Birmingham Public Library Blog

  Join Us for the 2025 Local Author Expo Presented by the Tri-County (Alabama) Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the Birmingham Public Library 📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025 🕙 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 📍 Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Downtown Birmingham Celebrate Alabama’s vibrant literary community at the 2025 Local Author Expo , where 30 authors from across the state will gather to showcase their work, share their creative journeys, and connect with readers and aspiring writers. ✨ Theme: “Local to Global” This year’s theme celebrates the power of storytelling to bridge communities and inspire readers everywhere,  from local neighborhoods in metro Birmingham to the world stage. Whether you’re a lifelong book lover, a new writer seeking inspiration, or an author looking for ways to market your work and grow your audience, this free event is for you! 🌟 Event Highlights 📖 Meet & Mingle Connect with 30 talented Alabama authors , explore their books, and discove...

Poet Jahman Hill performs at BPL's popular spoken word poetry series. Alabama   State Council on the Arts Awards Grant for Bards & Brews to Friends Foundation of BPL  Birmingham, Ala. – The Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) has received a $5,300 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA ) to help fund BPL’s popular Bards & Brews spoken word poetry series. The grant will support BPL’s mission to provide free, high-quality arts programming that celebrates Birmingham’s vibrant spoken word community while showcasing the city’s growing craft beer scene. Bards & Brews brings together both seasoned poets and first-time performers, uniting diverse audiences in a shared celebration of creativity and culture. This funding will allow BPL to continue offering Bards & Brews events free to the public and strengthen the library’s role as a hub for the arts across metro Birmingham, said Chelsea Rodriguez, Outreach Librarian and prog...

Titusville Library Branch Manager Reba Williams-Patton with D r. Russell Johnson, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer, Greater Birmingham Humane Society , Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway and a patron holding his dog at Community Resource Care and Paw Day  What an Amazing Day of Community Connection, Care, and Education! On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Titusville Branch Library’s monthly Titusville Community Resource Day expanded beyond serving people to helping patrons care for their four-legged friends. This month’s focus on Pet Care & Wellness brought together families, students, and community stakeholders for a day filled with education, support, and essential services. The event marked the library’s first-ever Community Care Day, a special extension of its monthly resource initiative dedicated to promoting literacy and raising awareness of animal car e resources throughout the Titusville community. Since its launch, the Titusville Community Resource Day Program has...

Find Your Voice at the Final Bards & Brews of 2025! What: Bards & Brews Open Mic When: Friday, November 7, 2025 Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Where: Monday Night Brewing–Social Club, 14 12th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233 Have you ever wanted to share your poetry, your story, or that one verse you’ve been keeping in your notebook? The Birmingham Public Library invites you to take the mic or just soak in the energy at the final Bards & Brews Open Mic of 2025, happening Friday, November 7 at Monday Night Brewing–Social Club near Railroad Park. Bards & Brews is  sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts . Hosted by Thed Weller , this free event welcomes all voices, from first-time performers to seasoned spoken word artists. Step up, speak out, and discover why Bards & Brews has become one of Birmingham’s most inspiring gatherings for creative expression. In addition to open mic performances by seasoned poets and first-timers,...

    This past summer was scorchingly hot, and now it is time to cool off (hopefully) by purchasing t hose coveted plane tickets and making hotel reservations for a wonderful wintertime trip !         As always, make sure that you have your obligatory, quintessential passport !     Apply for or renew your passport today at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) to avoid packing any last-minute stress on your vacation.    The BPL is a Passport Acceptance Facility and has many passport acceptance agents who can help you navigate the application process.    You can start your passport application process at the Central Library , the Avondale Regional Branch Library , or the Springville Road Regional Branch Library .    Central Library's passport hours for walk-in services are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 205-226-3705 or stop by the Citizen Services Department at the Central Lib...