I was genuinely impressed by this library. It's huge!! Three full floors plus an art gallery on the fourth level. The space feels thoughtfully designed, clean, and expansive without being overwhelming. I stopped by to take a meeting in one of the study pods, and the experience was seamless. It was quiet, comfortable, and exactly what I needed to get work done while traveling. Everything felt organized and accessible. I also noticed a dedicated tutoring section, which was such a nice touch. It's clear this library really prioritizes community support and learning at all levels. I loved my experience here and will absolutely be back before I leave Birmingham. read more

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I recently stopped in to get my library card, as I had not renewed my previous one in a while. Services were great. The agent was helpful and it took me about five minutes to get my new card. They also have passport services available at this location. So if you are in need of a passport, I recommend visiting the Central location, as they thoroughly explain the services to you. The staff is always so courteous and they have a nice bookstore that offers books for cheap. I have been able to find newer books there too. I highly recommend this location to help with various needs, ranging from book checkout, internet services, and passport services. read more

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This grand library has multiple floors of books as far as the eye can see. The beautiful glass building allows plenty of light in to help you delight in browsing the many shelves of fiction, non-fiction, and even board games! There is plenty of security as it is in downtown Birmingham. And thankfully we needed all hands on deck as there was a patron hollering to kingdom come on the second floor. Aside from that incident, the library was pleasantly quiet with many patrons utilizing computers and hanging out at the many tables. The youth library takes about half the square footage on the second floor, but where it really needs an update, is the children's play area. They are in desperate need of more seating and more educational toys. Parking is free in the adjacent lot. read more

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We attended a seminar on Alzheimer's disease and dementia today. Thanks to the Birmingham Public Library for the opportunity to sit in on the lecture today. It was very informative and the lecturer was highly prepared. Some high points on the issue is listed below The study is concerned with ages 60 and below or above with interest is this illness. Suggestion : For concerns on memory loss resulting in cognitive behavior changes see a Neurologists Bullets: Population specific study on this decease Known as the u19 study Trying to create medicine specific to cultures 5 year study to collect data from a certain amount of people D identified data. No drugs The University of Miami sent Caryn Blair De Franco DNP, PMHNP-BC to discuss and inform the community of the need for volunteers No drugs are issued or even related to this study It's information only Margaret Pericak-Vance is the lead doctor on this study . Look her up This is shared so anyone looking at this can get involved. Do your own research See the attached photos on the slides for more information read more

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My last few visits to BPL have been for various reasons. They offer a number of events that cater to all ages. I highly recommend checking out their website for a list of their upcoming events! read more

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Lots of books (ikr?) and other media too. Places to sit and read, rest rooms, a few computer terminals to search for what you need. They have a good loan arrangement with other branches so that you can get books set aside for you. And they have art shows all throughout the building including a gallery on the 4th floor. And my friend Cyndi works there! read more

Everyone should have a library card! I just wanted to throw this out there because I feel passionately about reading, which helps you be a lifelong learner. Okay, let's talk about this library. First, it's beautiful! Seriously, the design of this library is very aesthetically pleasing. I'm not big into architecture, but whoever designed this library deserves a pat on the back. Secondly, this library has great services that are so helpful to the general public. They had a passport event recently. I was able to take my passport picture and submit my application for my passport so easily. I'm confident things wouldn't have gone as smoothly if I had gone elsewhere. My husband and I attended an event here a month or so ago, which showcased some very talented authors who recently released books. It was a great evening of food, drinks, and books. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. When you have a chance, stop by this library and get a library card if you don't have one. Explore the library and find out what other services they have that may be of interest to you! read more

Birmingham Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Stopped by here a few days ago for Passport Services and I could not have asked for a better experience. The lady who helped me was very courteous, patient, and explained the whole process in full detail. I recommended the library to some other folks to get their passports taken care of as well. That aside, I cannot believe I've never been in this building before. This branch of the Birmingham Public Library is very nice, spacious, and full of great public resources for research, studying, and more. Use your tax dollars to their fullest and get yourself a library card. read more

its fine i like the books and it is where i got my passport but one thing They are extremely strict and I will don't like to go there muy read more

Attended and event that kicked off the Eat Drink Read Write Festival at the library tonight. They had local restaurant owners that are culturally different and very diverse and we got to meet them and hear their stories and ask any questions we had it was very nice. I learned a lot. We also go to sample food items from 4 features cuisines that can be found in pizitiz hall. I tried Ethiopian food and Jerusalem food. I got to sample the chef of Mo:mos food and Bittys Living Kitchen food. We all had off the menu items so that was a real treat. The library staff was amazing and so was the students of Wenonah High School hospitality class. read more

