Birmingham Public Library Blog

Library visitors of all ages are invited to visit any Birmingham Public Library January 3-14 to participate in the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Scavenger Hunt. Preschoolers are encouraged to locate each of the ten hidden game pieces while older visitors are encouraged to locate the hidden game piece and complete the fill-in-the-blank activity. This year Eileen Spinelli's poem, "Martin Luther King Jr." is featured. When the hunt is completed, each seeker will have a copy of the poem to keep. Participants who successfully complete the scavenger hunt may enter their names into a drawing for a free book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each Birmingham Public Library will draw three winners. The give-way books are Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. by Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier, Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson and Bryan Collier and Martin Luther King, Jr. : A Dream of Hope by Alice Fleming.

Out by Natsuo Kirino is a brilliant Japanese murder mystery that’s not much of a mystery at all, at least not a mystery in the sense that we don’t know whodunit. Whodunit is a pretty, young wife and mother of two named Yayoi who is fed up with her husband Kenji’s philandering ways, and decides to strangle him one night in an uncharacteristic moment of rage. Assured that her children heard nothing of the struggle, she calls a friend who works the night shift with her at a boxed lunch factory. As she suspects, the pragmatic Masako Katori is not too surprised by the late call, and immediately sets the wheels in motion about how to make the body disappear and maybe make a little money off the insurance payout. Masako enlists the help of the trusted fifty-something Yoshie, whom she knows is in desperate need of money from caring for her bedridden mother-in-law. But while the two are butchering their first ever dead body in Masako’s bathroom, the fourth friend in their factory clique gets ...

The Birmingham Historical Society captures in a new book and exhibit seldom-seen murals that tell the story of an era, the history of our region, and the mood of a nation in hardship. Depression-era murals survive and thrive in both book and exhibit form thanks to the Birmingham Historical Society’s newest endeavor: identifying, assembling, presenting, and chronicling artworks which were created and appeared in the Birmingham area. “We just kept looking,” explains Marjorie White, BHS. “We found the murals still intact in some structures, never having been moved in all these years. We found collections tucked in attics, archives, and online. It has been a fascinating scavenger hunt to find this incredible art, created by artists between 1929 and 1939.” The exhibition Murals, Murals on the Wall 1929-1939 is on view through December 30, 2010 (the library is closed December 31) at the Birmingham Public Library in the 4th Floor Gallery. Th...

Take a look at the video above for a sample of Birmingham Public Library’s November 2010 Bards & Brews poetry slam. The Birmingham Public Library hosts it's next Bards & Brews poetry slam on January 7 at the Central Library . Live music and sign-up begins at 6:30 Call time is at 7:00

The Birmingham Historical Society captures in a new book and exhibit seldom-seen murals that tell the story of an era, the history of our region, and the mood of a nation in hardship. Depression-era murals survive and thrive in both book and exhibit form thanks to the Birmingham Historical Society’s newest endeavor: identifying, assembling, presenting, and chronicling artworks which were created and appeared in the Birmingham area. “We just kept looking,” explains Marjorie White, BHS. “We found the murals still intact in some structures, never having been moved in all these years. We found collections tucked in attics, archives, and online. It has been a fascinating scavenger hunt to find this incredible art, created by artists between 1929 and 1939.” The exhibition Murals, Murals on the Wall 1929-1939 is on view through December 30, 2010 (the library is closed December 31) at the Birmingham Public Library in the 4th Floor Gallery. The book, Digging Out of the Great Depression: Fe...

"In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan." I can't remember if I ran out and bought In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash after seeing A Christmas Story on cable back in '83, or if I bought it before the movie just because the title caught my eye at some used bookstore, but it’s been a prized possession for decades. If you're like me and thousands of others who love this movie, you'll enjoy this book. The book fleshes out the characters, and it’s fun to learn the reasoning behind some of the throwaway movie scenes like why Ralphie gave the old man a can of Simoniz for Christmas. The nostalgic vignettes of In God We Trust are grittier than the lighthearted movie. One of the funniest running gags in the movie is the father’s epic (but G-rated) battle with the furnace; in the book, he’s not afraid to let the expletives rip at his wife: “FOR CHRISSAKE, STUPID, I SAID THE G...

True Grit opens Wednesday, December 22. Read all about the true grits. Every eight years or so, over the last forty years, I watch the movie True Grit , for which John Wayne won his only Oscar. It still holds up very well and doesn’t fail to entertain. Over the last thirty years or so I’ve harbored a growing guilty feeling that I should read the book it’s based on. Time after time I’ve read pieces about how its author, Charles Portis , is one of the least known great American writers and that True Grit is his best book. It’s regularly referred to as one of the great 20th century American novels that’s not yet accepted as one of the great 20th century American novels. When it came out in the late sixties, it was a best-seller, the movie was huge, and some critics since have felt that critical snobs at the time just couldn’t abide all that popularity. The novel was way out of step with the counterculture, too, and because of that it never attracted a wide younger audience. What’s inter...

