Birmingham Public Library Blog

What : Brothers & Bow Ties: A Vision Cast Virtual Event   When : Saturday, January 16, 10:00 a.m.   Where : Birmingham Public Library Facebook Page Details : As part of a citywide celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, the Birmingham Public Library will host “Brothers and Bow Ties: A Vision Cast Virtual Event” on Saturday, January 16. BPL is seeking donations of  hats, gloves, coats, masks, tote bags, soup, sandwiches, and other items to be distributed to  those in need on Monday, January 18 at the Birmingham Public Library downtown as part of the Day of Service activities taking place on MLK Day The Birmingham Public Library is preparing to host “2021 Brothers and Bow Ties: A Vision Cast” virtual event, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2021.  The event is part of a citywide celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, and will include a panel of black men offering inspirational words of encouragement to young boys and teenagers between the ages of 11 and 18. Th

  The New Year lies ahead with books to be read, and adventures to be led.  May you find fulfillment and joy all year long!  Thank you for your support of the Birmingham Public Library during this challenging and difficult year and please think of BPL for end of year giving. Your gift helps spark imagination, empower individuals, and aids our libraries to make lives better for thousands by providing quality programs and services that help make a better Birmingham.  With your help, the BPL will be able to:  * Serve 2 million visitors per year at 18 locations  * Provide 3,000 programs reaching 60,000 people  * Maintain a million books and research materials  * Care for 30 million historic documents and 500,000 photographs  * Continue to focus on finding creative ways to reach and serve our patrons   Click here to make a donation www.donatenow.networkforgood.org/supportbhampubliclibrary  You can also contribute by making checks payable to:  Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Libr

  What : Bards & Brews Virtual Poetry Slam  When : Friday, January 8, 2021, 6:00 p.m.  Where : Bards &   Brews Facebook Page Details : BPL's poetry slam is open to the 10 poets who pay a $10 fee to enter the competition. The winner will receive a $300 grand prize. The winner will be chosen by a panel of guest judges. Register at Bards.Brews@cobpl.org between January 1 and January 6, 2021.    Birmingham, Ala.- Some of Alabama's most talented spoken word poets will be competing for a $300 grand prize on Friday, January 8, 2021 as   the Birmingham Public Library hosts its first ever virtual   Bards & Brews  Poetry Slam.  The Bards & Brews Virtual Slam will take place live beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 8 on the Bards & Brews Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/BardsandBrews ). This will be BPL’s first poetry slam since October 2019 , held at the Central Library A poetry slam is a competition using elimination rounds for the performanc

All 18 Birmingham Public Library locations will be closed on Friday, January 1, 2021, for New Year's Day holiday. Our libraries will reopen during normal business hours on Monday, January 4, 2021. Although patrons will not be able to enter our facilities on New Year's Day, BPL remains open 24/7 online as patrons can check out items on our website and on our mobile app. You can also learn more about our services and programs on our social media accounts including the BPL Facebook pages and our BPL Twitter account.    

  All 18 Birmingham Public Library locations will be closed for the Christmas holiday on Thursday, December 24, and  Friday, December 25, 2020. Since our libraries have not reopened yet on weekends, BPL will not resume services again until Monday, December 28, 2020. Although our locations will be closed for the holidays, remember BPL remains open 24/7 online at www.cobpl.org and on our social media channels. You can also check out books, DVDs and other items by using the BPL mobile app.  Happy Holidays from all of us at BPL and thanks for your support in 2020.  

  By Jim Murray | Business, Science and Technology Department, Central Library  What: Let’s Talk about Medicare: Questions and Answers Facebook Live program When: First Thursday of each month, January-December 2021 Time: 12:00–1:00 p.m.  Where : Birmingham Public Library's Facebook page   Details: Program presenter Albert McWilliams, Sr., a licensed insurance adviser in Birmingham since 2001, will share tips for the public on how to maneuver the complex world of Medicare. For more information, contact the Central Library’s Business, Science and Technology Department by email at cenbusiness@bham.lib.al.us or call (205) 226-3640.  Although patrons are not able to access our buildings, the Birmingham Public Library continues to offer resources and programs to patrons using a variety of virtual platforms.  Birmingham, Ala. -  If you are interested in taking part in an online learning experience that will help you gain a better understanding of your Medicare options and eligibility,

