Birmingham Public Library Blog

Registration is now open for staff and the public for the May 2017 classes . During this month, we include classes on a variety of topics including computer skills and career guidance. All classes are held in the Regional Library Computer Center (RLCC) of the Central (downtown) Library. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CLASSES. Please note that registration does not necessarily guarantee you a spot in the class. You will receive an email confirming your registration for classes. You may also call to confirm your registration. To register for any class, please email us at cenrtc@bham.lib.al.us or call 205-226-3681. You may also download and print a pdf copy of the May 2017 class schedule to bring to a Computer Commons staff member on your next library visit. Please note that the May 2017 class schedule  (pdf file) can be sent to us as an email attachment.

Hey young people, ever dreamed of becoming a filmmaker? Then make plans to be at the West End Branch Library the next four Saturdays for free filmmaking workshops for teens. The workshop, Do You Want to Make a Movie? Film Making for Teens, will kick off at 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.  on Saturday, April 22, 2017. The teacher is Birmingham filmmaker Denzale Butler. There is only room for 10 students, so register in advance by calling the West End Library at 205-226-4089. The workshop has four classes, all taught between 3:30 and 4:45 p.m.: Week One (April 22) is "Introduction to Cinema" Week Two (April 29) is "ABC’s of Film (Shot Sizes)" Week Three (May 6) is "ABC’s of Film (Camera Movement)" Week Four (May 13) is "ABC’s of Film (Composition)" The teacher will bring a camera to class. However, students are asked to bring their camera phones since they will use them to create shots that create various moods. Teens will acquire a new ski...

What:  A Blessing & a Curse—a book launch/meet & greet for ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray When: Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. Where: Five Points West Regional Branch Library Five Points West Regional Branch Library will be hosting a book launch/meet & greet for popular authors ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray . The event will take place on April 25, 2017. The title comes from the new collaborative novel by Billingsley and Murray. The book A Blessing & a Curse is about first ladies of the Baptist church and sworn “frenemies” Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Cox Larson Bush, who are stunned to learn they may have more in common than they thought—like who’s their daddy. A Blessing & A Curse has it all: a heated American Baptist Coalition election, a murky murder cover-up, an outrageous reality TV show, and other drama. Read more about the book by publisher Simon & Schuster at the link below: htt...

Birmingham Public Library's Titusville and Wylam locations have new branch managers. Amanda Jenkins heads the Titusville Branch Library after spending time at the public library in Alabaster. She previously worked part time at several BPL locations, including Springville Road. Selina Johnson now heads the Wylam Branch Library after spending 18 years as a librarian in the Birmingham Public School system. Amanda Jenkins Amanda T. Jenkins began overseeing the Titusville Library in late January. Before joining the Birmingham Public Library (BPL), Jenkins served as the circulation department head at Albert L. Scott Library in Alabaster. A Birmingham native, Jenkins has a bachelor’s in science degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master of library and information studies from the University of Alabama. Jenkins has been busy meeting patrons and neighborhood leaders over the past two-and-half months, and is excited to be a part of the Titusville community. ...

What: Steps to Starting Your Business When: Monday, May 1, 2017 Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m. Where: Central Library, Linn-Henley Research Library, Arrington Auditorium, 4th floor Upcoming Date: Monday June 5, 2017 The Birmingham Public Library, in conjunction with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the City of Birmingham’s Office of Economic Development, will once again be hosting the popular seminar Steps to Starting Your Business in 2017. The seminar is scheduled to be held on the first Monday of each month from February to June, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., in the Arrington Auditorium, which is located on the 4th floor of the Linn-Henley Research Library. Each seminar will cover the same topics, but those who are interested are welcome to attend more than one day. Topics covered will include crafting a vision statement, identifying sources of funding, determining the legal structure of your business, devising a business plan, and investigating sources of busi...

by David Blake, Department Head, Fiction Department, Central Library In Search of Lost Time: In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower Marcel Proust For decades the title of the second volume of In Search of Lost Time was translated as Within a Budding Grove , because the actual title was deemed too suggestive for English speaking ears. The narrator, not named, is describing his early adolescence and his intoxication as he is immersed in the company of girls entering adolescence themselves. Most readers, like the narrator, will be years past the age when flirtation was new to us and youths were our peers, but Proust, the author and presumably the narrator, powerfully evokes those emotions for us as he shares passages from his youth. As the first volume, Swann’s Way , closed, the narrator, a nervous, sickly boy, is drawn out of his cloistered world every afternoon to the promenade of elegant Parisian courtesans in the Bois de Boulogne, in particular Mrs. Swann, mother of Gilber...

by Sam Rumore, Librarian, Springville Road Regional Branch Library The Feud: Bette and Joan on FX is now up to its sixth episode. I have been watching religiously because it involves the making of one of my favorite movies and two of my favorite actresses. So, I figured it would be a great opportunity to include some resources that the library has that could give some greater context to the show and Hollywood and the movie industry, in general. But first, here’s a little history and context on the show. Whenever I start something, I like to start with the source material. With that being said, I recommend seeing the movie, Whatever happened to Baby Jane? It stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and is directed by Robert Aldrich . It’s a psychological-thriller-horror film about an aging vaudeville actress who holds her disabled Hollywood actress sister captive in an old Hollywood mansion. This movie officially started the subgenre of thriller-horror films known as the ps...

