Birmingham Public Library Blog

  Network Navigator: Your Connection to Local Small Business Resources First Session: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Time: 12–1:30 p.m. Location: Birmingham Public Library, Woodlawn Branch Audience: Adults and Seniors Cost: Free Registration: Required/encouraged Presenter: Naila Jackson, Birmingham entrepreneurial advocate Contact: Jim Murray | 205-226-3640 | jim.murray@cobpl.org Lunch will be provided to the first 25 registered participants. Registration: Click here to register Three Opportunities to Navigate Your Business Resources The Network Navigator series will be presented at three Birmingham Public Library locations this fall: Woodlawn Branch Library Tuesday, September 15, 2026 12–1:30 p.m. Five Points West Branch Library Tuesday, October 13, 2026 5:30–7 p.m. North Birmingham Branch Library Tuesday, November 17, 2026 12–1:30 p.m. Need Help Growing Your Small Business? BPL’s Network Navigator Can Connect You to Local Resources By Roy Wi...

What happens when you mix the sounds of the blues with good barbecue in one of Birmingham's best places to gather? You get an evening of Books, Blues & BBQ at the downtown Birmingham Public Library (BPL). BPL's 2026 Loud at the Library series concludes on Friday, September 25, with a free concert featuring Rachel Edwards with John Holaway at the Central Library, 2100 Park Place. From soulful blues and great music to barbecue and the welcoming atmosphere of the library, this is a Friday evening designed for music lovers, families, friends, and anyone looking for something fun to do. Books, Blues & BBQ 📅 When: Friday, September 25, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. 📍 Where: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 🎶 Who: Rachel Edwards with John Holaway 💵 Admission: Free and open to the public Blues and barbecue are a perfect pairing. Add books and a library setting, and you have a recipe for a memorable Birmingham evening. Meet Rachel Edwards Rachel B...

  AI Made Simple: Practical AI for Everyday Use Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Time: 6–7 p.m. Location: Springville Road Regional Branch Library, 1224 Springville Road, Birmingham, AL 35215 Format: In person or virtual Cost: Free Presenter: Leila Lewis, Solid Ground Strategies Overview: Discover easy, real-world AI tips to boost your daily life—no tech skills needed! Audience: Individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners and anyone interested in learning more about AI Registration: Required In-person registration: practicalAIbpl.eventbrite.com Virtual registration: Register for the virtual class Contact: Springville Road Regional Library at 205-226-4083 Workshop presenter: Leila Lewis | leila@sgroundstrat.com Website: Solid Ground Strategies ( https://www.sgroundstrat.com/ ) AI Made Simple: Practical AI for Everyday Use—For Business and Everyday Life Birmingham, Ala. - Artificial intelligence is no longer just a topic for technology experts. AI is becoming an...

  Early Bird Ticket Sales Now Available at Birmingham Public Library Through September 15 📅  Save the date for 2026 Classic Cocktails: Tuesday, October 27, 2025, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. 🎟️ Buy Tickets Now:  https://BPLClassicCocktails26.Eventbrite.com  📍 Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Magic City Classic fans, get ready for the ultimate Classic Week party! The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) 's 2026 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 Tuesday, September 15. 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 commu...

  4 Weeks of Chair Yoga with Coach Tru:  A First-Person Experience at Birmingham Public Library By Roy L. Williams | Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library Four weeks ago, I walked into the Birmingham Public Library with a camera in my hand and no idea what to expect from Chair Yoga. Last Thursday, August 27, I completed my fourth and final class of the five-week series with instructor Jaynea “Coach Tru” Milhouse. I missed one class because of a work conflict, so while the series continued for five weeks, I personally experienced four sessions. And somewhere along the way, I learned something I wasn't expecting. Sometimes slowing down is exactly what we need. Lesson No. 1: You Don't Have to Be Good at It When I started Chair Yoga, I was a complete beginner. Flexibility has never been my strength. Neither has balance. Over the four weeks, there were stretches I couldn't quite reach and movements that challenged me more than I expected. B...

  🎬 INSIDE Cinema: Set It Off — 30th Anniversary Screening What: INSIDE Cinema Screening: Set It Off Presented by: EPISODE LLC. When: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Time: Doors open at 5 p.m.; screening begins at 5:30 p.m. Where: Birmingham Public Library, Richard Arrington Auditorium, fourth floor 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Admission: Free Age: 18+ Bonus: Free popcorn Registration: insidesetoff.eventbrite.com The screening is made possible by Swank. An optional donation may be added during registration to support INSIDE Cinema. Ready to celebrate 30 years of Set It Off ? ‘Set It Off’ 30 Years Later: INSIDE Cinema Brings the Classic Film to Birmingham Public Library on September 8 Birmingham, Ala. - Thirty years ago, movie audiences were introduced to four unforgettable women whose friendship, struggles and desperation made Set It Off one of the most talked-about films of the 1990s. Now, Birmingham movie fans have an opportunity to celebrate the 30th annive...

