazine titles we’ve added in the past year:

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