by Lynn Carpenter, Children's Librarian, Five Points West Regional Branch Library Nathan Pyle/ BuzzFeed My favorite thing to do is read. Now this may not seem unusual for a librarian, but I read in many different ways. I love to cuddle up at night right before going to bed and read for a while. Sometimes it is for 15 minutes, sometimes for five to six hours. I will look at the time and suddenly realize I have to get up in an hour to get ready for work. I find that I am not tired—I am awake an hour later and refreshed as if I’ve had a full night’s sleep. My favorite way to read is with a good old-fashioned book in my hands. I love the feel, the weight, the smell of a good book, even if it is a little musty from age. Lately, I have been reading the epic Outlander series by Diane Gabaldon. These eight books range in size from 650 to 900 pages. I began reading these books in 1992 when the first book was released. I was delighted when it became a series and continue...

by Pat B. Rumore, board member of the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library Pat Rumore Say you’re interested in Abraham Lincoln , and you want to read the new historical novel by George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo . You stop by your Birmingham neighborhood library , but the book is not there. But there’s no problem. You can go online and request it and ask that it be delivered to your library. And usually, in a matter of days, you’ll have it. The above example is just one way in which the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) system works. The system has 18 branches throughout the city, all of which serve many purposes in their particular communities, but the BPL system’s beating heart is the Central Library complex downtown. Central acquires, catalogs, and circulates the books, magazines, DVDs, and CDs that you’re accustomed to finding in the branches. But it also acquires a vast array of electronic media offerings such as downloadable films, e-books, magaz...

The Google workshop, Put Your Business on the Map with Google, scheduled for April 13 at noon at the Central Library has been canceled. Check back with the BPL event calendar  for upcoming Google workshops.

If you have ever researched a paper, checked out a bestseller, or attended a special program, you know what a great resource your library is. Across Jefferson County, 40 libraries in the City of Birmingham and the county provide a variety of free resources for the public far beyond being a place to rent books, DVDs and music. Between Sunday, April 9 and Saturday, April 15, the 19 locations of the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) system will join the 40-member Public Libraries in Jefferson County in celebrating 2017 National Library Week. Libraries in cities, schools, college campuses and towns across the country use National Library Week to remind the public about the contributions made by libraries, librarians, and their staff to make a positive difference in communities big and small. In today’s economy, libraries offer free resources to help people find jobs and learn new skills. With free resources like books, magazines, DVDs, and computer and Wi-Fi access, people can do bet...

What: Dispelling the Myths and Misunderstandings about Bankruptcy When: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 Time: 5:45-6:30 p.m. Where: Central Library, Linn-Henley Research Building, Regional Library Computer Center,4th Floor, Details: Free and open to the public Just the mention of the word “bankruptcy” can strike fear and dread in the hearts of even the most fiscally fit among of us. The term carries with it connotations of failure, carelessness, irresponsibility, and worst of all, financial ruin. Although these connotations are hard to shake from our minds, they are not completely accurate. Both our economy and our laws have evolved in recent years and have created changes that should encourage us to reassess our understanding of bankruptcy. Dispelling the myths and misunderstandings that we hold onto regarding bankruptcy are the necessary first steps in this reassessment. To help the community become more informed on this topic, the Birmingham Public Library will host the pr...

What: Author Visit and Book Signing with Steve R. Skipper When: April 11, 5:00 p.m. Where: Powderly Branch Library Steve R. Skipper, a Homewood native and artist whose celebrity clients include University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban, will be signing copies of his new memoir on April 11 at the Powderly Library. The book, Dream On: A Journey to Deliverance , is an amazingly true story many can identify with and draw strength from as they struggle to break through their own personal, professional, and spiritual barriers. Skipper, 58, talks about his growth from an impoverished childhood as a teenaged gang member to become one of America’s most prolific and honored painters and sketch artists. Throughout the book, Skipper shares his spiritual faith and how God transformed his life. A self-taught artist, Skipper credits encouragement from his brother for pursing his chosen career. His works have hung in the Professional Football Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fam...

Money Smart Week  is an annual nationwide campaign aimed at increasing financial literacy and promoting better decision making on issues related to personal money management. This year, Money Smart Week will be held from April 22 to April 29. The Birmingham Public Library will be doing its part to celebrate the week by hosting three public programs at the Central Library location: The A, B, C, and Ds of Medicare Date: Monday, April 24, 2017 Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m. Place: Linn-Henley Research Library/Regional Library Computer Center (RLCC)/4th Floor Karen Haiflich, an independent health benefits advisor, will provide simple, straightforward answers to help participants better understand Medicare and the options available to beneficiaries. Estate Planning: A Guide to Life Organization Date: Tuesday April 25, 2017 Time: 12:00-1:30 p.m. Place: Linn-Henley Research Library/RLCC/4th Floor Participants will learn the basics of estate planning including how to examine thei...

