Birmingham Public Library Blog

  The 2022 World Games are coming to Birmingham this summer- including some of the world's best archers who will compete outside BPL 's Avondale Regional Branch Library  in Avondale Park.   All World Games archery sporting events will take place in Avondale Park between Friday, July 8, and Friday, July 15. During the competition, Avondale Regional Library will be closed to the public.   All other BPL locations will remain open for regular hours during the World Games.   For details on BPL hours and locations, click here. The Birmingham Public Library is excited to have top athletes from across the globe competing outside one of our locations. We look forward to welcoming international guests and patrons from across the nation to our libraries during the World Games. Some BPL locations even have World Games-themed programs planned for younger patrons. Stay tuned to the BPL website and social media for more updates. Remember to check our BPL calendar to see all of the many pr

  The 75 th annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place in Cannes, France from May 17 th – May 28 th .   The Kanopy movie streaming database is celebrating the festival by highlighting films that have been featured at Cannes in the past.   They have divided the films into categories such as Recent Selections, Contemporary Film, Palme d’Or Winners, and more.   The following are a sample of the films that are available on Kanopy and the descriptions are from the database.   Sibyl (2019) Sibyl, a jaded psychotherapist, returns to her first passion: writing. But her newest patient Margot, a troubled up-and-coming actress, proves to be a source of inspiration that is far too tempting. Fascinated almost to the point of obsession, Sibyl becomes more and more involved in Margot’s tumultuous life, reviving volatile memories that bring her face to face with her past.   Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) Marianne is hired to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse. As

  Birmingham, Ala. –   The Flourish Alabama , a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting seeds that allow young people’s talents to bloom, is hosting a free Black Business Market in Birmingham this Sunday, May 22. The Flourish Alabama was founded by Birmingham Public Library ’s Bards & Brews poets Jahman Hill (co-host) and Eric Marable.   It kicks off a week of free activities, including the first Flourish Fest Film Showcase May 26 at the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema , 1821 2nd Avenue North downtown, and the Green Book Project at the Birmingham Museum of Art May 22 through May 27, a collaboration between Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative , Bush Hills STEAM Academy and Jefferson County Memorial Project . Earlier this year, BPL hosted Flourish Alabama’s Word Up Festival poetry slam featuring young poets from all 7 Birmingham public high schools.  Jahman Hill, a poet, playwright and adjunct professor in the University of Alabama’s Department of Gender and Ra

Memorial Day 2022 will be observed on Monday, May 30. Show your appreciation for the United States' military heroes by dropping by the first floor of the Central Library, 2201 Park Place in downtown Birmingham, to see our display, "Military Service: A History in Postcards." Drawn from a donated collection 26,000 postcards, Troy University 's collection contains 1,500 historic postcards dating from 1903—1966, representing all military branches.  See the personal stories of service members as told through postcards spanning decades at the Central Library.   This exhibit is sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Alliance , National Endowment for the Humanities ,  and  Troy University .  By Jiemin Fan| Central Library Citizen Services Department Check out some of the postcards in the display below. 

Enjoy a good meal for a good cause. Flyer by Lisa Mitchell. The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is excited to announce the kickoff of the weekly Summer Food Truck Roundup this Thursday, May 19, at the Central Library .  We have some newcomers to the roundup, so please come out and give them a warm welcome!

  Titusville Library Senior Prom will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18.    If you are over the age of 55, you may have another chance at being crowned Prom King or Queen.  The senior citizens of the Titusville Community will dance away with love, joy, and happiness in their soul of being young again and remembering their high school days.  The Titusville Branch Library,  #2 6th Avenue SW, will host its first Senior Library Prom  from 11: 00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. this Wednesday, May 18, 2022. This program will serve as an event for seniors to engage, interact and have fun together. The theme will be “Under the Starz”.   For registration, please call (205) 322-1140. Call soon as there are only a few more seats available. The Titusville Library Senior Prom is a continuation of several activities Titusville Library has put in place to make senior citizens in the community feel special, including a monthly Titusville Senior Resource Day give-away of free groceries

  Birmingham, Ala . - Join North Birmingham Branch Library, 2501 31st Avenue North, for a discussion on women's health issues from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 13, 2022. It is the latest in a series of free women's health workshops the  Birmingham Public Library  is hosting through June 2022. Tonight's event at North Birmingham Library will feature Dr. Calvin Spellmon Jr., of Brookwood Baptist Medical Health Systems' Precision Sports Medicine & Orthopedics practice . In addition to gaining valuable health care information from Dr. Spellmon, attendees will receive dinner, door prizes, and take-home literature about health issues. There will also be free child care provided, fun family games, and more.  Registration in advance is required. Call (205) 226-4025 for more information. Upcoming programs include a women's health workshop from from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 27, at Inglenook Library, and a finale food and fun family event on Friday, June