Birmingham Public Library Blog

Some holiday traditions are meant to bring family together to share their love, a meal, and maybe a few songs. There are plays and carols and movies galore to entertain the Christmas spirits in us all. This year marks the 25th anniversary of one of my personal favorite traditions—reading Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris .

Ready to celebrate the holidays? The Birmingham Public Library is hosting 86 different holiday programs and activities  ( pdf ) to help patrons of all ages get in a festive, joyous mood all month long in December, beginning Thursday, December 1.  Among the highlights: * Season's Readings & Festive Eatings at the Central Library throughout December , as library patrons are invited to share their most treasured holiday memories and tastiest recipes. * Family Fun Night: Gingerbread House Building at the Avondale Regional Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 . You can also pick up gingerbread house decorating kits and enter Springville Road Regional Library's gingerbread house contest beginning Thursday, December 1 . Springville Road gingerbread house winners will be announced on December 20. * Attend Titusville Branch's Christmas Community Resource Day from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 , where 50 kids will receive free bicycles, toys, and clothes. * W...

  Titusville Branch Manager Reba Williams with one of the 50 bikes the library is giving away.   Birmingham, Ala. - If you need free Christmas gifts or need help finding presents for 2022 for your children, guess what? Titusville Branch Library  is donating 50 NEW BIKES, NEW TOYS AND NEW CLOTHES for 50 children in the community in need of presents during the holiday season!   The library, located at 32 6th Avenue SW,  will host its first Titusville Branch Christmas Resource Day at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 as part of the series of Titusville Branch Community Resource Days created by Branch Manager Reba Williams. The event will take place on December 6, 2022, at 3:30 p.m.  The program will consist of a hot chocolate/coca bar music, food, arts and crafts, and games. Patrons will also be able to renew or get library card memberships, along with checking out books.  The last stop of that day will be to enter into Santa’s Shop and receive items from your...

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) wishes patrons a happy Giving Tuesday! We ask that you remember us on this noteworthy day. The mission of the global GivingTuesday movement is to inspire people around the world to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Today is a special day for GivingTuesday , as the organization is celebrating its 10-year anniversary!

The Birmingham Public Library  is accepting new and unwrapped toy donations for The Birmingham Urban League's Toy Drive! To date, the City of Birmingham has had 126 homicides, leaving around 68—74 families affected with small children that will have to live without parents. The Urban League is assisting families affected by violence with a toy drive and a dinner reception. 

  Crystal Smitherman presents check to Titusville Branch Manager Reba Williams.  The Titusville Branch Library has received a$5,000 Donation from Alabama State Senator Rodger Smitherman   and his daughter, Birmingham City Councilor Pro-Tem Crystal Smitherman.  Smitherman represents State District 18, which includes the Titusville Library. The Smitherman family has been long-time supporters of the Birmingham Public Library System . Smitherman's wife is Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Carole Smitherman.  Crystal Smitherman, who represents District 6 and has given several donations to Titusville Library over the past two years, said her family is honored to support their community library. "Our Titusville Library has served as a safe haven for lifelong learning for decades," she said. "Students are assisted with homework and project assignments, while our seniors are the backbone of strength that keeps the library vibrant. We salute the branch manager and st...

Todd Tilghman, former winner of The Voice Griffith & Co. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the December 4 concert featuring Todd Tilghman and Griffith & Co. has been postponed. Stay tuned for more details later. A pastor from Mississippi, Tilghman won The Voice in 2020, becoming at age 42 the oldest winner of the popular NBC singing competition. Griffith & Co. is a band based in Nashville.  

Gearing up for the holiday season,  Smithfield Branch Library  welcomes long time favorites Mr. and Mrs. Burks for some soap creation activities! Also, Smithfield Branch Manager Sequoria Lewis presented her second annual Thanksgiving gift card giveaway to a deserving patron!! Tears of joy sprang forth as Ms. Wanda Collins, a native of the Smithfield community for over 40 years, was surprised to find that she was our lucky winner this year!!!