Did you know that thousands of historians, journalists, novelists and other writers from around the world use the collections of the Birmingham Public Library Archives every year? Using the department’s collection of more than 30 million historical documents, these writers have produced hundreds of books, including five recipients of the Pulitzer Prize . Listed below are just some of the books researched at Birmingham Public Library and published this year. Alabama's Civil Rights Trail : an Illustrated Guide to the Cradle of Freedom by Frye Gaillard At the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L. McGuire Baseball in Birmingham by Clarence Watkins Birmingham Sunday by Larry Dane Brimner Condoleezza Rice : a Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me by Condoleezza Rice Encyclopedia of African American History by Leslie Alexander and Walter Rucker Extraordinary, Ordinary People : a Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice Fly Away by Peter Rutkoff and William Scott From Po...

You can now conveniently access your account, search our catalog, and reserve items using your mobile phone. Give it a try! On your Internet capable mobile phone, go to our catalog http://vulcan.lib.al.us or http://m.vulcan.bham.lib.al.us/ . Photo by Esther Gibbons

Great news! Santa has found some time to visit a few libraries before he leaves for his big trip on December 24. Bring the kids in for a visit and some treats. North Birmingham Branch Regional Library Saturday, December 11, 2010 2:00-5:00 p.m. Avondale Branch Library Sunday, December 12, 2010 2:00-5:00 p.m. Five Points West Regional Library Sunday, December 19, 2010 2:00-5:00 p.m.

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) hosts its third poetry slam on January 7 at the Central Library. BPL’s November slam showcased both veteran slammers and first-timers. More than 70 people enjoyed the show. Held on the first Friday of each month, slams are emceed by poetry slam events director Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins. Each contestant contributes $5 to the pot, and winner takes all. Southern Fried Slam rules will be observed. Beer will be available for sampling. Slam participants must be 18 years or older. IDs will be checked. Live music at 6:30 p.m. Call time is 7:00 p.m. Check out the Bards & Brews page on Facebook for more information. Word up, y’all! Bards & Brews: Birmingham Public Library Poetry Slam Series Central Library , 2100 Park Place 1st Friday of every month 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Live music and sign-up is at 6:30 Call time is at 7:00 Additional information: Brian Hawkins (AKA Brian Porter) will serve as emcee for the Bards & Brews Poetry Slam. He is a full...

Miss Judy reads "This is the Dreidel" by Abby Levine to Abrianna and Aidan Tucker. Location: Springville Rd,Birmingham,United States

"I'm going old school," said Oprah Winfrey Monday when announcing that Charles Dickens ' A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations were chosen for her 65th book club selection. Oprah's Book Club was launched in 1996, and has included popular and classical literature, and even some autobiographies. A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1859 and is set in London and Paris prior to and during the French Revolution . The story chronicles the struggle of French peasants under aristocratic rule and parallels their situation with the struggles taking place in London. Great Expectations was published in 1861 and follows an orphan boy named Pip as he pursues unrequited childhood love and friendship, and learns about the nature of fortune. Oprah's Book Club has had its share of drama over the years. In 2001 Oprah selected Jonathan Franzen 's third novel, The Corrections , for her book club. When Franzen expressed concern that his book would be associated wit...

Birmingham Public Library's Jim Murray will be appearing on Alabama's 13 (NBC) this Sunday at 8 a.m. to talk about the Tuition Funding Sources (TFS) database. Made possible by funding from the Jefferson County Library Cooperative , the Tuition Funding Sources database hosts scholarship searches worth an estimated $41 billion dollars with approximately 5,000 scholarships being added each month. Besides offering scholarship searches, TFS offers college admission information, career personality tests, and detailed career guidance. Want more information on college financial aid and scholarships? Check out the Student Financial Aid subject guide, stop by the Social Sciences department at the Central branch of the Birmingham Public Library for a College and Financial Aid brochure, or call us at 226-3640. Tune in Sunday to Alabama's 13 (NBC) at 8 a.m.!

