Birmingham Public Library Blog

Don’t miss . . . The Release of the Inner Artist Paintings by Joyce E. Brooks are on display on the first floor of the Birmingham Public Library’s Central location from now until March 29 . Ms. Brooks’ website says it best: Once Joyce E. Brooks managed to minimize the overload, achieve balance and gain some much deserved peace, she discovered a hidden gift deep inside of her. Joyce had never given any thought to becoming an artist. In 2010, after attending an event that included painting on canvass for entertainment, she stumbled upon a new passion. She began painting with acrylics and hasn’t stopped. Joyce E. Brooks is also the author of the book titled Self-Inflicted Overload . This month Joyce is celebrating being cancer-free for five years. Since being declared cancer-free in 2009, Joyce has become an artist, author, stress awareness expert, and a “mompreneur.” Joyce says, “Being diagnosed with breast cancer has been a life challenging experience. What could have b...

The Pratt City Branch Library, which was severely damaged in an April 27, 2011, tornado, has been rebuilt and will reopen on February 10 at 10:00 a.m. with a grand reopening ceremony and reception. A new library feature is a storm shelter with reinforced concrete walls. "The new building not only has a safe room, but has been strengthened in other ways to withstand high winds,'' says Renee Blalock, director of the Birmingham Public Library. "The design is not only practical, but also beautiful. The staff looks forward to providing improved services to friends and patrons in Pratt City.'' When the tornado hit, the library’s steel frame was one of the only salvageable parts left of a building that was built in 1993. During the planning process to rebuild, the City of Birmingham insisted that a storm shelter be incorporated into the new design. The goal was to provide protection from future tornadoes and wind events. During the February 10 reopening ceremo...

Sampling local beer at the January 3 B&B Slam! at Avondale Library Visit the Bards & Brews page on Facebook The Five Points West Library hosts the next Bards & Brews Open Mic on Friday, February 7, 2014 . Music is by Elliot Cleverdon, 6:30-7:00 p.m. Performances start at 7:00 p.m. The event is free to attend and is open to the public. Must be 18 and up to attend and 21 to participate. Beer tasting will be provided by Blue Pants Brewery . ID required. Refreshments will be served. For more info, call 205-226-3670 or email hm@bham.lib.al.us.

On Monday, February 10 , LifeSouth will be doing a blood drive at the Central Library's Story Castle from noon till 5:00 p.m. Because of the recent snow, blood is at a winter low and is desperately needed. Please consider donating. All donors will receive a baseball hat and be put in a drawing for a new Play Station 4.

An exhibit at Five Points West Library of photographs from every location in its 85-year history. The Five Points West Regional Library (formerly the Central Park Library) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary at its current location. The library will host an open house to celebrate the occasion on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 . The open house will be held from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The library was first established in the 1930s on the upper floor of Birmingham Fire Station No. 24. Since then it was moved to the Central Park Recreation Center, to a building on Bessemer Road, to the former Britling West cafeteria on Avenue V, and finally to its current location at the Five Points West Municipal Center. The current library, designed by Giattina Fisher Aycock, opened in 2004. The building includes half of the old Food Fair/Zayre store building from Five Points West Shopping City which was partially demolished. The library was home to the monumen...

Click image to enlarge Nearly 100 authors are scheduled to showcase their written works during the Local Authors Expo and Book Fair on February 1, 9:00  a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Central Library . The event is free and open to the public. The event provides an outlet for authors, many of them self-published, to sell their books and to network. But it also gives library patrons an opportunity to discover new talent and talk to authors about their writing style and writing journey. Book topics include Birmingham and Alabama history, civil rights, poetry, memoirs, devotionals, relationships, inspiration and motivation, self-help, children’s fiction, Christian fiction, teen fiction, fantasy, romance, thrillers, science fiction, and historical fiction. The Expo will have two writing sessions in the Arrington Auditorium. The sessions are free and don’t require advance registration. The Local Authors Expo is presented by the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library, a nonprofit as...

Birmingham is in the process of creating a comprehensive plan for the city and is asking for citizen input. Framework plans focusing on issues, growth, and development specific to neighborhoods within each community are needed. Make your voice heard for the future of your community by participating. Communities: North Birmingham Location: Trinity CME Church Date: Thursday, February 6 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Titusville Location: Sixth Avenue Baptist Church Date: Monday, February 10 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Western Area Location: Five Points West Library Date: Saturday, February 1 Time: 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Hosting haiku comp Open to AL residents Poems in the spring. edit: 3/4/14: Haiku may now be submitted by e-mail as well (bplhaiku@gmail.com) From February 23rd through March 15th, BPL will be sponsoring a Twitter Haiku Contest! In conjuntion with the  Japan America Society of Alabama  (JASA) and the  Southeast Chapter of the Haiku Society of America  (HSA) the  contest will be part of the annual Sakura Festival, the primary event of which will take place at the Japanese Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Saturday, March 22, 2014. A haiku is a short poem that uses imagistic language to convey the essence of an experience of nature or the season intuitively linked to the human condition.  For more information, see  http://www.hsa-haiku.org/archives/HSA_Definitions_2004.html Eligibility Must be an Alabama resident. Contestants must submit a registration form . To enter the adult competition, must be over 18. To enter ...