Birmingham Public Library Blog

  What: "American Shrapnel: The Weaponization of Eric Robert Rudolph - Podcast Launch and Panel Discussion from Murrow-Winning Alabama Media Group When : Saturday, July 26, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Where : Central Library, 4th Floor Arrington Auditorium, Birmingham, AL 35203 The Birmingham Public Library invites the public to a special live event launching American Shrapnel: The Weaponization of Eric Robert Rudolph ,  a powerful new podcast from Murrow Award-winning journalists John Archibald, Becca Andrews, and John Hammontree of Alabama Media Group. This gripping series examines the chilling story of Eric Robert Rudolph , the convicted bomber behind a wave of terror in the South during the 1990s. From the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bombing (the largest pipe bomb in U.S. history) to attacks on an abortion clinic and a lesbian nightclub, Rudolph’s crimes shocked the nation and baffled federal investigators. The story turned to Birmingham on January 29, 1998, when Rudolph bo...

  Every week, the Birmingham Public Library’s 17 locations across the city offer fun activities and fascinating programs for patrons of all ages – far beyond books. 📅 Highlights This Week at BPL (Monday–Friday, July 7-July 11) Seniors, looking for a fun gathering place to make new friends, crochet, paint, learn line dancing and more? Several of our Birmingham Public Library locations offer programs tailored for seniors. In fact, a new monthly class for seniors is launching this week (July 9) at East Ensley Branch Library.     Crafts, Conversations & Community (CCC) – Springville Road Regional Library 📅   Monday, July 7 & 21 🕙  11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Every 1st and 3rd Monday) 📍  Address: 1224 Springville Road, Birmingham, AL 35215 📞  Phone: (205) 226-4081 🔗  Facebook: Springville Road Regional Library   July 7 - Faux Stained Glass. Get with friends and design your own faux stained glass picture. July 21 – Cray...

🎶 🎻 Ready to get Loud at the Library? Mark your calendars for an afternoon of toe‑tapping, fiddle‑fueled fun! On Saturday, July 19, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) invites music lovers of all ages to the Central Library for a free concert featuring Birmingham’s very own old‑time string band, The Whistlebees . 📅 Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025 🕜 Time: 1:30 - 4:00 PM 📍 Location: Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35203  🎟   Admission: Free and open to the public The afternoon kicks off with a live set by The Whistlebees, whose music blends traditional Southern dance tunes and ballads-many rooted right here in Alabama. The band features Charlie and Stephanie Hunter‑Cook on fiddle, guitar, and banjo, along with Andrew Nelson on bass and Carter Laney on fiddle and guitar. Following their performance, it’s your turn to make some noise! Musicians from across metro Birmingham are invited to bring their instruments and join a communi...

Throughout June and July, 17 BPL locations across the city will host more than 200 free Summer Reading programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Registration for Summer Reading is available at  any BPL location . To see the full list of Summer Reading programs by location,  click here .  📍  Spotlight:  Five Points West Regional Library   Youth & Teen Programs Address: 4812 Ave. W, Birmingham, AL 35208 Phone: (205) 226-4089 Follow us on Facebook :  Five Points West Regional Library Relief Print Making   📅  Date/Time :  Tuesday, July 8 | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM  Create indented art prints with aluminum foil, then paint and stamp them to create art. For elementary-aged students. 24 hour advanced notice required.    Color Mixing and  "Cover Design" 📅  Date/Time :  Wednesday, July 9  | 3:30 PM  In this craft activity, participants will pick a book by its cover, us...

Throughout June and July, 17 BPL locations across the city will host more than 200 free Summer Reading programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Registration for Summer Reading is available at any BPL location . To see the full list of Summer Reading programs by location, click here .  📍  Spotlight: Southside Branch   Library Address: 1814 11th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205 Phone: (205) 933-7776 Follow us on Facebook : Southside Branch Library   Color Our World with Drawing: Drop in and Draw Birds 📅  Date/Time :   Tuesday, July 8| 3:00 pm- 4:00 PM Drop by the Southside Branch to draw.  Our focus will be on birds, but feel free to freestyle your art masterpiece. Melted Crayon Jewelry (Teens & Adults) 📅  Date/Time :   Thursday, July 10| 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM  Join Southside Branch staff in using melted crayons to create your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece jewelry. 📅  Date/Time : ...

  Throughout June and July, 17 BPL locations across the city will host more than 200 free Summer Reading programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Registration for Summer Reading is available at  any BPL location . To see the full list of Summer Reading programs by location,  click here .  📍  Spotlight:  Five Points West Regional Library Address: 4812 Ave. W, Birmingham, AL 35208 Phone: (205) 226-4089 Follow us on Facebook :  Five Points West Regional Library  Adult Programs Chair Aerobics with Ms. Myra  📅  Date/Time :  Wednesdays, July 2, 16  | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM     Join Ms. Myra for a fun, low-impact chair aerobics workout to old-school tunes every Wednesday. Recipe Demo with Arlington Chef Murphree  📅  Date/Time :  Wednesdays, July 2, |11:30 AM- 12:30 AM   Every first Wednesday of the month, Historic Arlington House Chef Matthew Murphree demonstra...

Throughout June and July, 17 BPL locations across the city will host more than 200 free Summer Reading programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Registration for Summer Reading is available at any BPL location . To see the full list of Summer Reading programs by location, click here .  📍  Spotlight: Woodlawn Branch   Library Address: 5701 First Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 35212 Phone: (205) 595-2001 Follow us on Facebook : Woodlawn Branch Library Summer Scavenger Hunt 📅  Date/Time :  Throughout June and July during library hours | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Looking for fun family things to do this summer? Participate in Woodlawn Branch's summer scavenger hunt challenges. Look for literary characters in the stacks and win a prize for finding them all.  Friday Flicks 📅  Date/Time :  Fridays, June 27, July 11, 18, 25| 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Kick back, relax, and enjoy a movie at Woodlawn Branch every Friday. Popcorn pro...

Throughout June and July, 17 BPL locations across the city will host more than 200 free Summer Reading programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Registration for Summer Reading is available at any BPL location . To see the full list of Summer Reading programs by location, click here .  📍  Spotlight: Smithfield Branch Library Address: 1 8th Avenue W, Birmingham, AL 35204 Phone: (205) 324-8428 Follow us on Facebook : Smithfield Branch Library Mov ie Mania: Color Our World   📅  Date/Time :  Wednesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Join Smithfield Branch's movie-thon each Wednesday at noon in June and July. Snacks served. Anime-nia 📅 Date/Time :  Thursdays, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM This Smithfield Branch program presents anime for kids of all ages to watch weekly this summer.  Chill Mode 📅  Date/Time :  Fridays, June 27, July 11, 18, 26 | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Gaming ac...