Birmingham Public Library Blog

BPL's Reba Williams was among StrongHer Honorees celebrated Wednesday night. Reba Williams, Branch Manager at Titusville Library , was among 150 City of Birmingham StrongHer honorees celebrated during a special ceremony held Wednesday, August 30 , at the Boutwell Auditorium 2023 marked the fifth year of the StrongHer campaign held during Women's History Month every March, sharing women of courage and empowerment making a positive difference in Birmingham. During the event, Mayor Randall Woodfin and Chanda Temple, Special Projects manager for the mayor's office, announced that the City of Birmingham in mid-October will release a special #StrongHer book showcasing all of the honorees.  Last year, Williams' success in transforming Titusville Library through a series of monthly food giveaways and other programs for seniors, youth and young adults led  Williams to be the first woman featured in the March 2022 StrongHer campaign during Women's History Month.    "To ...

Bards & Brews Grand Slam is our biggest slam of the year! Three poets will win prizes totaling to a $1,000.00 and the crowd gets to decide who wins. Bards & Brews Grand Slam is happening this Friday, September 1, at the Central Library. Registration to compete in the slam starts at 6:00 p.m. and the slam starts at 6:30 p.m. with an opening performance from local drummer Barry Johnson and beers from Good People Brewing Company. 

Looking for help in writing your personal essay for college admissions? The Birmingham Public Library has you covered!   During the month of September, the Central Library downtown is hosting weekly free workshops to help students perfect college admissions essays. Come receive one-on-one instruction at our workshops and network with other students.   Attend up to four sessions taught by a recent graduate of Columbia University's MFA program .   The sessions are all at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7; Thursday, September 14, Thursday, September 21, and Thursday, September 28.   For more information, call (205) 226-3655. 

What does it mean to be healthy? Does the answer simply come down to being physically fit? Certainly, physical well-being is something that we all should aspire to, but there are other dimensions to our lives that need attention and nourishment as well.

The Jefferson County Library Cooperative  (JCLC) annual Food for Fines September campaign kicks off on Friday, September 1, 2023.  This annual initiative allows the 40 libraries in the county, including  Birmingham Public Library  locations, to allow patrons with late fees the opportunity to donate food to help those in need and see up to $10 of their library fines waived.   At each of the 40 libraries across the county, cardholders can donate non-perishable food items, each item taking a dollar off of how much is owed. Getting the most donations has actually become a competition between the libraries.  How does it work?   $1.00 in fines will be waived for each food item donated in September for up to $10.00 per library card holder.    When and where can donations be made?  Donations will be accepted at all Jefferson County public libraries circulation desks during September. What food items can be donated? • Baby food  • ...

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is excited to announce that tickets to Classic Cocktails are now on sale! The 2nd Annual Classic Cocktails is a kickoff party leading up to this year's Magic City Classic football game. It will take place on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., at downtown’s Central Library.   Classic Cocktails helps support BPL programs and events. Tickets are $40 per person. The evening will feature a tasting of locally distilled spirits, tailgate-style food, a cigar lounge, a beer-and-cocktail bar, games, and more. DJ Chris Coleman of V94.9 FM  in Birmingham will provide live musical entertainment.  Whether you're a fan of the Alabama A&M Universit y Bulldogs or the Alabama State University  Hornets—or simply want to experience the excitement leading up to this historic sports competition—Classic Cocktails promises to be a night to remember!  Tickets to Classic Cocktails are available for purchase on Eventbrit...

  Holding copies of the 2022 Southern Exposure DVDs donated to the Birmingham Public Library are, left to right: Caleb West, head of BPL Collection Management; Kelly Marshall, Deputy Director of Alabama Rivers Alliance; and Charles Scribner, Executive Director of the Black Warrior Riverkeeper.    2022 Southern Exposure DVD cover. BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Alabama Rivers Alliance and Black Warrior Riverkeeper have partnered to donate to the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) 18 copies of the latest editions of Southern Exposure, an award-winning film series dedicated to educating the public about Alabama’s natural resources.  Each of BPL’s 18 locations now has one DVD copy of the 2022 edition of Southern Exposure , a series of documentary shorts on various Alabama environmental topics by independent filmmakers. DVDs of previous Southern Exposure editions are available at all BPL branches thanks to Alabama Rivers Alliance and Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s prior donations. “We a...

  Author  Mary Laura Philpott is a new discovery for me. As primarily a reader of rather lurid fiction, I honestly did not realize her book,  Bomb Shelter: Love, Time and Other Explosives , was a memoir when I downloaded it to my Kindle. My disappointment was short lived -  and after the first few pages, I was hooked.  Bomb Shelter is framed around a medical crisis that struck Philpott’s teenage son and brought home to her the terrible knowledge that, as hard as she may try, she can’t save and always protect everyone she loves. While this may sound like a dark and depressing premise it’s quite the opposite.  Philpott’s humorous observations and general cheeriness make this book a delight. The essays in Bomb Shelter bounce around chronologically and it’s a style that can take some getting used to. The chapters are short and each one is a little jewel. Philpott is a skilled writer who takes the reader along with her and her beloved family while they exper...