Birmingham Public Library Blog

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the Birmingham Public Library invites you to utilize its Special Collections to learn more about the lives, roles, and status of women in Alabama ’s past. What you will find is a vast array of personalities, mostly named but many unnamed, who played a vital part in the development of the state’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. Speaking of unnamed - once upon a time, in the U.S. Census, womens’ names were listed only if they were the head of the household. That’s right, prior to 1850, a woman’s presence in a male-headed household was noted only by a hash mark. Beginning in 1850, women’s names were included, but not those of slaves. The 1870 U.S. Census is particularly significant for anyone researching women because, from that point forward, all women’s names were included, regardless of race. Census records can be found on several of the library’s subscription computer databases or on microfilm in the Microforms Room. Women are also ...

The SEC has Ohio State ’s number. Time after time, sport after sport, SEC teams prevent Ohio State from winning championships. Last night, No. 4 seed Kentucky beat overall No. 1 seed Ohio State to advance to the Elite Eight. Freshman guard Brandon Knight hit a jump shot with seconds left in the game to put Kentucky ahead 62-60. Ohio State attempted a three-point shot with time running out, but the shot bounced off the rim. It was a huge upset for Ohio State not to advance from the Sweet Sixteen. Flash back to 2007. The Florida Gators defeated Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament to win the national championship, 84-75. Earlier in the year, the Gators football team defeated Ohio State 41-14 to win the national championship. Ohio State advanced to the national championship game the following year to face the LSU Tigers who defeated them 38-24. I’m not picking on Ohio State , but no matter how good their teams are, they can’t seem to get past the SEC. If you hav...

We had a great visit from Good Day Alabama this morning. Check out the video of Jeh Jeh Pruitt interviewing Ben Petersen and Mary Beth Newbill of our Southern History department.

So...will you be the 1000th person to "like" Birmingham Public Library’s facebook page? Your time is running out. We are at 994… 995… make that 996 at this time. Don't miss your chance click here now. You might also be interested in “like”ing your local BPL branch’s facebook page: East Lake Library Five Points West Regional Library Inglenook Library North Avondale Library Springville Road Regional Library Woodlawn Library Or "like"ing one of our central departments: Government Documents & Microforms Southern History Department Or our friends group: Friends of the Birmingham Public Library

Ms. Casandra Scot open the program with a "silly sounds" exercise. Ms. Cas places photos on the floor for teens to consider. Teens walk around pictures to see which person they would like to be. A demur lady or a hired assassin? Hmmm. Both? Ms. Casandra Scott conducted the "So, You Think You Can Act?" program Tuesday, March 22, at Springville Road Library. The program introduced teens to improvisation, character background development, creative and imaginative "play," and other acting skills.

Max Herzel, Holocaust survivor and member of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Committee and the Alabama Holocaust Commission , will discuss how he and his family escaped the German invasion of their home city of Antwerp, Belgium and sought refuge in France. Soon after their arrival, the Herzels, along with other Jews, were rounded up and faced harrowing experiences for five years. Wednesday, March 30, 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 Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium.

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than to delve into your Irish ancestry? If you know, or if you have an inkling, that your forebearers immigrated to the United States from the Emerald Isle, then the Birmingham Public Library has the resources to help you track your ancestors down. The best place to start your Irish genealogy search is with the U.S. Census records. These records are available from 1790 to 1930 (1940 becomes available in 2012). Beginning with the 1850 Census, the place of birth of each household member member was included. Even better for genealogists, beginning in 1880, respondents were also asked to name the place of birth of their parents. U.S. Census records can be searched on three databases that the library subscribes to (Ancestry, FamilySearch, and HeritageQuest), and also are available on microfilm for the Southeastern United States in Microforms Room of the Government Documents department. Ship passenger lists are another rich source of informa...

Storytellers shared ideas during the Storyteller Swap hosted by Avondale Branch Regional Library. Ms. Wanda shares a laugh with Mr. Ray as she demonstrates how to make a paper hat. Ms. Wanda shows a close up of her hat. Mr. Travis and Ms. Cas act out their version of "I Love My New Toy" by Mo Willems. Ms. Eve performs "Pete the Cat" by Eric Litwin.