Birmingham Public Library Blog

  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 ...

Pratt City Branch Library has a weekly Tai Chi class. Central Library has chair yoga on Thursdays through August 27 & North Birmingham Library hosts Slide City Chair Aerobics Wednesday-Friday.    Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist, Birmingham Public Library  I’ve traded my camera for an exercise ball at North Birmingham Regional Library, stretched my way through chair yoga  at Central Library (next session with Coach Tru is today at 1 p.m.) and followed the beat through chair aerobics. Now it’s time to try something new. Next Wednesday, August 26, I’m stepping into the world of Tai Chi. I’ll be participating in the Beginner Tai Chi for Seniors class at Pratt City Branch Library from 10:30–11:30 a.m., and I’ll be doing it for more than just the exercise. I’m kicking off the next installment of my first-person BPL wellness series, where I don’t just tell you about a library program — I actually participate and tell you what it feels like to be on the other...

  What: Lunch & Learn: Homebuying Basics When: Thursday, August 20, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. The workshop will continue on the third Thursday of each month through November. Other dates (all on Thursdays) are September 17, October 22 and November 19. Where: Pratt City Branch Library 509 Dugan Ave. Birmingham, AL 35214 (205) 791-4997 Thinking about buying a home but don't know where to start? The Pratt City Branch Library is launching Lunch & Learn: Homebuying Basics, a free monthly workshop designed to help participants better understand the homebuying process. Representatives from Navigate Affordable Housing Partners and the United Way of Central Alabama will lead the four-part workshop series, covering important information and resources to help prospective homebuyers navigate the process. Participants will also receive lunch during each session. Whether you're just beginning to consider homeownership or want to learn more about what it takes to purcha...

Loud at the Library Concert Series: Birmingham Public Library Brings Local Punk Scene Downtown This Friday, Aug. 21 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham Public Library will turn up the volume on Friday, Aug. 21, with its fourth Loud at the Library Punk Show , featuring three Birmingham bands: Nowhere Squares, Tiffany Tears and SUPERFUND. The free, all-ages concert will run from 6–8 p.m. this Friday at the downtown Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203. Event Information What: Loud at the Library Punk Show When: Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 | 6–8 p.m. Where: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Admission: Free and open to all ages Featured Artists Nowhere Squares — Birmingham garage-punk band known for its fast-paced music and energetic live performances. Tiffany Tears — Birmingham darkwave and goth project blending post-punk influences, electronic beats, synthesizers and powerful vocals. SUPERFUND — Birmingham punk/riot grrrl-inspired...

  S. Thorne Harper, author of The Alabama Tryst Murder Mystery: A conversation with the journalist who spent 15 years investigating Birmingham's forgotten 1927 Tryst murders Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist at the Birmingham Public Library As a former newspaper reporter, I have always been fascinated by the stories that make journalists stop and dig deeper. So when I learned about S. Thorne “Sam” Harper’s 15-year investigation into a nearly forgotten 1927 Birmingham double murder, I knew there was a story worth telling. Harper and I have something in common: We spent decades reporting other people's stories before becoming authors. In this conversation, Harper talks about what drew him to the Tryst murders, what his research uncovered about race and justice in 1927 Alabama, and how his experience covering an electric-chair execution in 2000 influenced his decision to revisit Alabama's first electric-chair execution. I found this conversation partic...

  Former reporter turned author S. Thorne Harper will speak at downtown Birmingham Public Library at 11 a.m. this Saturday, August 15, about his new book, "The Alabama Tryst Murder Mystery" The Alabama Tryst Murder Mystery — A Local Author Event With: S. Thorne "Sam" Harper When: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 | 11 a.m. Where: Birmingham Public Library, 1st Floor Grand Commons Address: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Come hear the story behind one of Birmingham's most forgotten murder cases... and the research by a veteran former journalist that dived into uncovering it nearly a century later. The Alabama Tryst Murder Mystery explores a nearly century-old Birmingham case that led to Alabama's first electric-chair execution Some stories refuse to stay buried. For S. Thorne "Sam" Harper, one of those stories is a nearly forgotten 1927 Birmingham double murder that captivated newspapers across the country and ultimatel...