Birmingham Public Library Blog

We are a few days away from the beginning of African-American History Month. Many students will be looking for books and information to help them complete assignments. A good place to start is the subject guide for African-American History Month . The guide provides a list of reference books, databases, magazines, newspapers, and websites you can use to find the information you need. A separate list of reference books for younger students is also included in the guide. The library subscribes to two databases that focus specifically on African Americans: Oxford African American Studies Center and African-American History Online . There is also a local database on the Birmingham Black Barons compiled by the Government Documents Department . It provides a keyword index to local newspaper articles written about the Negro League baseball team from 1919 to 1962. Several new reference sources have been added to the subject guide this year, so be sure to keep these in mind as you begin your

Emily Hanna, Curator of Arts of Africa and the Americas at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA), will talk about great works of African art from the BMA permanent collection. Wednesday, February 1, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) celebrates Black History Month with a series of programs on the Arts. February’s Brown Bag Lunch topics include visual arts, performing arts, language arts, and theatre arts. This program series promises to be thought-provoking, enlightening, and enjoyable. Mark your calendar and join us on the following dates at noon: February 1 Treasures of African Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art Emily G. Hanna, the Curator of Arts of Africa and the Americas at the Birmingham Museum of Art , will discuss great works of African art from the museum’s permanent collection and the re-installation of the African art gallery. February 8 Alabama School of Fine Arts Presents The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) Music Department will present a performance featuring the ASFA Choir, String Orchestra, and Jazz Combo groups performing music by African American composers. Directed by Kimberly Scott, Laura Doss, and Robert Janssen, these ensembles are sure to inspire and

The Birmingham Public Library’s (BPL) popular Bards & Brews Poetry Slam is hitting the road in February. Held the first Friday of each month, the February edition of Bards & Brews will travel to the Avondale Regional Library . The program begins at 6:30 p.m. with live music. This particular session on February 3, 2012 is open mic rather than a slam. Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins is the emcee. He will deftly guide both novice and veteran poets through an evening of verbal banter ranging from comic to social commentary. The Avondale Regional Library is located at 509 40th Street South. Bards & Brews is one of the ways the Birmingham Public Library is reaching out to a younger demographic. The craft beer movement in which beer is elevated to the level of fine wine as something to be savored and appreciated has really taken hold especially among the younger generation. The pairing of beer tastings along with poetry slams which have grown in popularity in recent years make

The Federation of Genealogical Societies is bringing their 2012 national conference to Birmingham from August 29-September 1, 2012. This year's theme is "Indians, Squatters, Settlers and Soldiers in the 'Old Southwest'" and is hosted by the Alabama Genealogical Society . Visit FGS Voice for registration information and the FGS Conference News Blog for breaking news about lectures, speakers, vendors, events, and more. Whether you’re a beginner in genealogy or an advanced researcher, there is sure to be something for you at this year's FGS conference.

Join Merrill Lynch financial adviser Ricky Bruni to learn more about 529 college investment accounts and how you can save for your child’s or grandchild’s college education. Wednesday, January 25, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

Lumumba’s textile art of the late Billie Holiday is one of the quilts on display and available for purchase. “Stitch your stress away,” is a quote that quilter Aisha Lumumba has taken to heart. Many hours of hard work are visible in the more than 20 quilts depicting noted African Americans currently on display in the Fourth Floor Exhibition Gallery at the Birmingham Public Library. This exhibition includes likenesses of President and Mrs. Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and the late Billie Holiday. Each piece reflects the textile artist’s heritage and interest in history. The African American History Makers Quilt Exhibition opened earlier this month and runs through February 24 at the Central Library located at 2100 Park Place. Lumumba will present a Gallery Talk on Saturday, January 28, in the 4th Floor Gallery of the downtown library at 2:00 p.m. The artist will focus on the inspirations and stories behind her striking quilts. As a youngster, Lumumba sewed and created art projects with

