Birmingham Public Library Blog

Celebrate Black History Month with the BPL. Graphic design by Cheyenne Trujillo. February is Black History Month ! The theme for 2022 is "Black Health and Wellness. " Celebrate with the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) all month long with one (or more) of our Black History Month programs !

  As a service to the community, the Birmingham Public Library provides some paper copies of current federal and Alabama tax forms, instructions, and publications at the Central Library.  Please check back for updates about which forms are available.  Update 1/28: Federal forms/instruction booklets for  1040 and 1040-SR are now available at Central's Citizen Services desk (205-226-3705)   Alabama tax forms have not arrived yet. Federal Forms IRS forms and publications 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. Free File Home: Your Link to Free Online Filing  – This IRS site is about Free File, an "online tax preparation and electronic filing through a partnership agreement between the IRS and the Free File Al

  French filmmakers Guillaume Maupin, left, and Pablo Guarise, in BPL's Southern History Department researching  Sun Ra, the late jazz musician from Birmingham . They hope to release the film in 2023. A documentary is in the works about Birmingham's Sun Ra Birmingham, Ala.  - Two European filmmakers working on a documentary film about Birmingham native Sun Ra are hoping to meet this weekend with folks who knew the late great jazz legend.  Since arriving in Birmingham in early December, filmmakers Pablo Guarise and Guillaume Maupin have been doing research at the Birmingham Public Library about the late jazz singer and composer  known as Sun Ra but born in Birmingham in 1914 as Herman “Sonny” Blount.   Over the past two months, Pablo Guarise and Guillaume Maupin have been talking with librarians at BPL, folks who knew Sun Ra while he grew up in Ensley, as well as jazz experts in Birmingham.  Their documentary film is tentatively called Magic City: Birmingham According to Sun Ra.

Always wanted to attend Sundance but haven’t had the opportunity?  Kanopy has created a category for Sundance Film Festival Winners so you can easily browse and find something you like.  Just scroll down on the homepage to the category Sundance Film Festival Winners.  You can borrow as many as 6 titles per month.  The following are just a small selection of the Sundance winners available for streaming.  The film descriptions are from the database. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World This revelatory documentary brings to light the profound and overlooked influence of Indigenous people on popular music in North America. Focusing on music icons like Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taboo (The Black Eyed Peas), Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, and Randy Castillo, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World shows how these pioneering Native American musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives. Winner of a Special Jury Award for Master

Many noteworthy names this season. Graphic design by Cheyenne Trujillo. “Age of Aquarius” is probably ringing in your head right now (especially if you played Just Dance 2014 ). Welcoming in this Aquarius season, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) blog is highlighting Aquarius writers you can find in the catalog. Check out the Pinson Library's post for more Aquarius authors! 

  BPL & JCLC libraries have books available to help you learn how to save money.  Every year millions of people set New Years Resolutions and break most ,if not all, of them during the month of January.  I myself set goals that I have broken, but this year will be different. I have researched financial freedom and in all the things that I have read about achieving any goal is that you must be specific.  How much are you going to save and for how long?  What specific goals are you saving for? What are you willing to sacrifice or reduce?  Will you need to get a side hustle or sell some of your hobbies to fund it?  In 2021, I started 5 savings challenges and invested in the stock market and in cryptocurrency . Some of the savings challenges I did were The 52 week Savings Challenge , The Nickel Challenge and The Zero Out Challenge .  I was able to save enough money to pay off my car and other bills. I was also able to put some of my savings into buying long term stock and cryto. The

  Feel like sharpening your computer skills? The Five Points West Regional Library has another slate of free introductory computer classes kicking off in February.  All of the computer programs are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required, as seats are limited to 6 participants per class.  The classes include Introduction to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Q&A session, and more. Don’t forget to take advantage of our 1-on-1 Tech Help, which assists those needing individual instruction with PCs, Mac, or mobile devices.  See the full schedule of classes, including date and time, on the flyer above.   If you or someone you know needs 1-on-1 assistance, please stop by, and reserve your spot at the Information desk. We look forward to seeing you! By Karen Jackson| Five Points West Regional Library  

