Birmingham Public Library Blog

Bards & Brews Open Mic Poetry 📍 East Village Arts 7611 First Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 📅 Friday, February 6, 2026 🕡 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.) 🎟 Free admission | Ages 18+ (21+ to drink) 🎤 Live Music: G.I. Magus 🎙 Host: Emcee Thed Weller Have you ever wanted to perform original poetry before a live audience? Then make plans to join Birmingham Public Library for Bards & Brews Open Mic on Friday, February 6, at East Village Arts in East Lake. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with live music from  G.I. Magus ,  whose soulful sound sets the tone for the night. After his performance,  open mic poetry begins to flow. In its 15th year and hosted by emcee Thed Weller, BPL’s popular monthly series provides spoken word poets to share original work in a relaxed, welcoming space. Attendees of the February 6 Bards & Brews Open Mic can enjoy free craft beer samples, provided by Birmingham District Brewing Co. ...

Monday, January 19, 2026, marks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day , a federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader whose commitment to nonviolence and justice helped transform our nation. Join us at BPL as we honor Dr. King’s legacy through reflection and providing resources to educate our community.  On Saturday, January 17 at 11 AM, the BPL Department of Archives & Manuscripts will present its 23rd Annual “Begin the Day: The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture” at Avondale Regional Library, 509 40 th  Street South. Author and racial justice educator Melanie S. Morrison will speak on the topic "Becoming Trustworthy White Allies." The lecture is free. In her talk, Morrison will examine the real work of allyship: moving through shame and guilt, beyond segregation to build accountable relationships with people of color.  For more information about the MLK lecture, contact C atherine Oseas of BPL's Department of Archives at (205) 226-3634 or via email at catherine.o...

  Consumer Reports is one of the world's most popular consumer magazines  The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is proud to announce the addition of the Consumer Reports database, a highly requested resource now available free to BPL patrons. This powerful buying-advice tool helps consumers make informed decisions by offering trusted ratings, reviews, and comparisons for thousands of products. Whether you’re shopping for a major appliance, researching a new car, or comparing electronics, Consumer Reports helps you get the best value for your time and money. What You’ll Find in Consumer Reports Patrons can access: Independent product ratings and reviews Expert buying guides and videos Money-saving tips and financial advice Research-backed recommendations you can trust Subject Areas Include: Appliances Babies & Kids Cars Electronics Health, Fitness & Food Home & Garden Money A Trusted, Independe...

It is time for Birmingham Public Library to look back on our favorite records released this past year. With so many great, original albums to choose from, it was no easy task determining which albums would make the “best of” list this year. Just like reading a great book, listening to a wonderful record can grant us more creativity and a wealth of knowledge about the world around us.    Here are Birmingham Public Library’s favorite albums of 2025: 1.       Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse This is one of the strongest comebacks that I have listened to so far in the 21st century. The hard work put into Clipse’s fourth album after a 15-year hiatus shines. Each track guarantees repetitive listening. In fact, Let God Sort Em Out is Clipse’s strongest record. This duo from Virginia Beach, Virginia , which consists of Pusha T and Malice , still pushed themselves by revisiting and building upon familiar production quality and lyrical themes, especial...

What:  BPL’s Bards & Brews Poetry Slam  When:  Friday, January 9, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (on-site poet registration opens at 6:00 PM) Where:  Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 Sponsors:   Bards & Brews, the Birmingham Public Library's monthly spoken word poetry series, is supported by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts presented to the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library. Birmingham, Ala. -  Want to see and hear some of the top poets in metro Birmingham competing for a combined $500 in cash prizes? Birmingham Public Library invites you to our first Bards & Brews Poetry Slam of 2026 at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, at the Central Library downtown, 2100 Park Place.  Thed Weller will serve as host and singer  BrightLight , found on Facebook as the Brightlight Experience, will provide musical entertainment. Prize distribution will be as follows: the first pl...

  North Birmingham Regional Branch Library hosted several fun Craft Creations programs in November. We want to showcase some activities that stood out. * Our Fall Collage was held on November 7th and emphasized the creation of a seasonally appropriate collage while listening to soothing tunes. ·        *      Our November 14th program was a bad art competition where patrons were encouraged to make the worst piece of art. Voting took place to determine the winner. ·        *     On November 21st, we hosted a paint along where patrons were asked to follow along to a fun painting tutorial. Each program had something unique to offer and every patron walked away happy with the final product they produced. See some of the Craft Creations below.  Let us know what you think. Email Jana.brown@cobpl.org . Written by Jana Brown, Library Assistant III | North Birmingham Regional Branch Library

  Cindy Free – Clara with Nutcracker , bronze, 2023  If you plan to attend BPL’s Holiday Open House on December 16, stick around for the unveiling of three new bronze sculptures by Birmingham artist Cindy Free. Free’s sculptural rendition of the Sugar Plum Fairy, a character from the The Nutcracker ballet , is among the pieces that will be revealed at the opening reception of her exhibition Volumes in Bronze: A Sculptor’s Library of Moment . The reception will take place in the Lobby Gallery at the Central Library from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.    In addition to Sugar Plum Fairy , Free’s exhibition features 17 sculptures of figures such as the Greek goddess Athena, dancers engaged in a pas de deux , a mermaid, and other characters from The Nutcracker. Inspired by her experience as the founding artistic and executive director of Birmingham Ballet, Free began “The Nutcracker Collection” in 2023. Each year she adds another bronze to the series.   The artis...