Tucked along Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District, 826 Valencia is already one of the city’s most imaginative literary spaces.
But hidden within its International Library of Youth Authors, a cozy children‘s library filled with books by authors ages 6-18, is a secret reading room concealed behind a towering grandfather clock.
Grab onto a hand-shaped doorknob next to the clock to enter a charming space filled with vintage furniture and whimsical elements that look straight out of Alice in Wonderland.
A nonprofit built around young storytellers
Founded in 2002 by author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari, 826 Valencia is a nonprofit writing center dedicated to helping students ages 6 to 18 develop their voices through creative and expository writing.
The International Library of Young Authors serves as a creative extension of that mission. Its shelves are stocked with a whimsical range of books all written by students under 18 from around the world.
The library is still an experiment with plans to keep evolving and adding more books and retail options. For now, the books are not for sale and cannot be checked out, but you can browse the shelves and explore the space for a little inspiration and whimsy.
📍 Location: 849 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
⏰ Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 6pm
🎟️ Admission: Free to browse, donations support student programs
🌐 Website: TheInternationalLibraryOfYoungAuthors.org