Life Mosaic

Please join us on Wednesday, January 22nd from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. as Erline Patrick, Ph.D. shares insights and observations of her life through poetry and prose in her new book, Life Mosaic. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Wings of Opportunity: The Wright Brothers in Montgomery, Alabama

On Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 10 a.m., author Julie Williams will use a PowerPoint program to discuss her book, Wings of Opportunity, which describes the opening of the first civiliam flight school in the nation in Montgomery. Her book will be available for sale and signing.

December Family Movie Matinee

Please join us on Monday, December 30th at 3:30 p.m. for our Family Movie Matinee. On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus' home. Free admission.

November Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, November 25th at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the Land of Oz where he meets three witches who are not convinced he's the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Free admission.

Christmas program

On December 10th at 10 a.m., the Seasoned Readers will present "The Magic of Christmas," a collection of holiday lore and stories.

Families and Finance

On Monday, November 18th from 6 - 7 p.m., Stephanie Yates, Ph.D. Accounting and Finance, will discuss how to handle financial issues affecting families. Topics covered will include joint bank accounts, insurance, debt, saving & investing for fun & retirement, paying for children's college education, and dealing with issues relating to marriage/divorce/death/parents. Free admission.

Alabama Illustrated: Engravings from 19th Century Newspapers

Please join us on Thursday, November 14th from 10 - 11 a.m. as Jim Baggett, Archivist at Birmingham Public Library presents Alabama Illustrated: Engravings from 19th Century Newspapers. Prior to the 1890’s, before it was feasible to publish photographs in newspapers, some newspapers hired artists to draw and engrave the images. Jim Baggett will present a PowerPoint program showing a sampling of illustrations of Alabama and articles from four 19th century newspapers.

Staying Up with the Dead

On Tuesday, October 29th at 10 a.m. Skip Campbell, Adjunct Professor from the University of Alabama, will discuss funeral customs and superstitions of the 19th century south as well as types of graves and markers. Audience participation with questions and stories to share is welcomed.

October Family Movie Night

Please join us on Thursday, October 24th at 5:30 p.m. for Family Movie Night. Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teen-aged daughter. Free admission.

Budgeting

Budgeting Seminar presented by Joseph Dees, Financial Empowerment Coach, Monday, October 21 at 6 p.m. Learn how to take control of your finances. Topics covered will be goal setting, budgeting and saving strategies, and tips for effective debt management. No charge.

September Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the Land of Oz where he meets three witches who are not convinced he's the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Free admission.

Prediabetes: You Can Take Control

It is projected that one in three Alabamians born after 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Cities for Life is a new diabetes management program designed to highlight existing programs and services that will help Birmingham communities promote healthy lifestyles, reduce the risk of diabetes and encourage diabetes management. The project was initiated by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation with support from Sanofi US. Birmingham was selected for Cities for Life out of more than 50 cities, not only because Alabama has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country, but also for its visible commitment to improving the lives of its citizens. Please join us on Thursday, September 12th from 10 - 11 a.m. for a PowerPoint presentation by Sharon Lamberth, trained YMCA Health Coach and Mary Hollis, YMCA Ambassador. Learn how to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating healthier and increasing physical activity.

A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwell's Story of Survival

Please join us on Thursday, September 5th, from 10-11 a.m. in the Auditorium as Julie Williams, the great-niece of Albert Caldwell, presents a PowerPoint program about her relatives' survival of the Titanic's sinking,and afterward the continuation of the hunt for the Caldwells by the church which considered them to have reneged on their contract as missionaries. A Rare Titanic Family follows all the true-life plot twists of a family who survived their trip on the Titanic but never could get out from under the shadow the ship cast over them. Book will be available for sale. Free admission.

August Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, August 19th at 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Star race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Free admission.

Tuxedo Junction: Alabama Contributes to American Jazz

Please join us on Thursday, August 1, 2013 from 10 - 11 a.m. as
Karen Utz, Curator for Sloss Furnaces, presents a PowerPoint
program on "Tuxedo Junction: Alabama Contributes to American Jazz."

For almost thirty years Tuxedo Junction’s strip served as the social and
entertainment mecca for African-Americans in the Birmingham area.
In 1930 Erskine Hawkins, Birmingham native, wrote the song
“Tuxedo Junction.”  Jazz pieces performed by Alabama greats will
be played throughout the presentation.   Free admission.

July Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, July 15th at 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.
Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom
that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on
her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.  Free
admission

Cinderella and Her Prince as Senior Citizens

Please join us on Thursday, July 11th from 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
 in the Auditorium  for a presentation by the Seasoned Readers of
 "Cinderella and Her Prince as Senior Citizens."   Admission is free.

June Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, June 17th at 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.  When a young owl is abducted by

 an evil Owl army, he must escape with newfound friends to seek out the legendary Guardians to stop

the menace.  Free admission.

The Five Things You Need to Know about the Botanical Gardens

Please join us on Thursday, June 13th  from 10 - 11 a.m. as Taylor Steele discusses the Botanical Gardens.
His PowerPoint presentation will cover the history and features of the Gardens.   Free admission.

May Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, May 20th at 5:30 p.m.  When a corrupt mayor turns failing Jellystone Park into a logging facility, Yogi and Boo Boo team up with Ranger Smith and a wildlife expert to expose the mayor’s plot to destroy a nearly extinct turtle whose presence in the park could trigger it to being reclassified as a nature preserve.   Free admission.

Healthy Eating

Please join us on Friday, April 5th from 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. for a
presentation of  "Healthy Eating" by Dr. Luis Pineda, Oncologist,
Founder of Cooking with Cancer, Inc. and cookbook author.
Find out what constitutes a healthy diet and steps you can take
to prevent cancer.

Admission is free, but reservations are required.  Call 428-7882, email us
at bessemerlibrary@gmail.com or Facebook us to make a reservation.

March Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, March 25th at 5:30 p.m.  An arcade villain
rebels against his bad guy role and dreams of becoming a hero.  He travels
between games in the arcade and ultimately must eliminate a deadly enemy
that threatens the entire arcade.  Free admission

Sunbonnets to Suffrage: the Alabama Woman, Her First 100 Years

Please join us on Thursday, March 7th at noon for a reading of "Sunbonnets
to Suffrage: the Alabama Woman, Her First 100 Years" by Betty Pewitt and
Jean Pierce presented by The Seasoned Performers.  Free admission.

February Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, February 25th at 5:30 p.m.  A struggling mother
receives some much needed assistance tending to the family farm and
raising a group of spirited children while her military husband is away
from a magical nanny who suddenly appears.  Movie will be shown
in the lower level Storytime room. Free admission.

Fiddlers, Banjo Players and Strawbeaters: Alabama's First Pop Musicians

Please join us on Thursday, February 7th from noon to 1 p.m. as Joyce
Cauthen, Executive Director of the Alabama Folklife Association, discusses
the pivotal role played by African Americans in developing the music at
the roots of today's bluegrass and country music.  In addition, fiddler
Jim Cauthen will demonstrate fiddle tunes that have been mentioned in
historical writings, slave narratives and early newspapers of Alabama.  Be
prepared to hear a musical treat of styles and tunes that are seldom heard
today.  An Alabama Humanities program sponsored by the Friends of the
Library.  Free admission.

January Family Movie Night

Please join us on Monday, January 14th at 5:30 p.m. for Family Movie Night.
One of sports’ toughest players ever takes on his biggest challenge yet –
fatherhood! A superstar with an ego bigger than a football field, Joe
Kingman is getting ready for the big championship game when the daughter
he never knew existed shows up.  Free admission.