G. Albert Lansburgh designed this Italian Renaissance building, the first of his four Carnegie commissions in San Francisco. The other three branches designed by Lansburgh are: Chinatown, Presidio and Sunset.

The Mission Branch was the second of seven Carnegie branch libraries built in San Francisco. All seven buildings still function as libraries (see map).

Some Carnegie Free Libraries in California

Some Other Carnegie Free Libraries in the West

The website Carnegie Libraries of California contains much information about these libraries.