  What: The Flourish Alabama Presents Word Up Festival  When: Friday, December 18, 2020  Time: 6:00 p.m.  Where: BPL Facebook Page – Live www.Facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary  Birmingham, Ala. – The Birmingham Public Library has partnered with The Flourish Alabama and Birmingham City Schools to host the "Word Up" poetry festival!  Watch high school students from Ramsay, Huffman, Carver, and Wenonah compete in a poetry slam for awards and cash prizes.  Tune in live tonight, Friday, December 18, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. on the BPL Facebook page to watch students deliver bards developed during the 12-week course. Created by Eric Marable and Jahman Hill, veteran performers of BPL's Bards & Brews spoken word poetry/craft beer event, The Flourish is a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting seeds that allow young people's talents to bloom. Check them out by clicking on  https://www.theflourishal.com/  

A few weeks ago, Kate Shadix took her daughters, Sapphire and Light, by the Avondale Regional Branch Library to pick up their usual box of 30 books. To say Shadix and her daughters love the Birmingham Public Library is an understatement. Shadix and her family were loyal patrons of the Eastwood Branch Library for years until the pandemic shut it down this fall. Shadix has been bringing her daughters Sapphire, age 9, and Light, 10, to check out books and take advantage of fun family-friendly activities at Eastwood Branch Library since they were toddlers. They have been taking advantage of curbside library services at Avondale Regional Library since the pandemic began, and are excited that in-person services are resuming soon.  In a Q & A, Shadix - joined by her daughters on a few answers - talked about what she loves most about BPL.  BPL: It is the holiday season. As 2020 comes to a close, what do you love most about the Birmingham Public Library?   Kate  Shadix: I’ve been

Janine Langston Janine Langston, a 34-year veteran employee of the  Birmingham Public Library , has been named as BPL’s new interim executive director. Langston replaced Floyd Council, who resigned after three years as executive director effective Tuesday, December 15. The announcement was made following an emergency meeting of the BPL Board of Trustees held today, Wednesday, December 16, 2020.  A native of Pleasant Grove, Langston has a bachelor’s degree in interior furnishings and equipment from Auburn University   (1982) and a Masters in Library Information Studies  from the University of Alabama. She is active in several professional organizations, including the BPL Staff Association,  Jefferson County Library Association ,   Alabama Library Association ,   American Library Association ,  Public Library Association , and  Associationfor Library Services to Children . Langston began her BPL career at  Wylam Branch Library   in 1986, where she spent six years as a neighborhood l

T he Birmingham Public Library is proud to partner with Random House Books to Present "The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963-Celebrating its 25th Anniversary." This conversation between award-winning author Christopher PaulCurtis and Varian Johnson will air live beginning at 6: 00 p.m. Central on the Birmingham Public Library Facebook page .   The event comes as Random House Children’s Books celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release of Curtis’ award-winning The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by releasing an updated version on November 3, 2020. Hailed by the New York Times as “marvelous” and by National Public Radio as a “modern classic,” this new release has additional content that includes a new foreword and afterword from the author, manuscript pages, and personal essays from award-winning authors. It was designed to appeal to adult fans of the book, educators, librarians, and today’s generation of young readers.   In the novel, the Watsons—10-year-old Kenny, Momma, Da

All Birmingham Public Library locations will be closed for the Christmas holiday Thursday, December 24, through Friday, December 25.

What: BPL Presents "Soulful Sundays: Food Truck Fundraiser"  When:  Sunday, December 6, 2020  Time:  12:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Where:  Central Library, 2100 Park Place Admission : Donations of any amount. Proceeds will be allocated to the BPL Mobile Project.  Details :    Families will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa while maintaining social distances. Masks are required.    Birmingham, Ala. –  Families seeking opportunities to   take photos with Santa Claus in a safe, socially distant environment, good food and musical entertainment are invited to the Central Library in downtown Birmingham on Sunday, December 6.     The Birmingham Public Library presents "Soulful Sundays: Food Truck Fundraiser" from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at the Central Library, 2100 Park Place.     Several food truck vendors will be available: Underground Vegan, Broad Street Peaux Boys, The Heavenly Donut Co., Big Daddy BBQ, Simply Soniqua Pound Ca

