Birmingham Public Library Blog

  BPL Archives Department Head Jim Baggett speaking at Homewood Public Library On Friday, April 9, Birmingham Public Library Archivist Jim Baggett received top honors from both the Alabama Historical Association and the University of Alabama.   The Alabama Historical Association , the oldest statewide historical association in Alabama, presented Baggett with the Milo B. Howard Award for his article “’A Law Abiding People’: Alabama’s 1901 Constitution and the Attempted Lynching of Jim Brown.” The article was published in The Alabama Review.  UA  named Baggett the 2021 Outstanding Alumnus in Library & Information Studies for his service and contributions to librarianship in Alabama. Baggett began working at BPL as an intern in 1988 and has been Head of the BPL’s Archives Department and Archivist for the City of Birmingham since 1997. He holds a Master’s degree in public history from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (1988) and a Masters of Library and In...

DMX was the most popular rapper in the U.S. for a decade beginning in 1998. DMX, one of the most popular rappers in the late 1990s and early 2000s, died at age 50 in a New York hospital today, Friday, April 9, nearly a week after suffering a heart attack. Born in December 18, 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York as Earl Simmons, DMX became a star in early 1998 when he released his debut album It's Dark and Hell is Hot.     His biggest hit, Party Up,  features the lyrics "Y'all Gon Make Me Lose My Mind, Up in Here, Up in Hear, Y'all Gon Make Me Act a Fool Up in Here Up in Here." It was on his third album, And Then There was X,  and remains a popular dance song in nightclubs even today.   In a statement, DMX family said the rapper spent the past week on life support after suffering "serious health issues." "Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him," his family ...

By Jim Murray| Central Library Business, Science & Technology Department One thing that we all learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that our financial situations can change abruptly and unexpectedly. Of course, there is no way to predict what sort of economic calamity might befall us this year or at any time in the future, but we can strive to benefit from the tribulations that we have experienced with COVID by better preparing ourselves for what may come next. A particularly good way to prepare for the unexpected is to gain as much knowledge as you can about those issues that affect your well-being. When it comes to the issue of personal finance, one of the best sources of knowledge are the learning tools made available during Money Smart Week .  Begun in 2002 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as an effort to promote financial literacy among residents of the Windy City, Money Smart Week has grown into an extensive national public education initiative that is held annual...

  By Catherine Frey| BPL Director of Library Development  Birmingham, Ala.- We appreciate your patronage to the Birmingham Public Library . #National Library Week makes us pause and recognize the importance of our local community.  On behalf of the BPL staff, BPL Board of Trustees , and the  Friends Foundation , we sincerely appreciate your support of BPL on #LibraryGivingDay. We are humbled by the love and gifts our libraries received during our BPL Food Truck Rally and BPL Friends Bookstore  sale held in the parking lot of the Central Library on Wednesday, April 7, during #LibraryGiving Day . Although National Library Week is ending Saturday, please still support BPL on our website  and on the Friends Foundation of BPL website .  The Birmingham Public Library has served the Magic City for 135 years. Please make a difference today by donating $135 so we can keep bringing you many more years of innovative and inspiring resources, services, and prog...

With many high school students unable to do college campus tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Birmingham Public Library is stepping up to help them virtually. BPL's 2021 Virtual College Fair kicked off at 10:00 a.m. today, Thursday, April 8, with an introduction to Miles College in Fairfield. Those who missed it can tune in to see what they missed by going to the BPL Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary Prospective students will get to learn more about two other colleges over the next two weeks: * Thursday, April 15, 10:00 a.m.  - The University of Alabama at Birmingham * Thursday, April 22, 10:00 a.m. - Lawson State Community College Topics to be discussed include requirements for college admission application deadlines, Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FASFA) , and more.  Students are encouraged during these virtual college fairs to ask questions.  You can participate in all virtual sessions for free on the Birmingham Publ...

Today, Thursday, April 8, is Take Action for Libraries Day.    The Birmingham Public Library continues its celebration of National Library Week , which kicked off Sunday, April 4, and concludes this Saturday, April 10. Today, Thursday, April 8, is Take Action for Libraries Day , a day to rally advocates to support libraries. The American Library Association calls on the public to join library advocates across the country in calling on elected officials to keep #LibrariesStrong with robust federal and local funding, and to spread the word in how libraries help communities succeed and thrive.  On Wednesday, April 7, BPL hosted a Food Truck Rally and BPL Friends Bookstore sale in the Central Library parking lot as part of #LibraryGivingDay , a day-long fundraising campaign to raise money for libraries nationwide.    The 2021 theme for National Library Week, “Welcome to Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – ...

  Join us at the Central Library , 2100 Park Place in downtown Birmingham, between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, April 7, for the Birmingham Public Library's #LibraryGivingDay  event. As part of our celebration of National Library Week , we are hosting a BPL Friends Bookstore Sale with "grab bags" filled with books ranging in prices from $2 to $10. In addition, the Central Library parking lot will be filled with a dozen trucks with a variety of delicious lunch and snacks available for purchase. Proceeds benefit BPL's programs, services and materials.   History tells us that in periods of crisis, people rely on their local public library more than ever. Birmingham Public Libraries are here and ready to help create stability and a sense of normalcy by providing outstanding services, activities, and well-resources spaces for Birmingham residents. A well-resourced public library is a great equalizer.   If you cannot make this event, BPL is asking...

  By Leslie Deason| Avondale Regional Library Join Avondale Public Library during April as we celebrate National Garden Month. Spring is here and what better time to go outside and plant a garden. This is the perfect antidote for the cold weather blues. We are offering kits this month so that you can “grow-your-own pizza garden.” This would be a great activity to enjoy with your family. We encourage you to involve your kids in the process. Our kit has everything you need, including tomato, oregano and basil seeds, compostable pots, seed starter mix, seed markers and information to be successful in growing your plants. We’ve also included a simple recipe to make a homemade garden pizza sauce. You’ll find that pizza sauce is tastier with fresh herbs from the garden. Please call to reserve your kit or drop by the library to pick up a kit today. We would like to thank “Friends of Avondale Park” for partnering with us to provide the materials to include in the kits.