Birmingham Public Library Blog

Dodd Allee, Passport Acceptance Agent at the Central Library, assists a patron.  For more than 40 years I have tried to find ways to satisfy my heart’s desire to help people. As a young child and youth I discovered that, for me, the greatest satisfaction was achieved by helping others. My life has been a constant quest to find ways of assisting others and providing the best customer service experience possible. I want people to know that they are important, have value and worth, and are seen.  When I applied to be a Passport Acceptance Agent and Notary Public for the Citizen Services desk at the Central Branch of the Birmingham Public Library, I had no idea how wonderfully satisfying the work would be!  All day long I spend my time assisting people from all walks of life. Whether it be helping patrons discover the freedom of world travel by accepting passport applications, or notarizing marriage certificates and other affidavits the library allows, my desire is satisfied ...

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) would like to acknowledge the businesses and organizations that have generously agreed to sponsor this year’s A Novel Tasting. Presented by the Friends Foundation of the BPL , t his fun event will take place on Thursday, April 17, from 6:00 until 8:30 p.m. at downtown’s Central Library . It will be preceded by a VIP reception from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Birmingham Public Library’s fourth annual A Novel Tasting is made possible by the following sponsors… Altec, Inc.   The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield ofAlabama   Cultural and Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. Magic City Media Group   OverDrive   Shannon Waltchack   Please check out the websites of these benevolent businesses and organizations to learn about the extraordinary contributions they make to the Birmingham community. Just click on the links above.   If you haven’t yet purchased tickets to A Novel Tasting , please visit E...

   C.J. Wade, instructor of Self-Care MasterMind Series What:  Self Care MasterMind Community Edition 2025 April 1, 2025 – Let’s Do It: The 60 Second Self-Care Challenge  Date : Tuesday April 1, 2025 Time : 5:30-6:30pm Location: 1st Floor, Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203  Details:  The instructor for the  Self-Care MasterMind: Community Edition 2025 series   is Christina (C. J.) Wade. Ms. Wade is a licensed massage therapist and certified health coach. Birmingham, Ala. -  Practicing self-care involves taking conscious, deliberate steps to improve our physical, mental, and emotional health. Although this sounds like a course of action that everyone would prioritize in their lives, that is not always the case.   Other priorities - such as concerns about job demands, relationships, and personal finances – can dominate our attention and cause stressful reactions that are harmful to our overall well-being. ...

What:  Bards & Brews Open Mic Tribute to National Poetry Month Date:  Friday, April 4, 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Where:  Central Library , 2100 Park Place Host/Emcee:  Thed Weller Featured Poet:  Clint Jones  Details : April is  National Poetry Month,  and the  Birmingham Public Library  is celebrating those with the gift of spoken word.  At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4, the Central Library  in downtown Birmingham is hosting a Bards & Brews Open Mic Tribute to National Poetry Month. Launched by the  Academy of American Poets  in April 1996, National Poetry Month highlights the important role that poets play in society and to spread the word that poetry matters.  Open mics are welcome to all forms of spoken word arts. This program is free and open to the public. You must be 18+ to enter and 21+ to drink with proof of age via I.D. Bards and Brews is sponsored by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts...

  March is Women’s History Month and women’s history is BPL history!  The original independent Birmingham Public Library Board (1913) included 5 men and 4 women (Encyclopedia of Alabama). Over time, 15 different individuals have served as director of BPL, including 8 women.  Miss Lila Mae Chapman was BPL’s original vice director before her eventual appointment as director in 1926 (Birmingham News). BPL’s current executive director, Janine Langston, continues the tradition of women serving in the leadership role.  Woodlawn Branch Library, 5709 1st Ave. North, was originally founded in 1904 when a club of women purchased several books and began lending them out of the home of Mrs. J. B. Gibson. In 1905, the women’s group presented the library to the city of Woodlawn and the institution opened to the public; eventually, Woodlawn became the first branch library of BPL when Woodlawn was annexed into Birmingham.  Further, according to Bham Wiki—a source of wiki de...

Patrons created Women's History Month collages at North Birmingham Regional Library.  North Birmingham Regional Library hosted a very special program to celebrate Women's History Month - a return of its Craft Creations with a fun new twist! Patrons used images of famous women icons and changemakers to collage with for Women’s History Month.  Here are a few examples I’ve already created using images of Frida Kahlo and Misty Copeland:  Here is a list of some of the women chosen for this craft:  ● Ada Lovelace  ● Frida Kahlo  ● Misty Copeland  ● Angela Davis  ● Rosa Parks  ● Mae Jemison  ● Chien-Shiung Wu  ● Marie Curie  ● Hedy Lamarr   The collaging program was an absolute success! Below  are some pictures from the program. Are you a fan of collaging? Got any collages that you are willing to share with us? We would love to see them. By Jana Brown, Library Assistant III|North Birmingham Regional Library

  Birmingham, Ala.   - Hey families: Looking for free programs and activities to do while your students are on 2025 Spring Break the week of Monday, March 24, through Friday, March 28?  The Birmingham Public Library is hosting 70 activities and programs for families of all ages next week at library locations across the City of Birmingham.  Spring Break Week events include:  • Spring Break movies at Springville Road Regional, Smithfield and Southside Libraries  • “Who Done It” program at Titusville Branch Library (Tuesday) and a line dance class for seniors on Friday  • Lunch and Learn with Chef Polly a free cooking demo at Central Library on Tuesday, March 25  • Experimental Wednesday, a mini science experiment program at East Ensley Branch Library  • Southside Spice Club and a Women’s History Month Scavenger Hunt at Southside Branch Library  • Three free art exhibits at the Central Library downtown  • Empowering Women Self-...