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The downtown Birmingham branch of the Jefferson County Library system is, I believe, one of the larger locations within the system. In several visits, the layout has gradually become a little less confusing, but I'm still not entirely sure how everything is arranged. There's often an interesting crowd in the foyer/lobby area (sometimes even a chess game). The restrooms are on the first floor toward the back of the building, and they're in rough shape. I'd recommend "emergency use only." The staff is pleasant and checking out goes quickly. Book and material requests from other branches usually arrive in two or three business days, but they're also just held for three days, so make sure you get there promptly to check out your items. There's metered parking along the street and a free gated lot behind the building for library patrons only. read more

It's no major city library or museum, but it definitely fits the bill of library, and even carries over a bit of cool architecture, art, and history in it. You can do pretty much anything you would want/need to get done with a library, and a bit more. Definitely take some time to walk around and explore everything this library has to offer. It is a lot bigger than you think it is. There are 3 floors of standard library action in the new, East portion of the library. The fourth floor had some artwork, and a couple neat handmade, friendship quilts with the sister city to Birmingham-Hitachi, Japan. You have to visit the older, West portion of the library. I think there are 4 accessible floors here, too. You can actually get between the two from a 3rd floor skywalk over Richard Arrington. I believe you can also enter there on the far West side near Linn Park. This older portion is where you can find ornate decorations, historic paintings, sculptures, bookshelves, everything. Really, I was kind of shocked to see that it was such an enjoyable, pensive library feel there. The walls and ceilings in here are very neat, and even come with a great deal of history you can read about in some of their flyers at the information desk. Take some time to really study all of those. When we visited there was a super passionate lady that was pumped to talk about the extensive history of the murals and this building. I would certainly get all of my study/work materials and stay in this portion of the library; it just sort of makes the work effort seem more meaningful and momentous. Both sides of the library have their perks, but I certainly appreciate all the older side has to offer. read more

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I LOVE A GOOD LIBRARY! As soon as we drove up and I saw the main library to the right and the research library to the left, I just went all warm and fuzzy. Their is no substitute for a great main library. You can have all the suburban locations you want but big downtown libraries are great and remind me of my childhood. This library is huge and has a walking bridge that connects it to the research library across the street.. Although we initially walked into the Main library we ended up at the research library to do a little genealogy research. Some southern libraries are really great when it comes to maintain their historical archives. This library is the Linn-Henley Research Library and it absolutely beautiful like something right out of a law drama, (The practice). Neo-classic in design, it was built in the 1920's but restored in 1984. When you walk into this library, your bag will be checked. This is not uncommon in research libraries as they maintain a higher level certain level of security and the materials are carefully controlled. However, I did think that it was strange that they did not need to check my bag upon exiting. These libraries are always well staffed with experienced and knowledgeable staff so you are definitely in good hands. We entered the first room on the right and while my husband did his thing, I sat at the beautiful wooden table and took it all in. Don't forget to look up at that incredible ceiling! What??? The details in this room are incredible and it is a very comfortable and quiet place. and perused their used magazines. I really enjoyed just relaxing and reading the Birmingham Home and Garden magazine which I never knew existed. It showcases Birmingham in a beautiful light and makes me want to know more. There is so much more to this library than what we experienced and I just can't wait to return in the fall and spend more time exploring the entire building. read more

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Went for the first time in years. The staff was nice and helpful and guided me to exactly what I was searching for. I reopened my Jefferson County library card I had first opened when I was in the 3rd grade. It is back on my radar as a resource. read more

Birmingham Public Library - Murals on the walls of the old library building. Worth checking out while you're in the complex! - Libraries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This is one of Birmingham's best kept secrets. It's the main branch of a unified library system that reaches throughout the county and maintains a high level of service despite the maladroit county government that keeps slashing the budget. You'll notice that the escalators no longer work and the elevators judder and lurch. The carpets are worn. The guard checks large bags to make sure you're not planning to bathe and change clothes in one of the public restrooms. Still, I love this place and come as often as I can. The collection is very good, the staff is always diligent and helpful, and there is a whole extra library across the street, in the decorative Linn-Henley Building. There are events going on all the time, from history talks to computer workshops to the monthly Friday night poetry slam with microbrews on tap. So don't be put off by the signs of wear and tear. This library is full of great people offering valuable services, usually for free. Oh, and of course there are the books, CDs, and databases. The Linn-Henley collection is a top-notch history library that draws genealogists from everywhere. They also do free workshops on how to research family history, from beginning to advanced. The library archives have documents and photos that have helped noted authors complete their books. Materials at Linn-Henley cannot be taken from the building, but that's not a serious drawback. The old-fashioned reading room with its oak tables is a great place to read and write. It's not a particularly quiet place. Posted signs ask you to silence your phone, but patrons often take calls and don't get shushed. Still, in my extensive experience, people mind their manners here and keep their voices down, even when on the phone. Lastly, the bookstore in the main building is worth a visit. They sell donated and withdrawn books, and I think the stock is unusually good for this kind of store. I dream of a day when the rest of our city and county services are as good as our library system. read more