Black Panther Party at Springville Road Library, Avondale Library Rock Concert Close Out 2018 BPL Summer Learning

Games at Avondale Library

Young superheroes at the Springville Road Library
The Springville Road Regional Branch Library hosted a Wakanda superheroes Black Panther party to celebrate a successful series of 2018 Birmingham Public Library Summer Learning activities held there in June and July. Meanwhile, the Inglenook Branch Library held a Summer Learning celebration party and the Avondale Regional Branch Library held Rockin' at the Library Adult Summer Reading Finale featuring music from George Griffin and the Firebirds on July 30.

As the last day to record minutes read during 2018 BPL Summer Learning approaches (August 6), BPL is looking back at a summer full of fun and engaging learning opportunities designed to help young patrons avoid summer slide learning loss while on break from school.

Among Summer Learning programs held at BPL’s 19 library locations:

  • Teens learned computer coding at Teens Engineer BHM workshops held in BPL’s partnership with The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Engineering.
  • Young children learned magic tricks from Arch Duncan and Sam the Magic Man.
  • Lavondia Bryant-Square of Nathifa Dance Company taught patrons of all ages the art of the African drum through her Rock N to the Rhythm of the Drums workshops.
  • Adults learned how to paint a canvas masterpiece thanks to artist Cherie Hunt.
  • Winston Strickland of M.A.D. Skillz Dance Co. led patrons of all ages in a series of simple hip-hop dance moves.
  • The Science Lady entertained and educated young patrons through a series of The Science of Sound demonstrations.
  • An all-female roller derby team gave a demonstration at the Springville Road Library.
  • Young patrons participated in a martial arts lesson with the Birmingham Academy of Martial Arts at the Springville Road Library.
  • Patrons at the Wylam and Springville Road Libraries met some of Birmingham’s hero firefighters who protect the public.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue at the Wylam Library

As of July 30, patrons of all ages have logged over 1 million minutes of books electronically, surpassing expectations and showing that the public has embraced the Beanstack app, BPL’s new online system of keeping track of reading during the summer in addition to the traditional paper system used in the past.

Cherie Hunt at the East Lake Library

It has been an action-packed summer at the Birmingham Public Library with programs and activities for patrons of all ages,” said Janine Langston, BPL’s regional manager overseeing Summer Learning activities as the program entered the final week. “We encourage everyone to log all their reading minutes in Beanstack by Monday, August 6, in order to be eligible for our grand prize drawings."


Alabama 4-H at the  Five Points West Library

Langston said all readers are winners, but thanks to a generous contribution from the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library, each of the 19 BPL locations will award several grand prizes to Summer Learning participants. Winners will be announced on August 6, 2018. Prizes include a Samsung Galaxy tablet, Bluetooth headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and gift cards. The more participants read and record their time in the Beanstack app, the greater the chance to win.

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