Birmingham Public Library Blog

Drum roll, please... Join drum circle leader John Scalici for an afternoon of percussion fun as we "Get Rhythm." No experience is required to participate and a limited number of instruments will be provided. Ba-dum-DUM! This program is made possible by a Hillcrest Foundation grant. Ensley Branch Library - Tuesday, January 12, 3:00 p.m. Springville Road Regional Branch Library - Wednesday, January 20, 4:00 p.m. West End Branch Library - Thursday, January 21, 3:30 p.m. Five Points West Regional Branch Library - Tuesday, February 2, 3:30 p.m. Smithfield Branch Library - Thursday, February 4, 4:00 p.m. Powderly Branch Library - Tuesday, February 9, 3:30 p.m. East Lake Branch Library - Wednesday, February 17, 1:30 p.m. Avondale Regional Branch Library - Thursday, February 25, 3:30 p.m. Central Library - Wednesday, March 9, 3:30 p.m. Woodlawn Branch Library - Tuesday, March 15, 4:00 p.m. Inglenook Branch Library - Tuesday, March. 29, 3:00 p.m. East Ensley Branch ...

As 2016 approaches you may find yourself wanting to ring in the new year with some new reads. If so, the library’s youth department is the place for you. Here are a few suggestions for our youngest patrons as well as those who are young at heart. Ragweed’s Farm Dog Handbook by Anne Vittur Kennedy Being a farm dog is a tough job, but luckily, Ragweed’s handbook will tell you everything you need to know. Step one: don’t wake the farmer! You may really, really want to, but that’s the rooster’s job. Of course, if you do wake the farmer, you might just get a biscuit. . . . Full of hilarious dog logic, Ragweed’s Farm Dog Handbook explores the pitfalls—and opportunities!—of a dog’s life on the farm. Bear and Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater The bear and the bunny are friends who like to wander in the woods, look for things to eat, sing songs, and talk things over. One day, the bunny asks the bear, "Why do we not have some kind of pet?" Well, the bear is not sure what a pet ...

Registration is now open for staff and the public for the  January 2016 Classes .   During this month, we include our popular computer classes, as well as genealogy, patent basics, and employment assistance classes. All classes are held in the  Regional Library Computer Center (RLCC) of the Central (downtown) Library .  PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CLASSES. Please note that registration does not necessarily guarantee you a spot in the class. You will receive an email confirming your registration for classes.  You may also call to confirm your registration. To register for any class, please email us at cenrtc@bham.lib.al.us  or call 205-226-3681.   You may also download and print a PDF copy January 2016 Classes to bring to a Computer Commons staff member on your next library visit. Please note that the January 2016 Class Schedule pdf can be sent to us as an email attachment.  

Serving others is a privilege, especially when serving people who are less fortunate than we are. In most cases, service is equally if not more beneficial to both the recipient and server. In fact, several studies have linked higher self-esteem, happiness, and overall physical health to serving and helping others in need. Working for public libraries enables us to exercise this privilege and connect people to information and resources that will improve the quality of their lives. Subsequently, many of those people will do the same for someone else thus continuing the cycle of service. If you would like more information on how to serve, where to get started, or great examples check out the following books. Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others / Cheryl Bachelder The Customer Rules: The 39 Rules for Delivering Sensational Service /  Lee Cockerell Anointed to be God's Servants: How God Blesses Those Who Serve Together / Henry Blackaby and Thoma...

Rise of the Robots Martin Ford 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. — Isaac Asimov Such a melodramatic title. It sounds like pulp tale from the golden age of science fiction. I can’t help but picture a stiff-legged, iron behemoth lumbering toward a helpless, screaming blonde. But Martin Ford hasn’t written a science fiction novel. In fact, he hasn’t even written a novel. Rise of the Robots is an economic analysis of the increased use of robotics, automation, and algorithms in the workplace. Still, the conclusions he draws are just as frightening as watching The Day the Earth Stood Still , and one walks away from the book wondering if humans are already being harmed by robots. Job ...

Seven community libraries in the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) system will close for lunch beginning Monday, January 4, 2016. The libraries making this change are: East Lake, Eastwood, Pratt City, Smithfield, Southside, Titusville, and West End. Each of these seven community libraries will close each day that they are open to the public from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. for lunch. Their hours of operation will now be Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. “We are making this change in hours to streamline our service system-wide and make the best use of staff,” said Angela Fisher Hall, director of BPL. “This will help ensure that our branch locations have proper employee coverage during the hours they are open to the public. Additionally, library patrons will have access to staff familiar with the branch location, its visitors, and the area it serves.” BPL’s neighborhood libraries will maintain their current schedule with winter hours thr...

The Smithfield Library will be closed Wednesday, December 30 , due to the anticipated large crowds expected for the Birmingham Bowl taking place at nearby Legion Field. The football game featuring the in-state Auburn Tigers vs. the Memphis Tigers kicks off at 11:00 a.m. “When large events are held at Legion Field, our staff and library patrons usually have some degree of difficulty in getting to the Smithfield branch. With all of the excitement focused on the Birmingham Bowl, and especially with our own Auburn Tigers as one of the featured teams, our board agreed to close the facility for the big game,” stated library Director Angela Fisher Hall. All other 18 locations in the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) system will be open as normal on Wednesday. Smithfield Library will reopen during regular business hours on Thursday, December 31. All of the BPL’s 19 locations will close on Friday, January 1, 2016, in observance of New Year’s Day. Libraries with weekend hours will open dur...

Recently, I read an AARP article online titled “ A Year of Wise Money Moves ." It encouraged me to think not only about financial housekeeping during the year, but things that will help me better organize my life. I want to set goals that can be accomplished, not make resolutions I know I may not keep. My first thought for the year is charitable giving. I give to my local church and to several charities, but I’m wondering whether I should give to the same charities that I have in the past. It’s good to review your charitable giving annually. If this is one of your goals, Money Magazine has the great article “ How to Get the Most Bang for Your Charitable Giving Buck .” I am a bibliophile who is a librarian and there are so many books I want to read. This year, I’m going to make a list and try to read at least ten books on the list. If you want to try something like this, take a look at BPL’s Library Resource page to find recommended books for reading and best-seller...