Birmingham Public Library Blog

William Kamkwamba 's story, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind , shows the power of books to influence lives. Kamkwamba grew up in Malawi, a country where magic, instead of science, ruled people and their behavior. Poverty, disease and starvation were common among villagers. He dreamed of gaining entrance into one of Malawi's top boarding schools and studying science. Tragically, he could not attend because a famine left his country in trouble. The family farm was left impoverished and his people were left destitute. Kamkwamba's determination led him to accomplish his dream. He studied independently now that he could no longer attend school. He spent time studying books on geography, social studies and basic spelling. He began with curiosity, an idea, science books, creativity, as well as a strong drive to do something for his family. Kamkwamba desperately wanted to find a way to bring electricity and water to his village because of droughts. He writes that one book in particu...

Louis Stanton Auchincloss died Tuesday, January, 26 at age 92. He was a highly prolific author of both fiction and nonfiction. James Auchincloss, the author's grandson stated that the author died Tuesday, one week after suffering a stroke. Louis Auchincloss was born in New York in 1917. His grandmother knew Edith Wharton and his father was a Wall Street lawyer. Auchincloss was the son of privilege and therefore had the background to write novels about upper-class society. He was the son of a highly successful attorney and was able to attend the exclusive Groton School and Yale University. Lawyer and author Louis Stanton Auchincloss was a highly prolific novelist of elite society, including works of social manners and New York's "old-money" aristocracy. In this regard, he succeeded Edith Wharton in penning insightful novels about New York's highly successful. His primary topics for novels were manners, family, money and marriages, as well as the language and arts ...

Jerome David Salinger died at his home on January 27, 2010 in Cornish, New Hampshire. His literary agent announced his death, saying it was of natural causes. His literary talent rested on a small collection of highly influential works including the novel The Catcher in the Rye , the collection Nine Stories , Franny and Zooey , and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction . J.D. Salinger was best known for his 1951 novel, The Catcher in the Rye , as well as for his reclusive nature. Catcher was Salinger's most famous and controversial work. This American author gave his last interview in 1980 and published his last original work in 1965. Jerome David Salinger was born in Manhattan on New Year's Day in 1919. He attended a progressive school on the Upper West Side but was never much of a student. Young Salinger reported to the admissions office that his interests were dramatics and tropical fish. After two years he flunked out and was sent to Valley Forg...

"A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it." - Fireman Beatty, speaking to Guy Montag Ray Bradbury's famous novel about book-burning firemen is a 20th Century classic that needs little introduction, and has in fact become something of a sacred text among librarians. One thing that reading it over again makes clear, though, is that it is not a science-fiction novel about some future dystopian society where reading is supressed by a tyranical government. It's a book about the present , whether that's 1953 or 2010, and the impulse of a lazy, distracted society not just to censor that which is uncomfortable or disagreeable, but to willingly turn a blind eye to the accumulated knowledge of centuries in favor of fast cars, big TVs, and feelings of personal security against a backdrop of constant war. Sound familiar? It seems ironic that Bradbury would authorize a comic book version of his work, seeing that comics were what replaced books in the film b...

In addition to offering tax forms and assistance , the Birmingham Public Library is hosting EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) Awareness Day 2010. Friday, January 29, 2010 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM During this event, the IRS is offering FREE tax return preparation for those with income under $49,000 at: Five Points West Regional Library 4812 Avenue W Birmingham AL 35208 For additional information call 205-912-5215

Take a walk through the calendar year in southeastern wild flowers with botanical artist Linda Fraser. Her paintings will be on view in Central's Fourth Floor Gallery from January 5–February 11, 2010. Linda will present a gallery talk in the Fourth Floor Gallery on January 24 at 3:00-5:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. The exhibit, talk, and reception are free and open to the public. For a preview of Fraser's work, visit her Website at http://www.lindafraserartist.com/ .

The 2010 Caldecott and Newberry Award winners have been announced. The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney won the Caldecott and When You Reach Me by Rebbecca Stead won the Newberry. 2010 Honor Books Caldecott: All the World by Marla Frazee Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Color by Joyce Sidman Newberry: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick Visit the Kids Catalog for links to these winning children's books.

The Birmingham Art Music Alliance is an autonomous nonprofit organization with the twofold mission of promoting music by Alabama composers and presenting concerts of recently created art music to communities in Birmingham and beyond. Members include local composers, professional performers, students, and enthusiasts who wish to preserve and maintain the long tradition of music as a living art form. Join us for a performance by members of this talented group. Wednesday, January 27, noon. Feed your body and mind at BPL's Brown Bag Lunch Programs . You bring the lunch and we'll bring the drinks. Wednesdays at noon in the Arrington Auditorium located on the 3rd floor of the Linn-Henley Research Library, 2100 Park Place.