Birmingham Public Library Blog

Celebrate the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library Discover What Your Libraries Have to Offer Monday-Saturday, Oct. 19-24, 2026 Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist - Birmingham Public Library Birmingham, Ala. - National Friends of Libraries Week is  a time to celebrate the people who support libraries and the communities they serve. At Birmingham Public Library (BPL), we're celebrating by inviting you to come out in person and discover what's happening at our 17 libraries. During the week of Monday through Saturday, October 19-24, libraries across Birmingham will offer programs and activities for children, teens, adults and families, from crafts and dancing to STEAM, fitness, story time, games, travel and more. Whether you're looking to learn a new skill, meet your neighbors, entertain the kids or simply try something different, there's lots of fun and educational things to do at BPL. If you want to support the Friends Foundation of the B...

  Celebrate Friends Who Help Make BPL Stronger:  National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 18-24 Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist for Birmingham Public Library Birmingham, Ala. -Before public libraries can provide the books, DVDs, programs and services that transform lives across the USA, it takes the support of people who believe in the importance of libraries and give their time, energy and resources to help them thrive. That’s what the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library   and other library foundations provide. 2026 National Friends of Libraries Week began on Sunday, October 18 and continues through Saturday, October 24. The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is joining libraries across the country in celebrating the volunteers, supporters and advocates who help strengthen their local libraries and connect them with the communities they serve. BPL deeply appreciates the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library for its continued...

   Discover Your Roots: BPL Celebrates Family History Month in October Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist, Birmingham Public Library 2026 National Family History Month celebration continues at the Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department with two programs designed to help people research their family tree. Throughout October, programs will cover everything from traditional genealogy research and historic newspapers to DNA testing.  All programs are free, and advance registration is not required. For more information, call the Southern History Department at 205-226-3665. Whether your family-history research begins with a name, an old photograph, a newspaper clipping or a DNA test, the Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department offers resources and expertise to help you uncover the stories of those who came before you. Here is a list of Family History Month programs happening over the next two weeks: Wednesday, October 21 | 11 a.m. Central...

Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist - Birmingham Public Library   📅 Classic Cocktails Event Info & Tickets 🗓️ Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. 📍 Central Library | 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 🎟️ Ticket and event Details: https://bplclassiccocktails26.eventbrite.com 🎟️ Click here to buy tickets now on Eventbrite 🥂 Classic Cocktails 2026:  Where Classic Week Helps Libraries Transform Birmingham 🥂 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Magic City Classic is Birmingham’s biggest annual celebration of HBCU pride, tradition, and community. Football fans can kick off their weeklong celebration at the 5th Annual Classic Cocktails, happening Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Central Library in downtown Birmingham, 2100 Park Place. If you’re looking for a safe, stylish alternative to the nightclub scene, Classic Cocktails is the perfect choice, a festive evening where good vibes meet a great cause. Every ticket sold helps fund...

  By Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist Birmingham Public Library Planning to travel outside the country for Christmas, New Year’s or during 2027 Spring Break? Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Birmingham Public Library will host its 2026 Passport  Fair at the Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203. This free event brings together two things travelers need: passport services and people who can help you plan the trip. Passport agents will be available to assist with new passport applications, renewing existing ones, and answer questions about the process. Travel agents will be on hand to help you explore vacation possibilities and begin putting together your next trip. Walk-ins are welcome. Before coming to the Passport Fair, click  here for details on documents required and payment information needed to apply for passports.  If you are planning to travel internationally during the Christmas or New Year's holiday season, now is the ti...

Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist - Birmingham Public Library 🥂 2026 BPL Classic Cocktails is Just 2 Weeks Away: Tickets Are Running Out 🥂     📅 Classic Cocktails Event Info & Tickets 🗓️ Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. 📍 Central Library | 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 🎟️ Ticket and event Details: https://bplclassiccocktails26.eventbrite.com 🎟️ Click here to buy tickets now on Eventbrite Time is running out if you want to attend 2026 Classic Cocktails, the Birmingham Public Library's kickoff part to Magic City Classic Week. As of Tuesday, October 13, there were only 50 individual tickets left ($50 a person). All group tables are now sold out. Classic Cocktails, BPL's 5th annual fall fundraiser, is happening Tuesday, October 27,  from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Central 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...

  🥂 🎉 🥂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...