Birmingham Public Library Blog

Are you looking for the next fascinating book to read? Have you already read the books by your favorite authors? Don’t panic. Come join us to discover the treasure map and locate your next great read–online! Tuesday, October 7, noon. Live @ Central Library and simulcast at Five Points Wes t and Springville Road libraries. IM, del.icio.us, MySpace, Facebook, RSS, Mashups, Photobucket, Pixer, Second Life, Wiki, blogging. What are these things and will they hurt me? Join us at Tech Tuesdays for a look at the technologies sweeping the Internet and see if you need to join the crowd!

Paul Newman , one of the most well-known and talented actors of his generation, died on Friday. He accomplished so much during his career that it’s difficult to write a short description. One reference book lists Paul Newman’s occupations as actor, director, producer, screenwriter, philanthropist, chef, and auto racer. Born January 26, 1925 in Cleveland, OH, Newman was a leading man by 10 years old, starring in a local production of St. George and the Dragon . After studying at the Yale School of Drama, Newman began performing in television plays and his success led to work on Broadway. His film debut in 1955 was the beginning of a storied career that spanned over five decades. He is well-known for his memorable performances in movies such as Cool Hand Luke , Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , and The Sting . With a career total of 10 Academy-Award nominations, including a Best-Picture nomination as producer of Rachel, Rachel , he won the Best-Actor award fo...

Through her imagination, a little girl dreams of what her day might be like as President of the United States. So busy! Why she has executive orders to give, daily briefs to review, photo ops, press conferences, etc. She also has to be protected by a special “Secret Service Agent” on the playground (enter cat with dark sunglasses). She even has the power to veto “lunch specials” and school musicals. The list goes on. As Madam President, she must be careful to handle certain situations with grace and be a diplomat. Therefore, she will not comment on certain individuals with wild hats! Of course, she must show leadership abilities by first cleaning her own room. After a full day, Madam President can rest and begin again another day. Madam President is a humorous book with adorable illustrations. The author reminds young girls to dream big, be assertive and have confidence. Lane Smith introduces us to a confident little character who is sure she can rise to any task and become a most inf...

Please join us in the annual celebration of “Banned Books Week: Celebrating The Freedom To Read.” Each year, during the last week in September, we celebrate the freedom to make choices among which books to read, to express opinions and to make choices between a wide variety of viewpoints and varying sides of issues. This year, we will celebrate Banned Books Week during September 27 through October 4, 2008. This year is special cause for celebration since it marks the 27th anniversary of “Banned Books Week.” Read a book from the list of most frequently challenged books of 2007 , stir up your imagination and challenge some ideas! You might also take a look at the list of top 100 challenged books of the 1990's. The following is a list of ideas from the American Library Association Website you might explore to support Banned Books Week: Get Involved : Go to school board meetings. Volunteer at your local public library to create an event that helps to celebrate our freedom to read Sp...

For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco is a sweet story about a kitten and a young, romantic student teacher. Oddly enough, my energetic, WipeOut -obsessed, truck-bashing son has been requesting it every night since I brought it home from the library. It's reassuring to know there's a gentle side under all those snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails. Danielle falls in love with her kitten at first sight, naming her Autumn because it's almost Halloween. They spend their days playing and lounging on the sofa, munching on popcorn and watching TV. One day Danielle receives a letter offering her a teaching position in Port Townsend, Washington. She's thrilled because she has always wanted to live by the sea. Danielle rents a cozy cottage on the bay and begins teaching a classroom full of inquisitive moppets. They want to know all about her. Is she married? Danielle wistfully answers no, but someday she'll meet "the one." "How will you know he's the...

As the election approaches, we are pleased to welcome as our guest speaker Dr. Natalie Davis, Professor of Political Science at Birmingham-Southern College . Dr. Davis, a noted commentator on both local and national political affairs, will discuss the candidates, the issues, and the possible outcomes of this year’s presidential contest. Wednesday, October 1, noon. Feed your body and mind at BPL's Brown Bag Programs . You bring the lunch and we'll bring the drinks. Wednesdays at noon in the Arrington Auditorium located on the 3rd floor of the Linn-Hinley Research Library, 2100 Park Place.

David Wroblewski's debut novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle , is the fall pick for Oprah's Book Club . Wroblewski's novel is about a mute boy named Edgar who lives with his parents on a peaceful, remote farm in northern Wisconsin. The Sawtelles have raised and trained companionship dogs for generations, and one dog, Almondine, has become one of Edgar's best friends and strongest allies on the farm. Edgar's idyllic existence is shattered with the sudden arrival of his uncle Claude, who worms his way into his mother's affections when Edgar's father dies unexpectedly. Edgar's insistence on proving that Claude had a hand in his father's death backfires, and he's forced to flee his home, along with three yearling dogs who follow him into the wilderness that lays beyond the farm. But his desire to prove that Claude murdered his father preys on him, and he makes his way back home for a final confrontation. Reserve your copy and see why Stephen King had...

