Birmingham Public Library Blog

What happens when you mix the sounds of the blues with good barbecue in one of Birmingham's best places to gather? You get an evening of Books, Blues & BBQ at the downtown Birmingham Public Library (BPL). BPL's 2026 Loud at the Library series concludes on Friday, September 25, with a free concert featuring Rachel Edwards with John Holaway at the Central Library, 2100 Park Place. From soulful blues and great music to barbecue and the welcoming atmosphere of the library, this is a Friday evening designed for music lovers, families, friends, and anyone looking for something fun to do. Books, Blues & BBQ 📅 When: Friday, September 25, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. 📍 Where: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 🎶 Who: Rachel Edwards with John Holaway 💵 Admission: Free and open to the public Blues and barbecue are a perfect pairing. Add books and a library setting, and you have a recipe for a memorable Birmingham evening. Meet Rachel Edwards Rachel B...

  AI Made Simple: Practical AI for Everyday Use Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Time: 6–7 p.m. Location: Springville Road Regional Branch Library, 1224 Springville Road, Birmingham, AL 35215 Format: In person or virtual Cost: Free Presenter: Leila Lewis, Solid Ground Strategies Overview: Discover easy, real-world AI tips to boost your daily life—no tech skills needed! Audience: Individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners and anyone interested in learning more about AI Registration: Required In-person registration: practicalAIbpl.eventbrite.com Virtual registration: Register for the virtual class Contact: Springville Road Regional Library at 205-226-4083 Workshop presenter: Leila Lewis | leila@sgroundstrat.com Website: Solid Ground Strategies ( https://www.sgroundstrat.com/ ) AI Made Simple: Practical AI for Everyday Use—For Business and Everyday Life Birmingham, Ala. - Artificial intelligence is no longer just a topic for technology experts. AI is becoming an...

  Early Bird Ticket Sales Now Available at Birmingham Public Library Through September 15 📅  Save the date for 2026 Classic Cocktails: Tuesday, October 27, 2025, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. 🎟️ Buy Tickets Now:  https://BPLClassicCocktails26.Eventbrite.com  📍 Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Magic City Classic fans, get ready for the ultimate Classic Week party! The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) 's 2026 Classic Cocktails is coming - and so is your chance to save $5 per ticket when you purchase early! But hurry, this deal only lasts through Tuesday, September 15. Guests will enjoy: 🎶 High-energy music by DJ French Kiss 🍗 Tailgate-style food  🍹 Two signature cocktails included 🥃 A premium cigar + access to the Lion’s Den Cigar Bus More than just a party, Classic Cocktails supports the Birmingham Public Library’s mission to provide the highest quality experience to our commu...

  4 Weeks of Chair Yoga with Coach Tru:  A First-Person Experience at Birmingham Public Library By Roy L. Williams | Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library Four weeks ago, I walked into the Birmingham Public Library with a camera in my hand and no idea what to expect from Chair Yoga. Last Thursday, August 27, I completed my fourth and final class of the five-week series with instructor Jaynea “Coach Tru” Milhouse. I missed one class because of a work conflict, so while the series continued for five weeks, I personally experienced four sessions. And somewhere along the way, I learned something I wasn't expecting. Sometimes slowing down is exactly what we need. Lesson No. 1: You Don't Have to Be Good at It When I started Chair Yoga, I was a complete beginner. Flexibility has never been my strength. Neither has balance. Over the four weeks, there were stretches I couldn't quite reach and movements that challenged me more than I expected. B...

  🎬 INSIDE Cinema: Set It Off — 30th Anniversary Screening What: INSIDE Cinema Screening: Set It Off Presented by: EPISODE LLC. When: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Time: Doors open at 5 p.m.; screening begins at 5:30 p.m. Where: Birmingham Public Library, Richard Arrington Auditorium, fourth floor 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Admission: Free Age: 18+ Bonus: Free popcorn Registration: insidesetoff.eventbrite.com The screening is made possible by Swank. An optional donation may be added during registration to support INSIDE Cinema. Ready to celebrate 30 years of Set It Off ? ‘Set It Off’ 30 Years Later: INSIDE Cinema Brings the Classic Film to Birmingham Public Library on September 8 Birmingham, Ala. - Thirty years ago, movie audiences were introduced to four unforgettable women whose friendship, struggles and desperation made Set It Off one of the most talked-about films of the 1990s. Now, Birmingham movie fans have an opportunity to celebrate the 30th annive...

  BPL Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton, Country Music Legend and Champion of Books The Birmingham Public Library joins millions around the world in mourning the loss of beloved country music legend, songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at age 80. For generations, Dolly Parton entertained us with songs such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” But for those of us in the library world, her legacy goes far beyond music. Dolly Parton was also one of the world's greatest champions of books, children and literacy. Her Greatest Hit May Be the Gift of Reading Perhaps Dolly's greatest contribution to generations of children is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which she founded in 1995 in honor of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who was unable to read or write and grew into a worldwide literacy movement. Today, the Imagination Library provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth...

                        10 Birmingham area poets compete Sept. 4 for top honors at Birmingham Public Library BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Think you have what it takes to be crowned Birmingham Public Library's 2026 Poetry Grand Slam champion? Ten of the best poets in metro Birmingham will take the stage Friday, September 4, competing for $1,000 in cash prizes during BPL's Bards & Brews Poetry Grand Slam, the biggest poetry slam of the year. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203. Doors open at 6 p.m. Thed Weller will host the Grand Slam, while singer/guitarist Ashley Sankey will provide musical entertainment. The top three poets will take home a combined $1,000: First place: $500 Second place: $300 Third place: $200 Poets who want to compete can sign up on-site beginning at 6 p.m. The competition is limited to the first 10 poets who register....

During August 20 Chair Yoga Class at downtown Birmingham Public Library, "Coach Tru" Jaynea Milhouse led Roy Williams & other participants in stretching and balancing exercises. The final session in the 5-week series is Thursday, August 27, 1-2 p.m. Week 3 of Chair Yoga with Coach Tru at BPL: Learning to Stretch, Balance and Let Go By Roy L. Williams Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library Next week, I’m trying something completely new. On Wednesday, Aug. 26, I’ll participate in my first-ever Tai Chi exercise class at Birmingham Public Library’s Pratt City Branch. I needed a little preparation. So today, Thursday, Aug. 20, I returned to my third class of Birmingham Public Library’s five-week Chair Yoga series with Jaynea “Coach Tru” Milhouse at the downtown Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place. The final class is on August 27. Today’s class challenged me in ways the first two did not. The first half felt familiar: gentle stretching, deep ...