  BPL Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton, Country Music Legend and Champion of Books The Birmingham Public Library joins millions around the world in mourning the loss of beloved country music legend, songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at age 80. For generations, Dolly Parton entertained us with songs such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” But for those of us in the library world, her legacy goes far beyond music. Dolly Parton was also one of the world's greatest champions of books, children and literacy. Her Greatest Hit May Be the Gift of Reading Perhaps Dolly's greatest contribution to generations of children is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which she founded in 1995 in honor of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who was unable to read or write and grew into a worldwide literacy movement. Today, the Imagination Library provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth...

                        10 Birmingham area poets compete Sept. 4 for top honors at Birmingham Public Library BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Think you have what it takes to be crowned Birmingham Public Library's 2026 Poetry Grand Slam champion? Ten of the best poets in metro Birmingham will take the stage Friday, September 4, competing for $1,000 in cash prizes during BPL's Bards & Brews Poetry Grand Slam, the biggest poetry slam of the year. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203. Doors open at 6 p.m. Thed Weller will host the Grand Slam, while singer/guitarist Ashley Sankey will provide musical entertainment. The top three poets will take home a combined $1,000: First place: $500 Second place: $300 Third place: $200 Poets who want to compete can sign up on-site beginning at 6 p.m. The competition is limited to the first 10 poets who register....

During August 20 Chair Yoga Class at downtown Birmingham Public Library, "Coach Tru" Jaynea Milhouse led Roy Williams & other participants in stretching and balancing exercises. The final session in the 5-week series is Thursday, August 27, 1-2 p.m. Week 3 of Chair Yoga with Coach Tru at BPL: Learning to Stretch, Balance and Let Go By Roy L. Williams Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library Next week, I’m trying something completely new. On Wednesday, Aug. 26, I’ll participate in my first-ever Tai Chi exercise class at Birmingham Public Library’s Pratt City Branch. I needed a little preparation. So today, Thursday, Aug. 20, I returned to my third class of Birmingham Public Library’s five-week Chair Yoga series with Jaynea “Coach Tru” Milhouse at the downtown Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place. The final class is on August 27. Today’s class challenged me in ways the first two did not. The first half felt familiar: gentle stretching, deep ...

Pratt City Branch Library has a weekly Tai Chi class. Central Library has chair yoga on Thursdays through August 27 & North Birmingham Library hosts Slide City Chair Aerobics Wednesday-Friday.    Written by Roy L. Williams, PR Specialist, Birmingham Public Library  I’ve traded my camera for an exercise ball at North Birmingham Regional Library, stretched my way through chair yoga  at Central Library (next session with Coach Tru is today at 1 p.m.) and followed the beat through chair aerobics. Now it’s time to try something new. Next Wednesday, August 26, I’m stepping into the world of Tai Chi. I’ll be participating in the Beginner Tai Chi for Seniors class at Pratt City Branch Library from 10:30–11:30 a.m., and I’ll be doing it for more than just the exercise. I’m kicking off the next installment of my first-person BPL wellness series, where I don’t just tell you about a library program — I actually participate and tell you what it feels like to be on the other...

  What: Lunch & Learn: Homebuying Basics When: Thursday, August 20, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. The workshop will continue on the third Thursday of each month through November. Other dates (all on Thursdays) are September 17, October 22 and November 19. Where: Pratt City Branch Library 509 Dugan Ave. Birmingham, AL 35214 (205) 791-4997 Thinking about buying a home but don't know where to start? The Pratt City Branch Library is launching Lunch & Learn: Homebuying Basics, a free monthly workshop designed to help participants better understand the homebuying process. Representatives from Navigate Affordable Housing Partners and the United Way of Central Alabama will lead the four-part workshop series, covering important information and resources to help prospective homebuyers navigate the process. Participants will also receive lunch during each session. Whether you're just beginning to consider homeownership or want to learn more about what it takes to purcha...

Loud at the Library Concert Series: Birmingham Public Library Brings Local Punk Scene Downtown This Friday, Aug. 21 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham Public Library will turn up the volume on Friday, Aug. 21, with its fourth Loud at the Library Punk Show , featuring three Birmingham bands: Nowhere Squares, Tiffany Tears and SUPERFUND. The free, all-ages concert will run from 6–8 p.m. this Friday at the downtown Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203. Event Information What: Loud at the Library Punk Show When: Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 | 6–8 p.m. Where: Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Admission: Free and open to all ages Featured Artists Nowhere Squares — Birmingham garage-punk band known for its fast-paced music and energetic live performances. Tiffany Tears — Birmingham darkwave and goth project blending post-punk influences, electronic beats, synthesizers and powerful vocals. SUPERFUND — Birmingham punk/riot grrrl-inspired...

  S. Thorne Harper, author of The Alabama Tryst Murder Mystery: A conversation with the journalist who spent 15 years investigating Birmingham's forgotten 1927 Tryst murders Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist at the Birmingham Public Library As a former newspaper reporter, I have always been fascinated by the stories that make journalists stop and dig deeper. So when I learned about S. Thorne “Sam” Harper’s 15-year investigation into a nearly forgotten 1927 Birmingham double murder, I knew there was a story worth telling. Harper and I have something in common: We spent decades reporting other people's stories before becoming authors. In this conversation, Harper talks about what drew him to the Tryst murders, what his research uncovered about race and justice in 1927 Alabama, and how his experience covering an electric-chair execution in 2000 influenced his decision to revisit Alabama's first electric-chair execution. I found this conversation partic...