Avast ye readers and prepare to drop anchor for it's Talk Like a Pirate Day today! Here are some key words to help expand your pirate vocabulary. • Aarrr! Pirate exclamation. Done with a growl and used to emphasize the pirate's current feelings. • Ahoy Hello • Avast Stop and pay attention • Beauty a lovely woman • Cutlass Popular sword among pirates • Lubber Land lover. Someone who doesn't want to go to sea. • Matey Friend or comrade • Ne’er-do-well A scoundrel or rascal After ye learn how to talk like a pirate, find a tale or two to tell to your matey. Or, become an expert pirate historian . See what other plunder the library has before ye weigh anchor. Aarrr!

The Warblers Club men's choral group has its roots in the original Warblers Club of Woodlawn High School, which performed from 1929 until 1977. Sam Banana & the Bunch is a small group from the original Warblers that performs popular doo-wop songs from the 1950s and '60s. The guys in the Bunch have been singing their songs and having fun since 1992. Performance Details Who: Sam Banana & the Bunch Where: Springville Road Library When: Thursday, September 25 Time: 6:30 p.m. Cost: Free and open to the public Light refreshments will be served. BPL thanks Compass Bank for its generous support of BPL@Night. BPL@Night is also made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts .

Although there have been independent filmmakers in the U.S. since the 1960s, it wasn't until the 1980s and big hits like Sex, Lies and Videotape that the independent film movement made its presence felt. Twenty years on we have an opportunity to evaluate the impact of this movement—the new talents it introduced and how it changed the look of movies, the film industry, and our expectations of what American films should be. Join Dr. Andre Millard for this fascinating discussion as the Sidewalk Film Festival approaches. Wednesday, September 24, noon. Feed your body and mind at BPL's Brown Bag Programs . You bring the lunch and we'll bring the drinks. Wednesdays at noon in the Arrington Auditorium located on the 3rd floor of the Linn-Hinley Research Library, 2100 Park Place.

Do you need to brush up on your science skills to help answer those nightly homework questions? How about health issues? Need some answers? Are you trying to do your own homework and figure out where to put your money for retirement? Join us for a look at the best resources to help you with your search. Tuesday, September 23, 6:30 p.m. Live @ Central Library . IM, del.icio.us, MySpace, Facebook, RSS, Mashups, Photobucket, Pixer, Second Life, Wiki, blogging. What are these things and will they hurt me? Join us at Tech Tuesdays for a look at the technologies sweeping the Internet and see if you need to join the crowd!

Joy—the Queen of Clean is a local comedienne and performer who performs events at clubs, churches, family reunions, and other venues. She performs in a family friendly style. Part of her billing is that she uses no vulgarity or cursing. Joy’s performance career began when coworkers encouraged her to try for amateur night at a comedy venue. She practiced or tested her material on members of her church and things began to fall in place for her after a few performances. She decided to take her stage name from Nehemiah 8:10, which says, “the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy derives most of her comedy material from everyday life. She finds humor from dialogue, clichés, people walking down the street, and the good folks at church. Joy has been featured on Fox 6, NBC 13, ABC 33/40 and in the Birmingham Times and the Trussville Times . She has performed at The Stardome Comedy Club, The Safari Cup with Russell Ehrett’s Fresh Ground Comics, Ced Delany’s Comedy Nite, The Punchline in Atlan...

Matthew Kneale has written a novel from the perspective of his main character, nine-year-old Lawrence. In When We Were Romans , Lawrence reveals the love, the emotion, as well as the excitement and fears of a loving family, when something has gone terribly wrong. Lawrence movingly narrates his own story. He is an unusually bright boy who, among other interests, loves stories of popes, emperors and the eccentricities that complicates their lives. He shows an amazing understanding of the universe, stars, moons and galaxies. You will be surprised by his unusual spelling as he relates his experiences. Lawrence has a three-year-old sister, Jemina who is a constant problem. She is spoiled, aggressive, demanding and almost impossible to handle. His mother, Hanna, and their father have recently divorced and the mother's attitude toward the father is causing major problems. Hanna grows progressively paranoid concerning her ex-husband. She takes the children and flees to Rome, Italy, believ...

