Below is a Prelinger Library historical timeline for 2004 through 2014, divided into categories of News, Events and Exhibitions. Starting in 2015 the Library’s timeline highlights were printed in book form (through 2020), and in pamphlet form since 2021. Copies of these publications are available for browsing in the Library.
| YEAR | NEWS | EVENTS | EXHIBITIONS |
| 2014 | February 22: Lost Landscapes of Oakland at OMCA February 19: The Itinerant Poetry Librarian at the Prelinger Library  |
January -March: Amy Balkin’s A People’s Archive of Sinking and Melting | |
| 2013 | November: Acquired flat file from Holy Names University Library September: Featured by Station to Station Original Films |
December 17: Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 8 April: Observatory Library exhibit opens within new Exploratorium March 10: No More Road Trips? |
November 9, 2013–June 29, 2014: Bay Motion: Capturing San Francisco Bay on Film at the Oakland Museum of California September: Loaned materials to California Historical Society exhibit Unbuilt San Francisco: The View From Futures Past |
| 2012 | January: Donation of Epicenter Zone zine library February: Donation of George Griffin library on animation, illustration, and handmade film March – April: Art section organized December: Publication of Powers of Ten book by FutureFarmers |
December 11: Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 7 | November: “Ex Libris” group show, curated by Microclimate Collective, at Root Division |
| 2011 | July: Ephemera collection fully organized | April 9: Featured in Atlas Obscura Day September 4: One-day on-site exhibit of library-based work by Artist in Residence Pierre Leguillon 
December: Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 6 |
November: (Toronto) Exhibition of Artist in Residence Felicity Tayler’s library-based work |
| 2010 | March: Publication of Another Science Fiction | October: Library co-sponsors THATCamp Bay Area event November: Book release party, benefit for Nature in the City; “Mariposa Road” by Robert Michael Pyle Oct–Dec: “The Document as Coordinate and Contract” course offered via SFMOMA’s Pickpocket Almanac project December: Artist in Residence Montgomery Cantsin presents library-supported work “Art Strike Time Capsule” with guests Re/Search’s V. Vale and Charles Gatewood |
November: “I Live Here SF” group exhibit at SOMArts, curated by Julie Michelle |
| 2009 | June: Beginning of collaboration with Nonchalance, holding the archives of the Jejeune Institute for three years July: Fifth anniversary celebration  |
April: Library is the guest of Todd Lappin at the first Pop-Up Magazine event May: Library featured in Matt Keegan’s solo exhibit “Postcards & Calendars” at Altman Siegel Gallery Oct–Dec: “From Repository to Workshop: Reinventing the Library and Archives” course offered via SFMOMA’s Pickpocket Almanac project |
January: Shorelines and Timelines, Outdoor Exploratorium exhibit, installed at Fort Mason, Building D May: Maker Faire, “How-To Library,” 2-day installation June: Installation of Greening the City Library at Studio for Urban Projects (through summer 2011) September: Library featured in exhibition and artists book by Carla Herrera-Prats, Localization, Location, Ubicación |
| 2008 | June: Installation of ephemera annex shelves in the back of the room July: Begin box-level organization and installation of ephemera collection Fall: Public access to ephemera collection |
March: “Strange Weather” exhibit at Eyebeam Gallery, New York, exhibit developed in collaboration with Studio for Urban ProjectsMarch – Collaboration with Third Coast International Audio Festival, Chicago April: Earth Day Library, installed at Nature in the City’s McLaren park Earth Day celebration April: “Library History in Correspondence” exhibit in “Self Storage,” group show, CCA MFA program in Curatorial Practice, curators May: Maker Faire, “How-To Library,” 2-day installation |
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| 2007 | November: Berkeley Center for Appropriate Transit donates bicycle literature library | October 3: Illuminated Corridor at the library | April: Community Library at Garden for the Environment April: Earth Day Library, installed at Nature in the City’s McLaren park Earth Day celebration April: “The California Files” group show at CCA / Wattis Gallery, curated by Ariane Beyn October: “In Popular Terms” exhibit at Eyebeam Gallery, New York; exhibit developed in collaboration with the Studio for Urban Projects November: Browsing library installed at Other Cinema
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| 2006 | March: “Patriot Act” artwork installed by artist Vanessa Renwick, consisting of four words in neon: Free / Speech / Fear / Free June: Library 2nd anniversary party July: publication of The Field Guide to Sponsored Film October: Book scanning partnership with Internet Archive commences |
January: Library talk at Independent School of Art September: Library talk at Proteus Gowanus in Brooklyn, in association with Reanimation Library |
Earth Day Library (on-site cabinet installation) |
| 2005 | February: Acquisitions road trip to State Library of Nevada in Carson City; acquired Foresta Institute library of western ecology July: presentation at Society of California Archivists |
February: Artists Television Access “Free Culture” evening library talk December 11: Ephemera sorting party |
July: “Documenting the Atomic Era, Promise and Response,” exhibit in “Simnuke” group show at Rx Gallery commemorating the anniversary of the Trinity test, curated by Camron Assadi and Sasha Harris-Cronin September: “Atomic Cabinet” exhibit at Other Cinema |
| 2004 | May: Shelves installed June: Books shelved September: First university class field trip to the library. Brought by Anne Walsh of UC Berkeley. Since this time, around eight classes per year have visited the library on field trips. |
June 6 – 13: Shelving Week! 65 volunteers helped us install the library November: Ephemera sorting party   |
