Birmingham Public Library Blog

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...

The Birmingham Public Library is excited to announce the re-opening of the East Lake Branch Library located at 5 Oporto Madrid Boulevard. The library opens to the public at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, with a program and reception. To attend the celebration, the public may park at the Agape Missionary Baptist Church located at 7631-1st Avenue North. The renovated facility now boasts an elevator, a fully restored second floor atrium, and a completely redesigned public service area on the first floor. Please celebrate this beautifully renovated library with us. Details East Lake Branch Library Re-opening Thursday, November 18, 2010 Noon

Olivia Johnson, 8, and Lyles Little, 11, design their "hands" to put on our window as Annette Johnson looks on. Location: Springville Road Branch

Give us a hand! Come to the Springville Road Branch Library and decorate a "hand," telling us what you're thankful for this Thanksgiving season. We'll put it up as one of our Turkey "Tales." Location: Springville Road Branch

Choctaw girls in 1868, Smithsonian Institution Join us as Jackie Matte discusses the Indigenous People of Alabama. Matte grew up in Washington County, Alabama, near Old St. Stephens. She is an independent scholar, with master's degrees in history and in secondary education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has taught at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and in the Mountain Brook School System, and in 1991 she received a Teacher-Scholar Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities for one year of independent study. The research she did that year on Southeastern Indians was published in Social Education , the professional journal of the National Council for Social Studies . She has also written They Say the Wind is Red: the Alabama Choctaw Lost in their Own Land . Wednesday, November 17, 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 Auditoriu...

Don't forget to set your clocks back 1 hour tonight for the time change! With your extra hour of time, check out these books on the history of time change! Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Savings Time by David Prerau Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Savings Time by Michael Downing Time Lord: Sir Sandford Fleming and the Creation of Standard Time by Clark Blaise Stop the Social Sciences Department and pick up these books today! Enjoy your extra hour of reading!

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) will host “That Puppet Guy” Lee Bryan, jazz guitarist Keith “Cashmere” Williams, and celebrated storyteller Dolores Hydock in its December BPL@Night programming line-up. Lee Bryan will present a festive, hilarious performance for the whole family at the Avondale Library on Tuesday, December 7; Keith Williams will perform at the Springville Road Library on Thursday, December 9; and Dolores Hydock will present Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory at the Central Library, also on December 9. These events are free and open to the public. Avondale Library December 7 at 6:30 p.m. The North Pole Fa-La-La-La Follies 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 dem...

Poets, aspiring poets, and poetry clubs in grades 9-12, and teachers are invited to participate in free spoken word poetry workshops at the Birmingham Public Central Library (BPL) on December 4 and January 8, 2:00-4:00 p.m. The December session will be held in the Story Castle on the 2nd floor; the January 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. Each workshop will differ in focus. 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! Details Saturday, December 4 Central Library Youth Department Story Castle, 2nd floor 2:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 8 Central Library Arrington Auditorium, Linn-Henley bldg., 3rd floor 2:00-4:00 p.m. The Desert Island Supply Company (DISCO), a nonprofit writing program based in Birmingham, and R...

One of our youngest patrons, four and half years old, loves his visits to the library. His mother told him the library needed help to buy new books, dvds and cds. He decided to do something himself. He gathered together some of his toys to sell and set up a lemonade stand. He raised $35 which he presented to Avondale Library on November 2. The next generation is stepping up to the plate. How about you? PLEASE GIVE TODAY

Woodlawn High mural restoration project , photo courtesy of John Bertalan Bruce Dupree, historian, ACES, from Auburn, Alabama; and John Bertalan, art conservator from Birmignham, discuss the discovery and saving of Birmingham murals. Wednesday, November 10, 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.

Today is Election Day, November 2, 2010 in Alabama. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Don't forget to bring photo identification! Need some last minute information on a candidiate? Visit our 2010 Alabama Elections subject guide! We will update the subject guide tomorrow with voting results and the latest news. Now, get out and vote!

Scenes from the 2010 Ghoul's Ball.