The Main Library's James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center lost 200 volumes, some irreplaceable. Eventually, over 600 books were ruined. The ignorant vandal also targeted works by Gay Talese and historian, Peter Gay.
Finally, a librarian saw a man hiding a book on lesbian and gay history beneath a shelf. The librarian called security and he was apprehended with evidence on his person. A search of his home revealed more evidence.
He was charged with a hate crime and pled guilty to a felony. He was fined a few thousand dollars and is required to stay away from public libraries in the San Francisco area.
When the police returned the ruined books, the library didn't quite know what to do with them. They were unable to be put back in the collection, but because this hate crime hurt the core of its community, they found it difficult to just throw the books away.
They decided to put a call out to artists, mostly from the Bay Area, but from other far reaching places.
The artists were asked to create art from the tattered, ruined books. Create something to show that thoughts contained in books can never be destroyed. They did a glorious job.
This exhibit is what came from a criminal who failed miserably in his attempt to censor. And a public library that refused to accept it.
Main Branch
at Larkin and Grove Streets