Join Merrill Lynch financial adviser Ricky Bruni to learn more about 529 college investment accounts and how you can save for your child’s or grandchild’s college education. Wednesday, January 25, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

To make room for new donations, the Friends Bookstore is having a book sale beginning Sunday, January 29, and lasting through February 5. The sale will take place outside the bookstore on the second floor of the Central Library . Only $6 for as many books as you can stuff into a bag. They'll even throw in a Friends cloth book bag in the deal! The public is invited to a meeting of the Friends of the BPL on January 29 at 2:30 p.m. in the Youth Department Story Castle, which can be entered by a door in the back of the bookstore. Come listen to the projects planned for the bookstore in 2012, and learn about becoming a Friends volunteer. Recent donations include: nonfiction books on the subjects of history, politics, religion, self-help, and biography; Christian fiction hardbacks; magazines, including foreign language publications; some Russian magazines and books; LP albums and album sets from the '50s, '60s, and '70s; specially-priced Marvel and DC comic books; VHS movies

WHAT: High school students (grades 9-12) in Jefferson County are invited to celebrate their voices through a poetry slam. The students will write and perform an original work, inspired by the theme "Milestones." The participants in WORD UP! will be the winners from each school's contest. WORD UP! is hosted by the Birmingham Public Library. WHEN: Sunday, April 1, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. WHERE: Central Library, Arrington Auditorium HOW: Tell your teacher or school librarian that you want to participate. Visit the WORD UP! website http://www.jclc.org/wordup.aspx for details. The deadline for schools to participate is Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Call 226-3670 or e-mail hm@bham.lib.al.us. Cash prizes will be awarded: 1st Place: $300; 2nd Place: $200; 3rd Place: $150.

Guest authors Larry Brimner, Jo Kittinger, and Evelyn Coleman pose with Birmingham City School Phillips Academy's Readers On the Move Book Club. Authors Larry Brimner, Evelyn Coleman, and Jo Kittinger shared personal stories that motivated these authors to pen books for young readers at the Birmingham Public Library’s Ninth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Lecture program. The midday program was attended by students from Phillips Academy’s Readers On the Move Book Club, Mrs. Sephira Shuttlesworth, and numerous library patrons. The panel program began with Brimner, sharing some of his experiences as a young history teacher in the Mexican community. One of the pivotal moments as an educator in the area was the warning he received to limit his social circle to non-Mexicans. This experience along with his family ties to Birmingham set the stage for his award-wining book, Birmingham Sunday . Birmingham resident Jo Kittinger recounted her inspiration to create the story of Rosa’s

Dream BIG and earn a free circus ticket! Children ages 2-12 may visit their local library to register for a FREE ticket to the circus! The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be performing at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Arena this year from Wed. Jan. 25th through Sun. Jan. 29th, and participating children who complete four (4) books before then can get a free ticket to see the Greatest Show on Earth! Here's how it works: Speak with a librarian in the Youth Department at your local public library to register each child (age 2-12). Each child must complete at least four ( 4 ) books to receive his or her redeemable ticket from the library . The ticket is redeemable ONLY at the BJCC Concert Hall Box Office with the purchase of one ( 1 ) Adult ticket at full price . So, ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages... what are you waiting for? Hurry up and use your trapeze, unicycle, or clown car to get to the library!

"Think about a life without them. 'Nuff said," as one of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative's Facebook friend said. It is hard to think of life without the library cooperative. That is why we are so excited that they are participating in Alabama Gives Day. On February 2, 2012, thousands of area residents are going to show their support for their favorite nonprofit during Alabama Gives Day. On that day, every donation will help to further the important work of JCLC. We need your help with these three things: 1) Mark February 2, 2012 on your calendar and add this giving link http://algives.razoo.com/story/jclc 2) Follow them on Facebook and Twitter and help build the buzz. 3) Spread the word! Tell your family and friends why you believe in JCLC's work, and why they should give on February 2, 2012. Please be JCLC's champion! We can’t wait to celebrate the difference your generosity will make on February 2, 2012.