Roe Bonner and fan on 2015 visit to West End Branch Library Birmingham disc jockey legend Roe Bonner will visit two Birmingham Public Library (BPL) locations on Wednesday, April 12 , to promote his book, Behind the Mic: The Rise and Fall of Personality Radio . From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on April 12, Bonner will give a talk/book signing at the Smithfield Branch Library . He will host a second talk/book signing at 2:30 p.m. at the Titusville Branch Library . Bonner holds the title for being the longest running DJ for WENN radio station. He gives a unique insider perspective on how millionaire businessman Dr. A.G. Gaston came to own WENN, and built it into the number one station in Alabama. Copies of his books will be available for purchase at both Titusville and Smithfield Libraries.

by Richard Grooms, Fiction Department, Central Library Lost In The Funhouse: The Life And Mind Of Andy Kaufman Bill Zehme A meek little man onstage puts a record on a child’s record player. It’s the Mighty Mouse theme. He stands silently by. When the refrain comes up, he joins in: “Here I come to save the dayyyyyyyyyyyy!” The chorus finishes, and he returns to silence. The audience is puzzled at first, but soon catches on. Even his standing gets laughs. Each time he joins the refrain, the laughs get bigger. The sketch ends with overwhelming applause. When I saw this on Saturday Night Live in 1975, I suspected a new era in comedy had begun. Ever since, I’ve re-watched old Kaufman routines, read all the biographies, kept the flame alive. Bill Zehme’s book is as good as any of the accounts of Kaufman’s life. He spent six years doing research, trying to separate fact from myth, and it usually pays off. Occasionally, the usage is clumsy (“He felt anxious, knew not why…”) but it’s o...

The Birmingham law firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt is sponsoring this week's Bards & Brews in honor of William Shakespeare—"The Original Bard"—on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Avondale Regional Branch Library. It will be the third monthly Bards & Brews held this year to help raise funds to keep BPL’s poetry event alive. The event, which combines spoken word with craft beer, is in need of extra money to offset the costs after a grant that provided funding the past six years expired. Poet Lee Green and longtime host Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins are among a dedicated group of community supporters working with BPL staff to save Bards & Brews Like the Bards & Brews held at the Central Library the first Fridays in February and March, the April 7 one at the Avondale Library will also be a “pay as you can” event with donations accepted at the door. Entertainment will be provided at 6:30 p.m. by Etc. Bham with poetry beginning at 7:00 p.m. ...

Today's program is canceled because of inclement weather. Please check back for updates about the possible rescheduling of this program.  It’s never too late to start building a better understanding of your personal finances and begin developing a plan for the future. To assist you in this endeavor, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is partnering with the staff of the Regions Institute for Financial Education at UAB to offer a series of Money Matters workshops at the Central Library on the first Wednesday of each month from July 2016 to May 2017. Please join us on the dates below to take part in discussions about a variety of money management issues and learn ways to help you achieve your economic goals. When:  First Wednesday of the month Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m. Place:  Central Library/Linn-Henley Research Library/Regional Library Computer Center/4th floor Dates/Workshops 4/5/2017 – Saving Through Tax Refunds 5/3/2017 – Five Keys to Investing Success Fo...

If you did not attend the Springville Road Regional Branch Library’s annual craft fair on April 2, you still have time to support its adult programming by buying tickets for its stitched art drawing taking place on Monday, May 1, 2017 , during the Coffee, Conversation and Crafts (CCC) adult program. The hand-stitched framed art was created by a Birmingham area artist and donated to the Springville Road Library to raise money for its adult programs. Tickets for the stitched art are $1 apiece or 6 tickets for $5. You do not have to be present to win. For more information, contact Kelly Laney at 205-226-4083 or kslaney@bham.lib.al.us. The 2017 craft fair featured handmade quilts, crocheted and knitted blankets, hats, Easter baskets, custom jewelry, leather, flowers, and other items. Many of the booths were manned by participants in Springville Road Library’s Coffee, Conversation and Crafts program. Read more about the fair at http://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2017/03/springville...

by Alisha Johnson, Ensley Branch Library Winfield and Elinor Burks (top) and members of the Science Club Over the past 8 months the Ensley Branch Library has been hosting a Science Club for our afterschool kids and the participants seem to love it! Two of our very dedicated and gracious patrons, Winfield and Elinor Burks, devote their time and energy to come in and conduct experiments and give back to the community. The Science Club was created to engage the students with hands on experiments and teach them “How Things Work” in Science and Math. This fun and informative program allows our students to have fun while learning some very valuable information. Kids can also do these experiments in the comfort of their own home by following the written instructions provided to them. This program has been a great way to motivate many of our kids to think critically while introducing them to new subjects. Not only is Science Club incredibly fun, it is an excellent form of menta...