Photo courtesy of BPL Digital Collections Join us as Dr. Stephen Schneider looks at a historian's arguments for a "long" Civil Rights Movement—one that extends back to the New Deal and forward to today. Specifically, it examines the ways that contemporary historians and intellectuals continue to use civil rights language and arguments as a means of engaging contemporary historical events. Wednesday, September 17, noon. Feed your body and mind at BPL's Brown Bag Programs . You bring the lunch and we'll bring the drinks. Wednesdays at noon in the Arrington Auditorium located on the 3rd floor of the Linn-Hinley Research Library, 2100 Park Place.

First-time novelist Sherry Jones' fictionalized account of Aisha, the child bride of Muhammad, will be published by Beufort Books in October. Random House declined to publish The Jewel of Medina back in August out of concern that the subject matter could be offensive to the Muslim community and might incite acts of violence. The novel tells the story of Aisha's life, spanning the years from her engagement at age six to the prophet Muhammad to his death. A Serbian translation was released in August but was withdrawn when the Muslim community protested. A sequel is planned for a 2009 release. Reserve a copy in advance . See also: Author shocked by Jewel of Medina controversy

The Bennett Family of Gee's Bend, 1971-1980 Photo courtesy of BPL Digital Collections The staff of the Southern History Department will be on hand to assist African Americans in family research. Sunday, September 14, 3:00-5:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Linn-Henley Research Library. For more information call 226-3665.

1,2,3 Play With Me , an organized time for children--birth through age 3--and their parents/caregivers to play and learn together, is expanding. Running for five weeks, 1,2,3 Play with Me is a 1 hour and 15 minute program featuring toys, art experiences, books, and play. Please contact one of our Family Place Libraries™ listed below for registration or more information. Avondale Regional Library (205) 226-4003 Every Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Sept. 10 - Oct. 8 Five Points West Regional Library (205) 226-4017 Every Tuesday 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Sept. 9 - Oct. 7 North Birmingham Regional Library (205) 226-4028 Every Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Oct. 15 - Nov. 12 Springville Road Regional Library (205) 226-4085 Every Thursday 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Oct. 23 - Nov. 20 The Birmingham Public Library Family Place Libraries™ are funded in part by a Project Development Grant from the Junior League of Birmingham

Some great news leading up to the 2008 school year! Live Homework Help has added some new services to their already excellent tutoring program that will go into effect on August 1. For those not familiar with Live Homework Help, it is a free online afterschool tutoring site for all residents of Alabama. Tutors are online Sunday through Thursday, 3:00-10:00 p.m. A JCLC library card is required. Powered by Tutor.com , users are connected in real-time to a live tutor to work one-on-one through problems with homework, test prep, or whatever one needs help with. Help is literally minutes away. There are no software downloads and no special equipment to access this service. Tutor.com was recently recognized by Parent's Choice with a Gold Award—their highest recommendation. New services: Tutoring services now include grades K-3. Adults are now able to receive tutoring help. The Adult Learner section will support those earning their GED, taking education courses, seeking grammar help wi...

Join us for an in-depth look at how books move from page to stage. Birmingham Festival Theatre ’s fall production of Tuesdays with Morrie will be our topic of discussion with BFT members and crew. Wednesday, September 10, noon. Feed your body and mind at BPL's Brown Bag Programs . You bring the lunch and we'll bring the drinks. Wednesdays at noon in the Arrington Auditorium located on the 3rd floor of the Linn-Hinley Research Library, 2100 Park Place.

Sound familiar? Check out the resources that can help your child get the last minute information for their reports and class assignments. It's so easy—maybe the next time they won’t wait so long. Tuesday, September 9, noon. Live @ Central Library . IM, del.icio.us, MySpace, Facebook, RSS, Mashups, Photobucket, Pixer, Second Life, Wiki, blogging. What are these things and will they hurt me? Join us at Tech Tuesdays for a look at the technologies sweeping the Internet and see if you need to join the crowd!

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a perfect time for us to remind parents and children that a library card is a school supply that shouldn't be forgotten in the rush to stock up on pencils and notebooks when school starts. This year Kareem Abdul-Jabar has been named honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month by the American Library Association . Kareem is the 7'2" tall basketball star who helped his teams win three consecutive NCAA titles and six NBA championships. He is also an author who has seen four of his books reach the bestseller lists. This armchair time traveller explains what the library means to him: "The library has always been my own personal time machine. I can walk through the doors and land in any place, any time period in history. I didn’t have to wonder what their worlds were like; I could experience it first hand.” Think the library is just for running in and grabbing a classic on a reading list? If so, check out 52 ways to use your libr...