Birmingham Public Library Blog

BPL's 2025 Classic Cocktails is coming - and so is your chance to save $5 per ticket when you purchase early! But hurry, this deal only lasts through Sunday, August 31. Guests will enjoy: 🎶  High-energy music by DJ French Kiss 🍗  Tailgate-style food  🍹  Two signature cocktails included 🥃  A premium cigar + access to the Lion’s Den Cigar Bus More than just a party, Classic Cocktails supports the Birmingham Public Library’s mission to  provide the highest quality experience to our community for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment and enjoyment.  Classic Cocktails is the perfect way to jumpstart your Magic City Classic Week. BPL's kickoff party to the Magic City Classic is sponsored by the  Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library .   📅  Save the date:  Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. 🎟️ Ticket Info and Event Details:  https://www.cobpl.org/programs/ClassicCocktails/ 🎟️ Buy Tickets Now:  ...

 L-R: Caleb West, head of BPL Collection Management Department; Kelly Marshall, deputy director of  the Alabama Rivers Alliance, Charles Scribner, executive director of the Black Warrior Riverkeeper.   2024 cover of Southern Exposure DVD “Bringing Alabama’s Natural Beauty to Libraries Across Birmingham"  17 Copies of Southern Exposure  Donated to BPL by Alabama Rivers Alliance, Black Warrior Riverkeeper  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Rivers Alliance and Black Warrior Riverkeeper have generously donated 17 copies of the latest edition of Southern Exposure , an award-winning documentary series educating the public about Alabama’s natural resources, to the Birmingham Public Library (BPL). “The 2024 edition of Southern Exposure features beautifully captured short films that will further enrich our collection and be available for borrowing at all BPL locations,” said Janine Langston, BPL’s executive director. “We are grateful for this generous donation and proud ...

🔬  What:  Genetic Genealogy News 2025, Part 1 – Free Workshop 📅  Date:  Wednesday, August 13, 2025 ⏰  Time:  12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 📍  Location:  BPL Computer Center, 4th Floor, Research Library, 2100 Park Place, and Online via Zoom 🔗  Zoom Link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88353225775?pwd=pJXXn5kQU 4K4aaVC9RtdgKyf3Kt8MG.1#success 🧬  Explore the Newest Developments in DNA Testing Have you taken a DNA ancestry test but aren’t sure what’s changed since? Curious about the latest upgrades and trends in genetic genealogy? Join us at the Birmingham Public Library for  “Genetic Genealogy News 2025,”  a free workshop that unpacks the latest updates from major DNA testing companies and what they mean for your family research. 👨‍🏫  Presented by Paul Boncella Led by Paul Boncella, BPL’s map conservator and genetic genealogy specialist, this workshop will explore evolving tools, subscription costs, and new fe...

  🎬     Before School Starts: Binge-Watch for Free Using Kanopy at Birmingham Public Library Catch Your Favorite Movies, Shows & Documentaries for Free This Summer with Kanopy. Did you know your Birmingham Public Library card opens the door to thousands of free streaming movies, documentaries, and TV series? Whether you’re catching up on films before school starts back this summer, planning a family movie night, or diving into a new documentary, Kanopy is your ticket to thoughtful, ad-free entertainment, all at no cost. What is Kanopy? Kanopy is an award-winning streaming platform that partners with public libraries to bring patrons free access to a rich library of movies, classic cinema, independent films, foreign films, and educational content. Plus, Kanopy features TV series like the fan-favorite The Librarians , so you can enjoy binge-worthy shows alongside thousands of inspiring documentaries. All you need is your Birmingham Public Library card and PIN/...

    🎲  Game On: Discover, Play & Borrow with BPL’s Library of Things Looking for game night ideas, board games or your next video game fix? Find board games, card games & video games available to check out via the Library of Things! And they are all free from any Birmingham Public Library or Jefferson County Library! Your library card unlocks so much more than books.  Among our fun gaming options: ✅  Classic board games & card games – Monopoly, Uno, Scrabble & more 🎮  Video games & consoles – Nintendo Mini, PlayStation 5, Mario Kart, Wii Sports 🌳  Outdoor & lawn games – Cornhole, croquet, bocce, Spikeball, giant 4‑in‑a‑row 🧙  Special sets – Poker chips, magnetic chess, Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set 🧩  Want to play games before you check them out? Try it out at the library! If you missed our first Try It Out Game Night at Central on July 22, come...

  Birmingham, Ala.  - Three of Jefferson County’s beloved greenspaces - Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve  - didn’t appear overnight. They exist thanks to decades of community action, vision, and now, dedicated county support. On Saturday, August 16, from 11 a.m. to noon, join the Birmingham Public Library’s Department of Archives and Manuscripts and the Jefferson County Greenways Commission for  “A History of Our Greenspaces in Jefferson County.”   The free program will be held in the Arrington Auditorium at the downtown Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place. Hear from a dynamic panel of local experts and greenspaces leaders, including: 🌿 Mark Kelly, author chronicling Ruffner Mountain’s journey from quarry to sanctuary 🌱 Thomas Spencer, historian and Greenways Commission member 🌳 Janet Simpson, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Jefferson County Greenways 💧 Leah Davis, External Affairs Director, Jef...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – If you’re a fan of the Magic City Classic, the largest HBCU football classic in the country, you know that it’s more than just a game. It’s a week-long celebration of Black excellence, culture, and tradition that brings people from across the country back home to Birmingham. So mark your calendars now for Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 5:30  - 9:00 p.m. The 4th Annual Classic Cocktails, sponsored by the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library , is the ultimate kickoff event you don’t want to miss. Hosted by the Birmingham Public Library, this evening of drinks, music and good vibes sets the tone for Classic Week in unforgettable fashion. Get ready. Something classic is coming. And it all starts at the Central Library. Join fellow alumni and supporters of Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University for a night that blends Southern hospitality, HBCU pride, and big energy, all for a great cause.  Guests will enjoy: 🎶 ...

Tara Stallworth Lee  - “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson (A. G. Gaston Park 1) , archival pigment print The Birmingham Public Library is excited to announce the opening of An Alabama Song , an exhibition featuring works by artist Tara Stallworth Lee. On Friday, August 8 , from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. , please join Lee at a reception at the Central Library as she celebrates her new show. About the Exhibition An Alabama Song presents photographs of such local music greats as singer “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson , trumpeter Daniel “José” Carr , and the late jazz composer, pianist, and poet Sun Ra . Among other subjects of her works are writers, advocates, and venues that Lee says represent “the beauty and struggle that is uniquely Alabama.” In a striking analogy to the musical arts, Lee describes the creation and elements of her exhibition... “The camera is my core instrument, my subjects the notes, and the thrilling, often unexpected, outcome of using film comprise the melody of this visual so...