National Library Week Kicks Off Sunday

An annual celebration highlighting the significant roles that libraries play in our lives and communities, kicks off this Sunday.

Throughout National Library Week (April 19 through Saturday, April 25), the Birmingham Public Library will join other libraries nationwide spotlighting how libraries continue to remain relevant during the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s theme is “Find Your Place at the Library.”

Though our doors are not currently open patrons can still find a place in the library by accessing the variety of virtual services that are being offered. BPL has audiobooks, e-books, music CDs, downloadable movies and a variety of free programs available online that patrons can access while at home.

Some of BPL’s online programs include:

• Virtual story times by Mrs. Eve of Avondale Regional Library, whose popular videos were featured by JehJeh Pruitt on Fox 6 News’ Good Day Alabama and on WVTM NBC 13. Read Mrs. Eve's feature on NBC 13 at this link.

• The 2020 BPL Spring Reading Challenge, which kicked off in on March 23 and ends on April 30, 2020. Students who read the most books online win weekly prizes.

 • The BPL Local Authors Reading Challenge, featuring past participants of the BPL Local Authors Expo who submitted videos reciting samples of their books

• Springville Road Regional Library on April 10 debuted Virtual Grubdown, a weekly video which shows staff feeding their pets and providing viewers with interesting tidbits about the animals.

The first Virtual Grubdown program featured a spotlight on Roderick and Rodrigo, two Madagascar hissing cockroaches. See the video link by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8xA-XH5gv0&t=30s

The April 17 Virtual Grubdown featured Magellen the Tortoise. Click here for the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UASR4RC0iDk&t=25s 

• The BPL Photo Challenge kicked off April 1. Patrons are urged to take photos and post them on social media with the hashtag #BHMLIB247. The Jefferson County Public Library Association is joining in by launching a photo challenge to county library employees during National Library Week on  April 20.

• As part of National Poetry Month, North Birmingham Regional Library is hosting a poetry contest through the month of April and winners will receive prizes.

• Smithfield Branch Library has partnered with fitness trainer, Curtis Starks, who is offering free online fitness classes to the public including BPL patrons. The program kicked at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17.

For a complete listing of BPL's virtual programming, go to the BPL website www.cobpl.org and click on the calendar. You can also follow BPL on Facebook and Twitter.

As part of the National Library Week 2020 campaign, the I Love Libraries Facebook Page, is hosting a campaign for participants to post how their library’s virtual storytime, book club or other program has made a difference at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Post the hashtag #ThankYouLibraries and tag your library, and one randomly selected winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card. The promotion starts at noon on Sunday, April 19, ending at noon on Saturday, April 25.

Here are highlights of 2020 National Library Week:

* Monday, April 20: State of America's Libraries Report, including Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2019, released by the American Library Association.

*  Tuesday, April 21: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions of all library workers. 

* Wednesday, April 22, National Bookmobile Day, set aside to recognize national bookmobiles  and the dedicated professionals who make bookmobile outreach available in their communities.

 * Thursday, April 23: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates for libraries. Post on social media how your local libraries make your community stronger, using the hashtag #LibrariesStrong.