Birmingham Public Library Blog

It’s never too late to start building a better understanding of your personal finances and begin developing a plan for the future. To assist you in this endeavor, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is partnering with the staff of the Regions Institute for Financial Education at UAB to offer a series of Money Matters workshops at the Central Library on the first Wednesday of each month from July 2016 to May 2017. Please join us on the dates below to take part in discussions about a variety of money management issues and learn ways to help you achieve your economic goals. When:  First Wednesday of the month Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m. Place:  Central Library/Linn-Henley Research Library/Regional Library Computer Center/4th floor Dates/Workshops 12/7/2016 – Protecting Yourself Against Targeted Fraud ( This program has been rescheduled for December 14 ) 1/4/2017 – Dealing With Debt 2/1/2017 – Where to Invest Your College Money 3/1/2017 – Your Credit Report 4/5/2017 –...

Adrienne Stroud talking to staff at the Business, Science and Technology Dept. Adrienne Stroud was homeless for over two months during the summer of 2014. Today, she is a homeowner. Stroud gives much of the credit to Birmingham Public Library (BPL) staffers who provided assistance and access to information that helped turn her life around. “The Birmingham Public Library helped me find a homeless prevention program to get off the streets, and put me in touch with people who help those who’ve lost jobs,” Stroud said. "A lot of people aren’t aware you can call the library to get information and take advantage of valuable programs for free.” Stroud is one of 1.5 million lives a year touched in a positive way by resources and workshops available for free to the public at BPL’s 19 locations. Stroud in particular credits Jim Murray, head of the Business, Science and Technology Department at the Central Library, and Robert Jones, a librarian in the department, for taking time ou...

Jesse Allen, one of the lucky winners of the Thanksgiving basket giveaway Three patrons who checked out books at the Smithfield Branch Library during November won Thanksgiving baskets as part of a giveaway at the library November 22. The winners are: Jesse Allen, who checked out The Color Purple ; Charles Smith, who checked out a Willy Wonka book; and Demetrius Hayes, who checked out To Kill a Mockingbird . All three patrons won Thanksgiving baskets from the Smithfield Library that included a turkey, canned goods, bread rolls, celery, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Allen said he was surprised to find out that he had won one of the Thanksgiving baskets. “I’m really excited because I never win anything,” Allen said. “Thanks to the Smithfield Library. I visit this library all of the time because I live in the community.” Felicia Cooper’s decision to drop by the North Birmingham Regional Branch Library last week to check out Debbie Macomber’s novel, The Inn at Rose Harbor , ...

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is accepting donations as part of the #GivingTuesday campaign . #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Donations help BPL’s 19 locations to serve nearly 1.5 million people a year throughout Birmingham, granting them access to information, programs, and resources at no cost. BPL has been educating the public for over 129 years, as noted in a national spotlight feature in the  Atlantic . The Robotics Marathon , held recently at the Central Library as part of Teens Engineer Birmingham, is among many free activities held in BPL’s 19 libraries daily. The afterschool program teaches engineering skills to dozens of teens weekly at the Southside, Woodlawn, and Central Libraries. Because of the generous contributions of people like you, BPL can continue its mission of enriching the lives of Birmingham citizens like Calvester Sanders and the teen engineer participants featured below: Re...

Allaire Doussan and fellow engineering students at a recent robotics program University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) engineering student Allaire Doussan participated in a robotics program at her high school. When she found out the UAB School of Engineering was teaching a summer engineering program at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) last year, she volunteered to be a part of it to help give back to area teens who shared her joy of robotics and engineering. A year later, Doussan has advanced from volunteer to a paid UAB internship helping teach students who participate in BPL’s weekly afterschool Teens Engineer Birmingham program at the Woodlawn, Southside, and Central Libraries. “It has been great and rewarding teaching the kids,” said Doussan, a biomedical engineering major. “They seem to really enjoy learning.” As part of the program, Doussan and fellow UAB students assist Dr. Abi Yildirim, director of outreach for UAB’s School of Engineering, in teaching roboti...

Calvester Sanders credits free beginner computer classes at Central Library for taking her from being afraid to use a computer to mastering it on the job Before June 2016, Calvester Sanders had no knowledge of how to use a computer. Today, thanks to two months of free basic and advanced computer classes she took during the summer at the Central Library, Sanders is no longer afraid to use a computer. “The classes helped me tremendously,” said Sanders, supervisor of housekeeping at the Redmont Hotel downtown. “Before I took them, I couldn’t even turn on a computer. Now I’m familiar with computers and not afraid of them anymore. I can communicate with my staff using the computer now. I now know how to print out documents.” Sanders is one of 1.5 million lives touched in a positive way by resources and workshops available for free to the public at BPL’s 19 locations. She is appreciative of her supervisor, Redmont Hotel General Manager Nicole Schrader, who found out about Central Li...

Check out a book from the North Birmingham Regional Branch Library and you may win a free turkey. The North Birmingham Library is hosting a contest called “Thanks for Being Our Patron" Turkey Drawing. Adults who check out one adult book or audiobook may enter the drawing. The winner’s name will be pulled on Tuesday, November 22, at 1:30 p.m. Patrons do not have to be present to win. For more information, call the Adult Department at 226-⁠4025.

by Mary Anne Ellis, Central Library, Southern History Department Christmas with Southern Living 2016: The Complete Guide to Holiday Cooking and Decorating By editors of Southern Living Magazine A Christmas book in November? Well, why not? It never hurts to get an early start on the holiday season, with “early” meaning anything after Labor Day. If you’re the one in charge of a major holiday celebration, and especially if you’re already a fan of the magazine , then the Christmas with Southern Living book series is something you should check out. Our department has just received the 2016 version and even if you don’t feel your crafting and cooking abilities are in the Martha Stewart category, you can still revel in the gorgeous photography and cherry-pick the best ideas that will fit your celebration and skill level. And who knows? Some of the decorating schemes and recipes are fairly simple and you may find something you’d like to try. On page 39 there is a recipe for Salted Brow...