What:  Bards & Brews Poetry Slam When:  Friday, February 4, 2022, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Where:  The Boutwell Auditorium Exhibition Hall, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35203 Details:  10 talented spoken word artists will compete for $300 in cash prizes ($150 1st place, $100 2nd, $50) in the Birmingham Public Library's first Bards & Brews poetry slam of 2022. On-site registration begins at 6:00 p.m. and poetry begins to flow at 6:30 p.m. $5 registration fee required for participating poets. Free admission. Must be 18 or order to attend and 21 or older to drink beer. Hop City Beer & Wine is the pourer and  Ferus Artisan Ales  is the beer provider. Ferus hosted Bards at its Trussville venue in July 2021.  Bards & Brews is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts . For more information, visit  www.Facebook.com/BardsandBrews  or  www.cobpl.org .  Birmingham, Ala. -  Want to see some of Alabama's most talented spoken word artists

  Are you familiar with the story of the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team, subject of the hit movie "Cool Runnings" that came out nearly 30 years ago? Jamaica's four-man bobsled team has qualified for the Winter Olympics that kick off  in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. It's the first time a bobsled team from the tiny Caribbean nation will compete in the Winter Olympics since the 1998 games held in Nagano, Japan. "Cool Runnings" is available for checkout from several Jefferson County Library Cooperative members, including the Birmingham Public Library.  Woodlawn Branch Library is airing "Cool Runnings" on Friday, February 4, at 3:30 p.m. as part of its Black History Month programming.  The 1993 movie is inspired by the true story of the original Jamaican bobsled team that became an international sensation  after qualifying for the  1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. The Jamaicans had never seen a bobsled before training.  The Jamaican team f

Did you know that every U.S. household is eligible to receive a shipment of four (4) at-home COVID-19 tests?  Each shipment is being offered for free through the U.S. Postal Service and will begin shipping in late January.  Here's how to order yours:  * Go to www.covidtests.gov and click on "Order Free At-Home Tests"  * Enter in your contact information and shipping address, then click "Check Out Now" * Review your information and click "Place My Order"  * Save your confirmation number. If you entered an email address, you will receive an order confirmation number, as well as shipping updates.  And that's all there is to it!  Please note that there is a limit of one shipment per residential address. Make sure to put your order in as soon as possible since these tests will be handy to have at home with the recent spread of the Omicron variant.  If you're interested in a printable version of these instructions, you can find it on the RLCC websit

  What:  The Word Up! Festival, a poetry slam featuring high school students from all 7 Birmingham High Schools  Who:  The Flourish Alabama in partnership with  Birmingham Public Library  and the  Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative  to host the 2022 Word Up! Festival.   The Flourish Alabama  is a local arts and arts education nonprofit organization dedicated to helping artists Bloom.  When:  Virtually via Zoom Friday, January 28, 2022 and on the Birmingham Public Library Facebook page.  Semifinal rounds will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 pm. The Final Round begins at 6:30 p.m.  About the Event:  Come see the top poets from Birmingham’s seven high schools compete for $5,000 in cash prizes at the 2022 Word Up! Festival. This festival is a culmination of The Flourish's Word Up! Program, a city-wide poetry competition featuring high school students from across Birmingham.  Birmingham, Ala. –  Want to see some of Birmingham's most talented spoken word artists? Then mak

  Enter contest by noon Wednesday, January 19, to win two Birmingham Squadrons tickets to this Friday's basketball game at Legacy Arena.    Join the Birmingham Squadron for a night of Jedis and Jump Shots!  Enter to win two FREE tickets to the Birmingham Squadrons Star Wars Night at Legacy Arena on Friday,  January 21, at 7:00 p.m.  Click below to enter by filling out this Birmingham Public Library Squadrons contest form  https://bit.ly/BhamSquadronsStarWarsNight . The winner's name will be drawn on Wednesday, January 19, at 12:00 p.m. May the Force be With You!!

A perfect choice for crime and thriller fans. Photo from Rotten Tomatoes .     The year is 1981. It is one of the most crime-ridden years in New York City . A hard-working husband and father, Abel Morales, manages his own heating oil company, but ongoing problems keep hurting his business.

  All Birmingham Public Library (BPL) locations will be closed in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday on Monday, January 17, 2022.  Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a celebration of the contributions Dr. King made in leading the struggle for civil rights for Blacks in Birmingham and across the United States.  You can check out many books, DVDs and other items about Dr. King on the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) and BPL websites .  Even though BPL's buildings will be closed, you can still use our library services online 24-7 by using the BPL app or going to our website, www.cobpl.org .  Have a great MLK Day on Monday.

