Birmingham Public Library Blog

You are invited to the annual meeting of the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library to be held Thursday, November 9 in Central's Arrington Auditorium . Jackie Wuska with the Literacy Council of Central Alabama will discuss literacy in Birmingham. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting is at 6:00 p.m. Join the Friends TODAY and come to the annual meeting!

Between November 6 and November 22 the Avondale staff wants to talk turkey with you. Visit the Youth Department for your turkey conversational starter and let the fun begin. Who knows, all this talking may win you and your family a frozen turkey and a Thanksgiving tale or two.

Join us this Wednesday, November 1 at noon in Central's Arrington Auditorium to hear Birmingham historian Karen Utz discuss Glenn Miller, Ensley and the Big Band hit it inspired: "Tuxedo Junction".

BIRMINGHAM—Putting flesh on the bones of Birmingham’s civil rights history. That’s how Marjorie White, Birmingham Historical Society director, describes the new exhibit of 41 never-before-seen photos from the archives of the Birmingham News. Each depicts the turbulent and emotional events sweeping our city during the 1950s and 60s. The exhibit, entitled “Unseen. . . .Unforgotten/Civil Rights Photographs from The Birmingham News,” runs November 5-December 30 in the Library Gallery of the Birmingham Public Library . The Opening Reception is Sunday, November 5 from 3-5 p.m. The photos, shot by News photographers yet never published, reveal gripping and telling moments such as: A child bearing a sign reading “Can a Man Love God and Hate His Brother?” Mayor Albert Boutwell following the news of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing A youthful and determined Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth counseling Freedom Riders A pensive, brooding Dr. Martin Luther King Police Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor ...

John McCutcheon storyteller and folksinger, will perform at BPL Monday, November 13 through Wednesday, November 15 at the following branches: 11/13/06 Central 10:00 a.m. Springville Road Branch 6:30 p.m. 11/14/06 Five Points West Branch 10:00 a.m. North Avondale Branch 1:00 p.m. Avondale Branch 6:30 p.m. 11/15/06 North Birmingham Branch 10:00 a.m. Smithfield Branch 1:00 p.m. Pratt City Branch 3:30 p.m. One of America's most respected and loved folksingers, John McCutcheon is an award-winning recording artist and storyteller. He is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments including the banjo, guitar, fiddle, mountain dulcimer, and jaw harp. His 26 recordings have garnered multiple awards, including five consecutive Grammy nominations. Listen to some of McCutheon's songs such as " Dog's Life " and " Mud " at Amazon.com. This program is made possible, in part, by the Jefferson County Commission through the Jefferson County Community Ar...

This Wednesday (Oct. 25) at noon, join BPL Archivist Jim Baggett for a pre-Halloween virtual tour of some of our city's notorious historic sites. The virtual tour is part of Central's Brown Bag Program held in Central's Arrington Auditorium .

All branches of the Birmingham Public Library will be closed Thursday October 19 until 1 p.m. for staff training.

Need career information, knowledge about different professions, or employability skills? Explore the Career Guidance Center. The Career Guidance Center offers an all-encompassing online database on career information. With over 2,000 jobs and 23,000 resources, this database has all the information to help you choose, plan, and advance your career.