For the Birmingham Public Library’s ninth annual Martin Luther King lecture, three prominent children’s book authors will share their experiences and insights researching and writing African American history for young readers. Join us to hear Larry Dane Brimner , author of Birmingham Sunday ; Jo Kittinger , author of Rosa’s Bus ; and Evelyn Coleman , author of White Socks Only . Books will be available for purchase and signing. Wednesday, January 18, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

Spoken word poets from around the region will perform their original works to kick off the WORD UP! 2012 Fifth Anniversary celebration. Shaunteka Curry, Will Gillette, Glennwood, Jerri Hardesty, Huggybear Da Poet, Matt Layne, Eric Marabale, and Illyshia Parker are scheduled to perform. There will also be evening programs celebrating the WORD UP! anniversary on Tuesday, March 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 6:30 p.m. (details will be posted closer to the event dates). A teen poetry workshop led by Real Life Poets will follow the showcase. Details WORD UP! Kick Off Central Library , Arrington Auditorium Saturday, January 21, 2012 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. *** WORD UP! is a poetry slam for high school students (grades 9-12) in Jefferson County hosted by the Birmingham Public Library. The students will write and perform an original work inspired by the theme "Milestones." The participants in WORD UP! will be the winners from each school's contest. Each school is responsible for holding its o

The Birmingham Public Library presents the Ninth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, January 18 at 12:00 p.m. The topic this year focuses on telling stories—telling stories of the Civil Rights Movement to children . The program titled “Teach Your Children Well: Writing African American History for Young Readers” will feature award-winning authors of children’s books sharing insights on creating books for young readers that tell the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The program is from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arrington Auditorium of the Birmingham Public Library, Central. The panelists include: • Larry Brimner , author of a wide variety of children’s books, including We Are One: the Story of Bayard Rustin . Rustin was Martin Luther King’s advisor, a Freedom Rider , and the man who planned the 1963 March on Washington . • Evelyn Coleman , author of several highly-acclaimed children’s books about the Civil Rights Movement, including Freedom Train and

As part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Lecture, three authors will visit various branches of the Birmingham Public Library to share their insights on writing books for young readers that tell the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Central Library Wednesday, January 18 at 9:30 a.m. Author: Larry Brimner Larry Brimner is an author of a wide variety of children’s books, including We Are O ne: the Story of Bayar d Rus ti n . Rustin was Martin Luther King’s advisor, a Freedom Rider, and the man who planned the 1963 March on Washington. Brimner's program focuses on the five-step writing process and will touch on mining for ideas, story development, research techniques, and/or any combination of these topics as he takes students through several titles from ideas to publication. West End Branch Library Thursday, January 19, 3:30 p.m. Author: Jo Kittinger Jo Kittinger is a Birmingham native and author of Rosa’s Bus: the Ride to Civil Rig hts . Kittinger's program focuses

When you know the secret, The process is clear. Supplies help make it - ART in the New Year! January's program, Chemistry of Art Supplies , will focus on making homemade clay and other art supplies from everyday household items. January Programs Avondale Regional Branch Library , January 3, 3:30 p.m. East Lake Branch Library , January 17, 4:00 p.m. Springville Road Regional Branch Library , January 25, 4:00 p.m. The Art of Science is a grant-funded after-school program conducted by Elinor and Winfield Burks at six Birmingham Public Library branches: Avondale, East Lake, Five Points West, North Birmingham, Powderly, and Springville Road. The program will run nine months—from September 2011 through December 2012—and will cover the science of nutrition, geometry, sound, plants, optics, recycling, and materials engineering in a hands-on atmosphere. Each program will begin with a science principle and end with a craft or group project. Supplies for the crafts are provided. At each sessi

