Yes, public libraries are funded by your tax dollars. Yes, the primary mission of a library is — or at least was — to be a quiet place where people access books, information, and educational resources. And yes, we at The Dissent are generally skeptical when government-funded institutions start drifting from their core mission into the "community vibes" business.

But here's the thing: the Excelsior branch is actually doing something that most city agencies fail miserably at — getting people through the door.

San Francisco spends a staggering amount of money on programs that nobody uses, services that nobody asked for, and bureaucratic initiatives that exist primarily to justify someone's salary. The city's track record of spending efficiently is, to put it charitably, abysmal. So when a neighborhood library figures out a low-cost way to draw in residents who might not otherwise visit — residents who might then discover the actual library resources available to them — that's not waste. That's marketing.

The Excelsior is one of SF's most diverse and tight-knit neighborhoods, the kind of community where a free karaoke night can genuinely bring people together across age, language, and background. Libraries in neighborhoods like this serve as de facto community centers, and if belting out "Don't Stop Believin'" among the stacks gets a few more families signed up for library cards, that's a better return on investment than most things City Hall funds.

Our only ask? Keep it cheap, keep it community-driven, and don't let it balloon into a six-figure "cultural programming initiative" with a dedicated staff of twelve and a DEI consultant. One microphone, one speaker, one night a week. That's the sweet spot.

Sing your hearts out, Excelsior. Just return your books on time.