Birmingham Public Library Blog

The National Book Foundation has announced its 25 finalists in five categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people's literature.The winners in each category will be announced November 14, 2018. How many have you read? Finalists for Fiction Jamel Brinkley, A Lucky Man Lauren Groff, Florida Brandon Hobson, Where the Dead Sit Talking Rebecca Makkai, The Great Believers Sigrid Nunez, The Friend Finalists for Nonfiction Colin G. Calloway, The Indian World of George Washington: The First President, the First Americans, and the Birth of the Nation Victoria Johnson, American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic Jeffrey C. Stewart, The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke Adam Winkler, We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights Finalists for Poetry Rae Armantrout , Wobble Terrance Hayes, American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin Diana Khoi Nguyen, Ghost Of ...

by Barbara Hutto, Government Documents Department , Central Library Most of us have heard of the opioid overdose crisis calling attention to a drug that has existed since the 1990s. Like most medications, opioids have both positive and negative sides. On the positive side, they are useful in treating pain associated with an injury or surgery; but at the same time, they can be misused. This is where problems occur. The Birmingham Public Library Subject Resources page Opioids Crisis, Electronic Links  connects to a digital subject guide available 24/7 with full text articles whether you are just interested in the subject of opioids, writing a research paper, or questioning your own use of the drugs.

by Teresa Ceravolo, Southside Branch Library Teens at the Southside Branch Library enjoyed decorating a personal pumpkin for Halloween. They had so much fun, I knew it was time to get in the fall decorating spirit. The weather is finally getting cooler so it is the perfect time for all crafters to decorate our homes and offices for fall and Halloween. Local craft stores sell the artificial pumpkins perfect for painting or carving. If you need the real thing, purchase pumpkins at the local grocery store or farmer's market. Get the family involved with the decorating, which can be carving, painting, or adding purchased decals. Group the completed pumpkins together on a table inside or outside on the porch. Finally, make pumpkins do double duty by decorating only one side of your pumpkin. After Halloween, turn the pumpkin around and display the plain side through Thanksgiving.

by Tina Samuel, Titusville Branch Library L-R: Tina Samuel and Titusville Library branch manager Amanda Jenkins My name is Tina Samuel. I am a Library Assistant III at the Titusville Branch Library. I was given the opportunity to attend the 2018 Joint Conference of Librarians of Color  (JCLC). This is a somewhat unique and rare opportunity considering the years that accumulate between each gathering. JCLC was first held in 2006 in Dallas, Texas; in 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri; and in September 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The conference brings together a diverse group of librarians, library staff, library supporters, and community participants to explore issues of diversity in libraries, and how they affect the ethnic communities who use library services. Although I may not ever be able to convey the full experience gained by attending this conference, I will attempt to allow you to peak in. My journey began in a general session led by Benjamin Alire Sáenz ,...

What: Steps to Starting Your Business When:  Tuesday, October 16 (3rd Tuesday of each month, July-October 2018) Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m. Where: Central Library , Linn-Henley Research Library, Arrington Auditorium, 4th floor The Birmingham Public Library, in conjunction with Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)  and the City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, will be hosting the monthly seminar Steps to Starting Your Business from July to October 2018. Each seminar will cover the same topics, but those who are interested are welcome to attend more than one day. Topics covered will include crafting a vision statement, identifying sources of funding, determining the legal structure of your business, devising a business plan, and investigating sources of business and economic information. Please register for the seminars by contacting Valencia Fisher in the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity at Valencia.Fisher@birming...

by Denise Ford, West End Branch Library Gilberto Herrera and Kimberly Callines of Birmingham Urban League Patrons of the West End Branch Library gained valuable knowledge on how to check their finances and improve their credit score during a program held October 3. Kimberly Callines, housing counselor, and Gilberto Herrera, program manager, both from the Birmingham Urban League, Inc. , presented a free credit review workshop. The Birmingham Urban League is dedicated to empowering the community through three core programs: housing, workforce development, and GED. The mission of the Birmingham Urban League is to assist all racial and ethnic groups, particularly African Americans and the urban poor, in achieving social and economic equality. One of the ways the organization accomplishes its mission is by hosting financial literacy programs, such as the credit review workshop held at the West End Library, in Birmingham's 99 communities. The Birmingham Urban League wan...

by Shawn Caddell, Eastwood Branch Library The 2018 Food For Fines campaign at the Birmingham Public Library's 19 locations drew to a close on September 30. Every September, public libraries across the nation promote the Food for Fines campaign, allowing patrons to give non-perishable food items in lieu of money for overdue fines. The campaign has always been successful at the Eastwood Branch Library, but this year was different. With the August 1 inception of the automatic renewal feature , many of our patrons avoided incurring the overdue fines they had in the past. As such, our borrowed shopping cart stood empty for a while until some curious patrons asked about its function. Once we told them about the food drive, however, our patrons began demonstrating their generosity by donating food in the absence of overdue fines, and the Eastwood Library was able to help the  Eastern Area Christian Ministries  stock its food pantry. Our hearts are considerably warmed by the ...

by Kelly Laney, Springville Road Regional Branch Library The internet can be a wonderful resource, but many people do not realize that there are no laws, rules, regulations, or anything else that guarantees the accuracy or currency of anything online. There is great information to be found, but if you don’t know how to separate the good from the bad, it’s easy to unknowingly misinform yourself. That’s one of the greatest benefits of the subject resources and databases available online through the Birmingham Public Library. The sources recommended and linked through the site have been vetted by information professionals, and you can be sure you’re getting “the good stuff” if you access them through the library. A lot of the databases listed are by subscription, meaning that the library pays for them just as we pay for magazine and reference books. Patrons of the library access these online resources at no cost, just the same as they do print materials, except that with many...