A dialysis healthcare professional from DaVita Inc. will be on hand at the Titusville Branch Library to instruct people with stage 4 and 5 kidney disease on how to prepare for dialysis, how to make healthy lifestyle choices, insurance instruction, medicines, and options in dealing with kidney disease. The classes are designed to provide information and answer questions so that you are empowered with the knowledge you need to make better decisions about your health. Register online or contact Sara Kennedy at 205-986-7616 or dial 1-888-695-4363. Details Making Healthy Choices Titusville Branch Library #2 6th Avenue SW, 35211 (205) 322-1140 Tuesday, January 24, 2012 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Remember in Aliens when Ripley was found drifting in hypersleep for 57 years and didn't age a day, although those she loved on Earth were dead? That blew my mind, but to be fair it's so easily blown. Well, have a calculator handy, because the math for figuring out this whole Ender Saga/Shadows Saga and time passage on Earth and in space can get a little "flustrating," as my dad says. Ender's Game began as a short story and was published in 1977. Ender's Game the novel was published in 1985. The sequel to Ender's Game is Speaker for the Dead (1986), and belongs to a series that includes Xenocide (1991) and Children of the Mind (1996) and follows Ender as an adult. However, the direct sequel to Ender's Game is Ender in Exile (2008), and takes place 3,000 years before the events in the sequel Speaker for the Dead , right where Ender's Game leaves off. Ender's Shadow (1999) takes place at the same time as the events in Ender's Game ,

As a service to the community, the Birmingham Public Library provides copies of current Federal and Alabama tax forms, instructions, and publications. Basic forms are available at most library locations ; a more extensive collection of forms is available in the Government Documents Department in the Linn-Henley Research Library. Please contact your library to ensure that any forms you need are available. Check back for updated information in the coming months. Tax forms and instructions may also be downloaded from the Internet. Federal Forms IRS forms and publications Request IRS forms by mail State Forms Alabama Department of Revenue General Resources Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - This governmental site has United States federal income tax forms, information, and tips. Includes warnings about tax frauds and scams, information about filling online, and the ability to track the status of your refund. Yahoo! Finance: Tax Center - Tax forms, estimators, calculators, preparation, g

North Avondale Branch of the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) celebrates January as National Soup Month with a Friday Night Soup Social on January 13. The library staff headed by Saundra Ross-Forrest will visit a local assisted living residence for senior citizens to present an overview of North Avondale Branch Library’s services, resources, and upcoming programs. This community outreach program is just one example of the partnerships BPL shares with communities systemwide. In addition to ladling up refreshments of hearty taco soup, the evening activities will also include a screening of the feature film The Help . The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same title, and one of BPL’s Top 5 books selected by patrons in 2011. The BPL has copies of the novel by author Kathryn Stockett, in book and e-book formats, as well as DVDs of the film. With a valid library card in good standing, you may reserve books or films at the library or by visiting the library website, www

For the Birmingham Public Library’s ninth annual Martin Luther King lecture, three prominent children’s book authors will share their experiences and insights researching and writing African American history for young readers. Join us to hear Larry Dane Brimner , author of Birmingham Sunday ; Jo Kittinger , author of Rosa’s Bus ; and Evelyn Coleman , author of White Socks Only . Books will be available for purchase and signing. Wednesday, January 18, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

Aileen Kilgore Henderson will discuss her new biography of Alabama’s first state geologist, Eugene Allen Smith’s Alabama: How a Geologist Shaped a State . Beginning in 1873, Smith spent his summers enduring chills, fevers, and verbal abuse as he searched for industrial raw materials that could bring about better lives for destitute Alabamians. Traveling in a mule-drawn wagon, he recorded in his journal detailed observations, botanical and geological discoveries, and mineral analyses. He loaded the wagon with specimens for the University of Alabama museum he dreamed of creating and recorded vivid descriptions of Alabama in transition. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Wednesday, January 11, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

