Below is the Prelinger Library history timeline, divided into categories of News, Events and Exhibitions.
| 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   |