BPL patrons can apply for library cards/membership online to take advantage of our online resources Can’t make it into a Birmingham Public Library (BPL) location during opening hours?  No problem! You can apply for library membership at BPL and take advantage of our vast online resources for FREE right now by visiting us online. Sign up for library membership and enjoy all of these benefits today: * e-Books  * Downloadable audiobooks  * Digital Magazines  * Full-Text Journals  * Stream or download music for free * Video streaming  * Ask a Librarian Service   Want more? It would be our pleasure to meet you in person at any BPL location to assist you further in getting your free library card. Here are links to the BPL online membership and renewal pages: Library Card Applications:  http://www.cobpl.org/services/LibraryCards/Application.aspx Library Card Renewals: http://www.bplonline.org/services/LibraryCards/CardRenewal.aspx By Richard Manoske|BPL IT Department 

Help put together an MLK mosaic mural at Woodlawn Library this week.  Hey students in Birmingham: Want to get involved in paying tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?   Then stop by the Woodlawn Branch Library, 5709 1st Avenue North,  between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. today or Friday, January 14.    Afterschool children are invited to work together to create a large multi-colored mosaic mural of Martin Luther King Jr. that captures the essence of Dr. King’s “dream”. The finished mosaic poster will be displayed at Woodlawn Library. Materials provided. For more information, contact Gina White at Gina.white@cobpl.org. Remember, all BPL locations will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday.   

The film poster for Bloody Sunday. Photo from Amazon .  Bloody Sunday is one of the most heartbreaking tragedies of Irish history , and this event escalated tension between the British and Irish nationalists during the three-decade period known as the Troubles . 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of that day of a sudden, heartless onslaught.

Mark your calendar for these great programs. Photo from Titusville Branch Library.  Titusville Branch Library has your child's January and February planned out! Their staff planned out four fun and creative programs to engage your child's artistic side and teach them a little history, too.  Check out these upcoming events!

  Five Points West Regional Library to host Cricut class this Saturday, January 15.  Birmingham, Ala. - Have you bought a Cricut or gotten one as a gift, but are afraid to take it out of the box?  Have you been having problems learning how to use your Cricut machine? Five Points West Regional Librar y wants to help. Join us for our Cricut class this Saturday, January 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For those unfamiliar, Cricuts are a high-end crafting machine that makes it easier to make crafts.    Bring your Cricut and the device you want to use with it. This class will answer some of your questions and make your Cricut the fun creative partner you thought it would be. Call Five Points West Regional Library at (205) 226-4013 or stop by the Youth Department to register for this free class.  By Lynn Carpenter| Five Points West Regional Library

A "choose your own adventure" book club. Graphic design by Cheyenne Trujillo. Starting January 2022, the Beyond Your Ordinary Book (BYOB) Club will start meeting on the third Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at  Springville Road Regional Branch Library . This isn’t your ordinary book club!

Birmingham, Ala. - Join us virtually on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, as the Birmingham Public Library presents its 19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Lecture. This year's topic, airing virtually from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.,  will be "A Discussion of Black Maternal Health in the Southeast." The event will be on Zoom. You can find a link to register on the BPL calendar.  The speaker is Dr. Teneasha Washington of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health .  Washington joins us to discuss Black Maternal Health in general, with some specific data on the Southeast. She will examine the roots of the problem, how it manifests today, and how to fix the system. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and

  Pick up free "Hygge Cozy Kits" beginning January 12 at Avondale Regional Library. Winter is the perfect time for curling under a warm blanket, drinking warm tea and reading a good book. Warmth, coziness, and an overall feeling of happiness are associated with these activities.  Hygge is a Danish concept that, loosely translated, encompasses feelings of well-being and cozy contentment. Interestingly, this Danish word is related to the sixteenth-century Norwegian term “hugga”, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” which is related to the English word “hug.” Here are a few inspiring quotes which further explain hygge: “Hygge is like a warm hug.”  “Put on a pot of coffee, heat up a cinnamon bun & snuggle up. That’s hygge.”  “Hygge is all about atmosphere. If it’s raining, jump in your rubber boots and your rain coat and go for a walk. It’ll clear your mind completely.”  “It’s about the small things in life. Like warm socks. A dim-lit room. A hot cup of tea in your favorite

Do you know these famous Capricorns? Graphic design by Cheyenne Trujillo. Inspired by our friends over at the Pinson Public Library , I created my own take on famous authors and their star signs. If you keep up with the astrological seasons , make sure to check out the Pinson Library's post on notable Capricorn writers ! Now, celebrate this Capricorn season by reading a good story from one of these five sea-goat  authors. Keep reading to learn more about Capricorns and the writers who share this star sign!

