Birmingham Public Library Blog

  🥂 🎉 🥂2026 Magic City Classic Prep Guide: Plan Now, Party Later  🥂 🎉   Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Director - Birmingham Public Library BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2026 Magic City Classic is less than a month away. Seasoned fans know the time to start planning is now. Whether you’re a longtime attendee or a first-timer, early prep can make the difference between scrambling and celebrating. The Birmingham Public Library has your back as we gear up for the biggest HBCU football rivalry in the nation! From booking hotels and picking outfits to planning family reunions and finding the best food and pub spots, we’ve got your Classic Week checklist ready to roll. 🎟️ And don’t forget: It all starts with our official Magic City Classic Week kickoff party, Classic Cocktails, happening Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Central Library downtown. ✅ 10 Ways to Prep for Magic City Classic Week 1. Add Classic Cocktails to Your Calendar Kick off your Classic Week in s...

  BPL Hosting Programs on Discovering Former Enslaved African Americans and Family History in Recipes  Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist, Birmingham Public Library 2026 Family History Month continues at the Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department.   What if the next clue to your family history is hidden in an old newspaper advertisement, a letter… or even a family cookbook? During Family History Month, the Birmingham Public Library invites you to explore three programs that show how people have searched for lost relatives, preserved family stories and used everyday records to uncover connections across generations. For African Americans researching ancestors who were enslaved, the search for family can be especially challenging. Enslaved people were often separated from parents, children, siblings and spouses, and records that identify those family relationships can be difficult to find. Two programs on Saturday, October 10, explore the...

Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist – Birmingham Public Library Classic Cocktails Kicks Off Magic City Classic Week Celebration of Alumni, Culture & Community BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Want to start your Magic City Classic week in style and support our libraries at the same time? Look no further than the 2026 Classic Cocktails at the Birmingham Public Library. 📅 When: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. 📍 Where: Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 🎟️   Click here for Link to Buy Tickets on Eventbrite   This one-of-a-kind event transforms the downtown BPL into the ultimate celebration space, one of the few times you can get loud in a library. It’s also a safer, more welcoming alternative to crowded nightclubs, making it the perfect place to reconnect with friends, classmates, and fellow alumni. Most importantly, Classic Cocktails is a Party with a Purpose. Proceeds fuel vital library programs that benefit Birmingham residents of ...

                 By Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist -Birmingham Public Library Magic City Classic Trivia Facts as BPL Prepares to Host Classic Cocktails on October 27  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  As the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) prepares to host our 5th Annual Classic Cocktails fundraiser event to kick off 2026 Magic City Classic Week,  we decided to test your knowledge about this annual showdown between the state's biggest HBCU institutions, the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and the Alabama State University Hornets. Classic Cocktails will take place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Central Library (2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203). BPL's kickoff party to the Magic City Classic is sponsored by the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library .   More than just a party, Classic Cocktails sets the tone for an unforgettable week of tradition, rivalry, and Black excell...

Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist, Birmingham Public Library  🥂   Classic Cocktails at BPL: One Unforgettable Evening, Where Every Drink Has a Story 🥂 Kick off 2026 Magic City Classic Week by celebrating at the place of learning that supports communities across Birmingham: the Birmingham Public Library. The 5th Annual Classic Cocktails is happening Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Birmingham Public Library downtown (2100 Park Place). This isn’t just another party; it’s a high-energy celebration in a space that already serves as a safe hub for our city year-round.  As fans of Alabama's two largest HBCU institutions gather to get ready for the Saturday's largest Black college football classic in the nation, BPL is transforming for one night only into a stunning, nightclub-inspired venue lit in maroon and white (Alabama A&M) and black and gold (Alabama State). It’s where you’ll see friends, make new connections, and set the tone fo...

  Discover Your Roots: BPL Celebrates Family History Month in October October is National Family History Month, and the Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department is celebrating with a full calendar of free programs designed to help you explore your family’s story. Whether you’re taking your first steps into genealogy or you’re a seasoned researcher looking for new tools and resources, BPL has something for you. Throughout October, programs will cover everything from traditional genealogy research and historic newspapers to DNA testing, cookbooks, WorldCat and the search for family members separated by slavery. All programs are free, and advance registration is not required. For more information, call the Southern History Department at 205-226-3665. Activities begin Saturday, October 3, with a Family History Month Open House where visitors can meet experts from the Birmingham Genealogical Society and members of the Southern History Department staff. The month a...

Bards & Brews: Open Mic Night When: Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 Doors: 6 p.m.; event begins at 6:30 p.m. Where: Lucky Stranger, 4036 5th Ave. S., Birmingham Featured Musical Artist: Olivia Leonard Host: Thed Weller Must be 18+ to enter | 21+ to drink. Bards & Brews is supported by the Alabama State Council on the Arts Ready to Share Spoken Word Poetry Before a Live Audience? The Birmingham Public Library’s Bards & Brews: Open Mic Night is going on the road this Friday, Oct. 2, for an evening of poetry, music and creative expression at Lucky Stranger in Avondale. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Featured artist Olivia Leonard will kick off the evening, followed by performances from some of metro Birmingham’s talented spoken-word artists. If you’ve been waiting for your chance to get behind the microphone, this is your opportunity to  show off your skills before a live audience. Bards & Brews is supported by a grant from the Alabama State Coun...

    What: Passport & Travel Agent Fair When: Saturday, October 24, 2026|10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Birmingham Public Library-1st Floor 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 About the event: BPL's  Passport & Travel Agent Fair is a great opportunity for travel agents to meet potential clients who are thinking about their next vacation, international adventure or other travel experience. Patrons will be able to get information on how to get passports at the Birmingham Public Library.  Birmingham, Ala. - The Birmingham Public Library is inviting travel professionals to participate in its Passport & Travel Agent Fair, where local residents can connect with travel experts while getting ready for their next trip. The Passport & Travel Agent Fair is a great opportunity for travel agents to meet potential clients who are thinking about their next vacation.  Participating travel agents will have an opportunity to introduce their services, answer questions, s...