Birmingham Public Library Blog

  O. Jay Owens Heard of the  phrase "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"  Birmingham's Jay Owens strives to prove doubters wrong every day. A longtime successful businessman, Jay Owens shares life lessons and more in his new book,  "Living to Die or Dying to Live. " Come meet him and 30 other authors at the 2024 BPL Local Authors Expo , happening from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, November 2, at the Central Library in downtown Birmingham.  The event is sponsored by the Tri-County Alabama Chapter of the Links, Inc.  Owens first love was teaching. He spent 25 years as a teacher at an affluent school system in metro Birmingham, being nominated as teacher of the year. But he had a deep passion for entrepreneurship, and in 1979 founded  O. Jay Fence Company  in Birmingham. He remained owner for 40 years until selling it on to his son, Rahman Owens.  In 2010, Owens founded Jay's Enterprise LLC, which specializes in real estate.   Learn more about

  Arshika Tiwari, 9, is the youngest participant in the 2024 Local Authors Expo. On Saturday, November 2, meet the youngest participant in the  2024 BPL Local Authors Expo , 9-year-old Ashika Tiwari. She will be among 32 authors at the Local Authors Expo from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Central Library downtown, 2100 Park Place. This is her third straight year participating.  She is the proud big sister of a 19-month-old baby girl. In October 2023, Arshika's second book, " The Yummiest Tomato Soup, "  was published.  BarnesandNoble.com describes the book as follows, "Join me on this expedition of making tomato soup with me. My little baby sister is very naughty right now!"    Arshika loves to read and write books. The last two years,  Arshika was the youngest author to be featured  at the Local Authors Expo.  The local author put all of her love for her pre-school into a book during the COVID-19 lockdown when her preschool temporarily closed.  Get a new persp

  Sophia Hansen's unique outlook on life created  Water's Break , a book about an  amphibian-inhabited water-covered planet that is invaded by a technologically advanced race. What to know what happens next? Ask Hansen in person at  the 2024  Local Authors Expo  at the Central Library this  Saturday, November 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The expo is sponsored by the Tri-County Alabama Chapter of the Links.