Sidney Poitier, the first Black to win a Best Actor Oscar, died at age 94 on January 7, 2022.  Sidney Poitier, the trailblazing actor who was the first Black person to win a Best Actor Oscar, has died. He was 94.  His death in the Bahamas was confirmed  today, January 7, 2022, by the island's Prime Minister, according to  NPR. Read about Poitier's legacy here.   As an actor, Poitier transformed the way Black men were portrayed in movies - in part due to his incredible acting skills, smooth good looks and iconic roles that made him a star.  The Birmingham Public Library and fellow members of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) have several movies and books featuring Poitier available for checkout by clicking here.    Poitier is best known for famous roles such as: * Detective Walter Tibbs in 1967's "In the Heat of the Night"  * A black man's visit with his white girlfriend's parents in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" * Walter Lee Yo

Birmingham, Ala.  - Want to boost your computer skills this year? Then check out the new computer classes offered at the  Central Library  in downtown Birmingham. We're offering everything from classes that teach you what a computer is and how to turn it on, to classes that will expand your skillset using the Microsoft Office suite.  You can register for classes by filling out the registration form on the  Birmingham Public Library website , or in-person at the Computer Commons, located on the 1st floor of the  Central Library , 2100 Park Place downtown. If you have any questions or if you want to suggest a class that you don't see offered, you can give us a call at (205) 226-3696.  Read a description of the computer  classes we currently offer by clicking here  and  view our monthly computer class schedule by clicking here .  You can also see the computer class schedule by looking at the flyer above.  Our computer class schedule is updated around the 15th of every month, so ma

  Good news: Five Points West Regional Library 's free computer classes are back live and in person. Did you receive a new computer or piece of technology as a gift? Are unsure what it does or how it works? The Five Points West Regional Library wants to help you! Throughout January, Five Points West is offering computer and tech classes as well as 1-on-1 sessions on a variety of technology topics. Classes kicked off this week on Wednesday with a "1-on-1 Tech Help class. That class will repeat the next three Wednesdays (January 12, January 19 and January 26). You can sign up for sessions from 10:00 to 11:00 a.jm. and 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. In addition, we have a suite of introductory computer classes from our "How Do I Turn This Thing On?" class  on Tuesday, January 25 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. to our internet and Office suite classes.  We are also hosting a Cord Cutting class on Friday, January 28, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.  January is a great time to visit Five Points West Publ

  South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu died on Dec. 26, 2021, after a lengthy illness.  The world lost a great humanitarian recently with the death of South African Archbishop and freedom fighter Desmond Tutu.  A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Tutu battled racial apartheid in his home country for decades.  Tutu died on December 26, 2021, at age 90 after a long illness.  Two letters written by Tutu to his Alabama friend and fellow clergyman John Speaks are preserved in the Birmingham Public Library Archives. These letters provide a window into the two men’s friendship, and reveal the Archbishop’s great love for American hot sauce.  Speaks was an Episcopal priest who served at Birmingham’s Church of the Advent. He so loved Tabasco sauce that he kept a small bottle in his jacket pocket.  According to Speaks’ daughter Henrietta (who donated her father’s papers to the BPL Archives in 2014), her father met Tutu at a church function, let him try Tabasco, and a friendship was born. For y

Birmingham, Ala. - If you know someone struggling financially or a family that could use a little help with food, diapers and other needs, please spread the word and tell them about Titusville Branch Library 's new partnerships to give back to our community. Titusville Library has taken its monthly community food giveaway program to the next level to better serve patrons who live in the surrounding neighborhoods.  For the second straight month this Thursday, January 6, 2022, Titusville Library has joined forces with the UAB community project CHEER (Community Health through Engagement and Environmental Renewal) .CHEER is a part of the University of Alabama Birmingham's Center for the Study of Community Health , which aims to help reduce health risks in underserved communities. Also at 10:00 a.m. this Thursday, Titusville Library has partnered with Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank of Birmingham to provide free diapers for parents in the Titusville community. Those in need can come