Join us for our annual Christmas reading by Birmingham storyteller and actress Dolores Hydock as she presents A Christmas Memory , Truman Capote ’s poignant reminiscence of his boyhood in rural Alabama. Dolores Hydock’s work has been featured at concerts, festivals, and special events throughout the country. She is a touring artist for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, a speaker with the Alabama Humanities Foundation , and a member of the Southern Order of Storytellers. Her six CDs of original stories have all received awards from Storytelling World Magazine . Details A Christmas Memory with Dolores Hydock Central Library , Arrington Auditorium Thursday, December 9 6:30 p.m. BPL@Night is a series of high quality evening performances offered free-of-charge by Birmingham Public Library in an effort to bring enriching cultural programs to downtown Birmingham and the city’s neighborhoods. BPL@Night highlights local and regional performers that reflect the diversity of our communi...

Jazz guitarist Keith “Cashmere” Williams has become one of the most prominent musicians in the Southeast. In addition to touring and recording with Ruben Studdard, Williams has opened for Kirk Whalum, Ramsey Lewis, Boney James, and many more. Williams started playing at the age of five, leading to his acceptance at Berklee College of Music, where he produced and recorded his first album. In 2000, his second album, Set the Mood , received rave reviews and national airplay. Since then, he has founded his own label, Lenoah Records, and released his third album, New Birth . Details An Evening of Jazz with Keith Williams Springville Road Library Regional Library Thursday, December 9 6:30 p.m. BPL@Night is a series of high quality evening performances offered free-of-charge by Birmingham Public Library in an effort to bring enriching cultural programs to downtown Birmingham and the city’s neighborhoods. BPL@Night highlights local and regional performers that reflect the diversity of our...

(From left) Rochelle Sides-Renda, Marilyn Sessions, Russell Bransby, and Ellen Lawrence bid Springville Road Branch Library and the Birmingham Public Library staff a fond farewell as they are honored during a brunch on Wednesday morning at Springville Road. (Pictured below) Gwendolyn Welch, BPL Board President, and Irene Blalock, BPL Director, join in wishing them the best.

Essayist Phyllis Theroux has long captivated readers with her pitch-perfect rendering of the inner lives of American women. Her latest work, The Journal Keeper: A Memoir , covers six years of her anything but uneventful life and demonstrates how journaling can serve as a cathartic and rewarding avocation. Theroux calls it her daily "light box." Theroux is hosting a seminar, social hour, and talk and book signing at the Central Library on Sunday, January 23, 2011, in the Arrington Auditorium . Schedule as follows: 2:00-3:00 p.m.—Journaling seminar 3:00-4:00 p.m.—Social hour 4:00-5:00 p.m.—Talk and book signing The talk and book signing is free and open to all; the seminar is free but registration is required as space is limited. Call 226-3670 or e-mail hm@bham.lib.al.us. No previous journaling experience required. Visit The Journal Keeper website ( http://journal-keeper.com/ ) for more information about the author and her book.

Join us for our annual tradition with Birmingham storyteller and actress Dolores Hydock as she presents A Christmas Memory . Truman Capote 's poignant reminiscence of his boyhood in rural Alabama is bought to vivid life in this wonderful holiday performance. Wednesday, December 8, noon. Feed your body and mind at BPL's Brown Bag Lunch programs . You bring the lunch and we'll bring the drinks. Wednesdays at noon in the Arrington Auditorium located on the 4th floor of the Linn-Henley Research Library, 2100 Park Place.

Pizitz in Five Points West Mall, 1970s courtesy of Birmingham Rewound In his latest book, Pizitz: The History of a Birmingham Institution (History Press, 2010), Tim Hollis recalls the days before strip malls and big-box stores when everyone shopped downtown. For more than 80 years, Pizitz offered a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. From the Enchanted Forest that sprung up every Christmas to in-store fashion shows, visiting Pizitz wasn’t just a trip to the store, it was an event. Birmingham native Tim Hollis is the author of more than 15 books, including Dixie Before Disney: 100 Years of Roadside Fun . Books will be available for purchase. Tim Hollis will also sign his new book, Christmas Wishes: A Catalog of Vintage Holiday Treats and Treasurers . Details Central Library Richard Arrington Jr. Auditorium Wednesday, December 1 at noon Tim Hollis, Pizitz: The History of a Birmingham Institution The Birmingham Bound author series recognizes authors who researched their books in the Birm...

In 2008 the story broke of a 42-year-old Austrian woman named Elisabeth who had been held captive in a cellar for 24 years. Her father, Josef Fritzl, imprisoned her in a 380 x 600 sq. ft. room and over the years fathered seven children with her. Three of the children were taken upstairs as babies to be raised as foster children by Fritzl and his wife, the others were left in the cellar to be raised by their mother. When the children heard noises overhead, their mother told them that "Heaven is up there." What must life had been like in that bunker home for Elisabeth and her children? Emma Donoghue explores this question in Room . Room begins the day that Jack turns five. He went to sleep in Wardrobe the night before when he was four, and now he's five, and his Ma knows that Room can't contain them any longer. So she begins to think of ways to trick Old Nick—their captor—into opening the door and letting them Outside. But while the 11 x 11 shed that is Room has been ...