  Receiving feedback from patrons is a great way for librarians to know they are having a positive impact on the communities they serve.  Employees at the Avondale Regional Library are honored to provide quality services for nearby Red Mountain Community School , as highlighted in this Q&A with Melanie Walker-Malone, head of the school  (click here) Check out these patron testimonials from teachers at Red Mountain Community School on why they’re thankful for their library: Erin Keenan, 1st/2nd Grade Teacher   “Our school has loved using the Avondale library on our “Park Days”. The K-2nd grade set often shows up unannounced. The sweet staff always welcomes the busy, excited, not silent group of 18ish little people with open arms. They are quick to help our kids find just right books, make recommendations, and shower us with bookmarks, and other trinkets. We are so very grateful for the Avondale Library and look forward to visiting again soon.” Melissa Shultz-Jones, 3rd Grade Te

The Birmingham Public Library loves partnering with surrounding schools. Among them: Red Mountain Community School, a longtime user of nearby Avondale Regional Library . Founded in 2005 by a group of Birmingham residents, Red Mountain Community School relies completely on real books – not textbooks – to educate its students, said Head of School Melanie Walker-Malone. Avondale Regional Library has become “an invaluable resource for each classroom teacher and for the school as a whole,” she said. In a Q & A, Walker-Malone talked about why she loves BPL and why she is thankful for Red Mountain Community School’s strong relationship with Avondale Regional Library. Walker-Malone says she has been a BPL patron for her entire life, from being read books as a baby in 1962 to the present day. After graduating with an elementary education degree from UAB in 1983, Walker-Malone worked briefly as a storyteller in the Central Library Youth Department.  BPL: It is Thanksgiving season. Why are

  The Birmingham Public Library Board of Trustees has approved new BPL holiday hours for the week of Thanksgiving. Curbside service will be suspended at Avondale, Five Points West and Springville Road regional libraries during the Thanksgiving holiday.  The changes approved by the BPL board are as follows:  * Suspend Curbside Pickup Service at branch locations ( Avondale , Five Points West , Springville Road ) during Thanksgiving week. November 23-25, 2020.  *  Curbside pickup service will be available at Central (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday) along with in-person service available (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday) on East Building first floor only. * All BPL locations will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27. Remember, BPL remains open online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing patrons to check out items online and take advantage of services virtually via the BPL website www.cobpl.org a

Count Shelly Ann Edge among patrons thankful for the Birmingham Public Library.   Edge has been taking her 6-year-old daughter, Tallulah, to Avondale Regional Library since she was a toddler, and continues to take advantage of the library’s curbside services and views the weekly virtual programs on the Avondale Library Facebook page.  Since she is homeschooling her daughter this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Edge is relying on Avondale Library for the extensive weekly book list homeschooling requires. She checks out 15 books a week. In a Q & A, Edge talked about what she loves most about BPL.  BPL: It is the Thanksgiving season. Why are you thankful for the Birmingham Public Library? Edge : Without the Avondale Library, homeschooling would be far more challenging, and my family would have far fewer resources available to us to aid in our education. I am very thankful for the caring librarians, who know my daughter by name and help pick out the perfect books.  The craft bags t

About this series: The Birmingham Public Library won a grant from the Public Library Association to help patrons sign up for the 2021 Health Insurance Marketplace. The Central Library downtown can assist by providing information and assisting with enrollment. If you don’t have health insurance coverage, we can help you enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace during the open enrollment period. To make an appointment, go to https://younginvincibles.org/open-enrollment/ or call the library at 205-226-3600.   By Lynn Hutchins | Information and Circulation Department | Central Library    Top 3 reasons to get health insurance:  It helps you and your family stay healthy, with care such as: *  Free preventive care, including yearly checkups, flu shots, and cancer screenings *  Vision and dental care for kids  *  Care before, during, and after you have a baby  Peace of mind  Accidents happen – and when they do, they shouldn’t drain your finances. Health insurance helps pay the big medica

All Birmingham Public Library locations will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday, November 26, through Friday, November 27.

   By Jim Murray | Business, Science and Technology Department, Central Library   What : A virtual workshop entitled  Power Your Job Search with Google Tools   Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020 Time : 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CST Details: Registration required. Please go to  g.co/grow/Alabama The Birmingham Public Library is hosting a virtual workshop for job seekers entitled  Power Your Job Search with Google Tools  at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday December 3, 2020. The hour long workshop will be presented by a Grow with Google instructor who will cover the following topics:  • Discovering career opportunities using Job Search on Google  • Using Google Sheets to track the progress of job applications  • Creating a resume using Google Docs  At the conclusion of the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the instructor. The workshop is free, but registration is required.  To register, please complete the form available on the following link: