Birmingham Public Library Blog

  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...

BPL PR Specialist Roy Williams was BPL Patron Roy on Thursday, August 13, participating in the Slide City Chair Aerobics class at North Birmingham Regional Library at 9:30 a.m., then Jaynea "Coach Tru" Milhouse's Chair Yoga class at downtown Central Library at 1 p.m.    Workout Thursday at Birmingham Public Library: A First-Person Experience Two very different workouts. One very busy Thursday. By Roy L. Williams Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library If you want to get in shape—or simply find a way to relax—Thursday was the day to do it at Birmingham Public Library. I took full advantage of it. My Thursday began at 9:30 a.m. at North Birmingham Regional Library , where I joined about 40 other participants for my second experience with the popular Slide City Chair Aerobics class. It was intense. Four hours later, at 1 p.m., I was sitting in a chair again—but this time, I was slowing down instead of speeding up. I joined Week 3 of Jaynea ...

  Brews Returns to Downtown Birmingham Public Library This Friday,  August 14 What: Bards & Brews Open Mic When: Friday, August 14, 2026 Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Where: Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 🎤 Join us for an evening of poetry, connection, and creativity  this Friday, August 14, for   Bards & Brews, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL)’s popular free monthly spoken word poetry/craft beer event. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for an open mic at the downtown Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place. Come show off your talents on the mic as poetry will begin to flow at 6:30 p.m. Ava Walker will be our featured poet. You must be 18 or older to enter and participate, and 21 or older to drink free beer samples. Bards & Brews is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts . Hosted by Thed Weller, this free event welcomes all voices, from first-time performers to seasoned spoken word artists. Step up, sp...

River Hinds – A Woman of the 20 th Century | 2026 The Birmingham Public Library is excited to announce an exhibition by the community artists of InToto Creative Arts . The Company We Keep features artwork by participants in InToto’s community-centered, healing arts classes. The show opens on Friday, August 14, in the First Floor Gallery at the Central Library. Using a variety of media, the artists showcased in The Company We Keep explore the ways identities are shaped by relationships, place, and shared experience . Media include acrylic, oil pastel, paper collage, and watercolor . At the heart of the exhibition is a collaborative textile faces collage, a collective portrait celebrating the diversity, individuality, and interconnectedness of the people who make up our community.   Community Artists in collaboration with InToto Creative Arts - Fabric of Our Lives | 2025 Fabric of Our Lives had its start in 2025 at Magic City Art Connection’s Imagination Festiva...