Get ready for hilarious holiday high-jinx as some talented residents of the North Pole perform in their annual talent show. The zany, colorful cast includes a wisecracking fruitcake, a musical goose, the “not-so-abominable” snowman, and much, much more! Atlanta-based puppeteer Lee Bryan often incorporates multiple styles of puppets which he demonstrates “behind the scenes” following each performance. Bryan is a two-time grant recipient from the Jim Henson Foundation and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on the Spanish language series Salsa! Details The North Pole Fa-La-La-La Follies Avondale Regional Library Tuesday, December 7 6:30 p.m. BPL@Night is a series of high quality evening performances offered free-of-charge by Birmingham Public Library in an effort to bring enriching cultural programs to downtown Birmingham and the city’s neighborhoods. BPL@Night highlights local and regional performers that reflect the diversity of our community and draw from a wide range of p...

Friday & Saturday, December 3 & 4 Birmingham's many talented writers will shine this weekend at the Central Library! Special Guests: Dale Brakhage & Edie Hand The ABC’s of Selling with Etiquette Central Library, Arrington Auditorium December 3, 4:00 p.m. Join our featured guests Dale Brakhage and Edie Hand as they kick off BPL’s annual Local Author Expo with a special presentation on their new book, The ABC’s of Selling with Etiquette . Dale Brakhage designed the original marketing plan for Lortab, served as president of the American Advertising Federation Birmingham, and has recently retired from his position as sales manager for The Birmingham News. Edie Hand is the CEO of Hand ‘N Hand Advertising, is actively involved with The Alliance for Women in Media Communications, and works to benefit several children’s research hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital of Alabama. 2010 LOCAL AUTHOR EXPO Central Library , East Building December 4, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. C...

Poets, aspiring poets, and poetry clubs in grades 9-12, and teachers are invited to participate in a free spoken word poetry workshop at the Birmingham Public Central Library (BPL) on January 8, 2:00-4:00 p.m. The session will be held in the Arrington Auditorium. If this is your first foray into spoken word poetry, or you’d like to take your skills to the next level, sign up. Planning to participate in the next BPL Word Up! contest? Now is the time to hone your skills. Space is limited. Call 226-3670 or email hm@bham.lib.al.us to reserve your spot. Free of charge! The Desert Island Supply Company (DISCO), a nonprofit writing program based in Birmingham, and Real Life Poets , a nonprofit organization whose goal is to mentor young adults, encourage good communication, and oratorical skills using spoken word poetry will conduct these free workshops.

With the budget drastically cut, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) launched the 2010 Campaign in order to raise money for library materials. In its first three months, the generous citizens of Birmingham have donated over $20,000 to the library. For the next phase of the campaign, the library is encouraging everyone to “Give the Gift of Reading.” The library is providing a unique way for residents to satisfy their holiday gift-giving. By making a minimum $20 donation in honor of each gift recipient, the Birmingham Public Library will purchase new materials for the community. For each donation, the library will send the gift recipient a card explaining that library materials were purchased in that person’s honor. In addition, BPL will send each gift recipient a 2010 edition of Season’s Readings , the library’s award-winning publication of book reviews written by staff members. Those interested in this opportunity to “Give the Gift of Reading” may visit one of the 19 BPL locations for...

Lester Ray, a fourteen-year-old boy who was deserted by his mother when he was a baby and finally escapes his abusive alcoholic father, and Minnie, a woman who was abandoned by her Gypsy family of migrant fruit pickers when she was eleven, are the primary characters in William Cobb ’s new book The Last Queen of the Gypsies . The book peers into the fascinating world of North American Romany Gypsies and simultaneously reveals small town southern life ranging from the Great Depression to the 1960s . Mr. Cobb’s discussion of his latest book is presented as part of Birmingham Public Library’s Alabama Bound Presents series. William Cobb, a native of Demopolis Alabama, attended Livingston State College and Vanderbilt University. He has had a long and distinguished career as teacher and writer-in-residence at the University of Montevallo. Details Alabama Bound Presents: William Cobb Central Library , Arrington Auditorium Wednesday, January 12 12:00 p.m. Alabama Bound Presents is a series ...