Harris wrote "Boulder to Birmingham" following the death of her friend and sometimes singing partner, Gram Parsons . Parsons died of an overdose at age 26 in a hotel room in Joshua Tree, California. We don't care how few years Emmylou Harris actually lived in Birmingham, we're claiming the singer with the voice of an angel as our own. Harris was born at East End Memorial hospital in Birmingham on April 2, 1947. Daughter of a marine, Harris and her family moved often, but she lived in Woodlawn and attended elementary school there until her family packed up and moved to North Carolina when she was six. Harris' mother's family were farmers in Chilton and Elmore counties; her maternal grandparents lived in Birmingham. In interviews and concerts, Harris speaks often of her idyllic childhood in Alabama. Once on stage before singing " Red Dirt Girl "—a song about two friends living in Alabama—she joked that it's illegal in the music business and one

In wrapping up the year, we looked at the number of items circulating from the library in 2011. Our patrons have checked out 1,380,991 titles. When we look closely at what’s checked out, we found our patrons' most popular picks on the following Top Five list of DVDs, Adult Fiction, and Juvenile Books. DVDs Diary Of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (totally entertaining for adults and kids, too) True Grit The Adjustment Bureau The Fighter The Tourist Adult Fiction Books 10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro The Help by Kathryn Stockett (this title was a first novel and breakout success) I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark The Sixth Man by David Baldacci Now You See Her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge Juvenile Books Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Junie B., First Grader (At Last!) by Barbara Park The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (a perennial favorite) Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes Joseph Had a Little Ove

Fiddler , a quilt depicting Louis Gossett Jr.'s role in the TV miniseries Roots “Stitch your stress away,” is a quote that quilter Aisha Lumumba has taken to heart. Many hours of hard work are visible in the more than 20 quilts depicting noted African Americans currently on display in the Fourth Floor Exhibition Gallery at the Birmingham Public Library. This exhibition includes likenesses of President and Mrs. Obama , Oprah Winfrey , and the late Billie Holiday . Each piece reflects the textile artist’s heritage and interest in history. The African American History Makers Quilt Exhibition opened January 3 and runs through February 24 at the Central Library located at 2100 Park Place. As a youngster, Lumumba sewed and created art projects with fabric. She learned quilting by watching elders stitch colorful cloth swatches together; she began her first quilt as a teenager. With more than 25 years of experience working with textile arts, Lumumba strives to capture the musical r

The Birmingham Public Library presents the Ninth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, January 18 at 12:00 p.m. The topic this year focuses on telling stories—telling stories of the Civil Rights Movement to children . The program titled Teach Your Children Well: Writing African American History for Young Readers will feature award-winning authors of children’s books sharing insights on creating books for young readers that tell the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The program is from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arrington Auditorium of the Birmingham Public Library, Central. The panelists include: • Larry Brimner , author of a wide variety of children’s books, including We Are One: the Story of Bayard Rustin . Rustin was Martin Luther King’s advisor, a Freedom Rider , and the man who planned the 1963 March on Washington . • Evelyn Coleman , author of several highly-acclaimed children’s books about the Civil Rights Movement, including Freedom Train and

Each year BPL staff list their favorite books from the previous year in a free guide called Season’s Readings . This year the library has revamped the look and title of the publication, renaming it Books for All Seasons and streamlining the design and content. Now published at the beginning of each year, Books for All Seasons will be available to the public year-round. Books for All Seasons includes recommendations for adults, teens, and children in both fiction and nonfiction. Each book is chosen by a staff or board member as one that they enjoyed reading in the previous year—not necessarily one that was published in the previous year. This year’s Books for All Seasons includes fiction titles such as American Vampire by Scott Snyder , Rafael Albuquerque , and Stephen King ; The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien ; and The Paris Wife by Paula McLain . Nonfiction titles featured are At Home: a Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson ; Bossypants by Tina Fey ; and Malcolm X: A Life o