Birmingham Public Library Young Professionals Now Accepting Nominations for New Members

BPLYP are recruiting new members from June 1-December 31, 2016.
In photo left to right are some of the group's members: Fatima Carter, Joelle
Limbaugh, Sabrina Mays, Kristy Stewart, Dionne Clark, and James A. Sullivan.

The Birmingham Public Library Young Professionals (BPLYP) is accepting nominations for new members ages 25-40. In their fourth year as an organization, the BPLYP are a dynamic group of young professionals who support the literary culture of the Birmingham region and are committed to making the library the center of lifelong learning for the city.

The group hosts lectures, special collection tours, and other social events, volunteer their time and skills, and work to increase the public's awareness and access to the library’s resources. For many institutions and organizations all over the country, young professionals provide volunteer manpower, bring attention to an organization from a new group of leaders, and their modest annual financial contributions help to sustain organizations. Membership in such groups is a popular way to broaden skills and experience in the business world while supporting a worthy organization.

While the library’s base operating expenses are provided by the City of Birmingham (as a city department), nearly all of its programming for children and adults is supported by fundraising efforts and through its fundraising arm, the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library. Funds raised by the BPLYP provide direct aid to essential programs and materials for youth and adults, early literacy programming for children, and quality annual events such as the Eat Drink Read Write Festival to be held in October 2016. The work of the BPLYP impacts the nearly 2 million people served in the city’s 19 libraries each year.

The Birmingham Public Library Young Professionals nominees should be true stewards of the library—individuals who are willing to commit time and resources for the benefit of the library system. The organization seeks a diverse group of people from various backgrounds and professions who love the library and the creative and thoughtful life that it represents. Beginning June 1 through December 31, 2016, the BPLYP will accept nominations and applications for members of the Board of the Birmingham Public Library Young Professionals. For information on how to nominate someone or apply, visit the library’s website at www.bplonline.org/yp or send an email to bcsmith@bham.lib.al.us.