BPL lost a great one last Friday. It is common knowledge that Dr. Marvin Yeomans Whiting built the Archives Department from the ground up (or down, rather, seeing as how it's in the basement.) Like many of us, Dr. Whiting loved the library. He also loved Alabama and Southern authors, as well as classical music, and a good, tobacco pipe. He was a master entertainer and one of the finest raconteurs that our city has ever claimed. He was forever an archivist and historian and his list of books is quite remarkable (and listed below in his bibliography). I came across a biography of him that current Archivist Jim Baggett wrote on the occasion of BPL's 2001 Alabama Bound Author Conference, where Dr. Whiting was a featured author. This short piece does a fine job of summarizing the accomplishments of this great man. Here it is: "No individual has done more to collect and preserve the documentary history of Birmingham, Alabama than Marvin Yeomans Whiting. "Born in Fort Valley...

Children show off their turkey crafts during a special "Thanksgiving" Story Time at Springville Road Branch Library. Story times are held every Wednesday at 10 am.

Tutor.com presents a career webinar series this fall at the Birmingham Public Library. From finding writing resumes and finding jobs online to interviewing skills, these webinars cover topics essential to finding the job you want. Free of charge. A great interview is vital to securing the job you want. Learn how to feel comfortable during an interview, the latest interviewing styles and techniques, and how to answer the top two interview questions that all job applicants are asked. Course instructor Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers , has over fifteen years of experience in career management, recruiting, and executive coaching. She is a triple-certified resume writer, a six-time award winner in the international Toast of the Resume Industry competition, and her work has been featured in over two dozen resume writing and career management publications. Details Central Library, Arrington Auditorium Wednesday, December 1 2:00 p.m.

The 2010 Local Authors Expo will be held at the Central Library , Saturday, December 4 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Over 100 Local authors will be there to discuss, sell, and autograph their books. The Expo is sponsored by the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library. Make plans today to attend this exciting event!

Dora Sims, Past-President of the Friends of BPL, presents BPL Librarian Caleb West with the 2010 Beyond the Budget Award for the purchase of eBooks. Congratulations to Caleb and the Acquisitions Department for such an outstanding proposal and idea! Each year, the Friends encourage BPL departments and branch libraries to submit proposals for the funding of new programs, equipment, or materials not included in the Library's operating budget. The Friends Board of Directors choose one project and award a grant up to $1,500 to the chosen department or branch library. The goal of this award is to identify needs and help the staff and patrons of BPL. BPL will really benefit from the purchase of this new material. For more information on eBooks, click here . BPL would like to extend a big thank you to the Friends of BPL !

The East Lake Branch Library Grand Re-opening is today at noon. Want to take a look, but can't be there in person? Take a virtual tour by clicking the image above. The updated East Lake Library building features a fully restored second floor auditorium with a stage and a completely redesigned public service area on the first floor.

Selected neighborhood branch libraries in the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) system will begin a holiday schedule Monday, November 22 that runs through Friday, January 7, 2011. The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for Ensley, North Avondale, Powderly, Woodlawn, and Wylam. Both East Ensley and Inglenook will be open from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. All other BPL locations will maintain their regular schedules. For additional information on BPL locations and hours of operation , please visit our Web site at www.bplonline.org .

November 20th is National Adoption Day ! Did you know that there are 114,000 children waiting to be adopted in the United States? This Saturday, approximately 3,500 children will be adopted, and there are events all across the country celebrating adoption and raising awareness. The Jefferson Country Department of Human Resources is hosting a party at the Birmingham Dream Center featuring food, pony rides, bowling, miniature golf, and much more for families who have adopted. Adoption is an amazing way to change a child's life. Stop by the Social Sciences Department of the Birmingham Public Library and check out our resources on adoption .

Home for the Holidays (1995) is an enjoyable little Thanksgiving movie jampacked with some big talent. Directed by Jodie Foster , it's about an art restorer named Claudia ( Holly Hunter ) who loses her job Thanksgiving eve and reluctantly heads home to spend the holidays at her parents' ( Anne Bancroft , Charles Durning ) house. Crazy Aunt Glady ( Geraldine Chaplin ) will be there, along with her uptight sister Joanne ( Cynthia Stevenson ), and Joanne's husband ( Steve Guttenberg ) and kids. And for moral support, Claudia's favorite sibling Tommy ( Robert Downey Jr. ) arrives with a handsome friend in tow ( Dylan McDermott ). The tension comes from the siblings, all three of whom are so different from one another that small slights—real or perceived—that have been smoldering for decades are about to erupt in a powder keg explosion at the dinner table. What they really think of one another is about to be revealed, and what comes out of prim Joanne's mouth is shockin...