The Monumental, the Mundane and the Macabre: Discovering 19th-Century Life in Alabama Letters and Diaries

August 2, 2012  noon - 12:30 p.m.

From matters of love, death and politics to the price of shoes, nineteenth
century Alabamaians recorded their experiences in letters and diaries.
This talk explores life in the 1800's through personal writings now
preserved in the Birmingham Public Library Archives.

Program presented by Jim Baggett, Head of the Department of  Archives and
Manuscripts at the Birmingham Public Library.  Free admission.

Friends of Bessemer Public Library Book and Bake Sale

Don't miss a fantastic opportunity to buy your favorite items for a great
price!
Hundreds of books available.  Hardbacks, audiobooks & VHS $1 each.
Paperbacks 50 cents each.
Presale is Thursday, August 2nd 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  $1 admission.
Book and bake sale Friday, August 3rd 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday,
August 4th 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. free admission.
All proceeds benefit the Bessemer Public Library at 400 19th St. N, Bessemer.

Job Hunting Class

Bessemer Public Library

Job Hunting Class Tuesday, July 24th  1 - 3 p.m.

Learn how to become proficient at applying for jobs online. The class will
include valuable resources for developing resumes and finding jobs.
How to navigate job websites will also be covered.  No charge.  Registration
required.  To register call 428-7882 or send e-mail to http://post.bham.lib.al.us/webmail/src/compose.php?send_to=bessemerlibrary%40gmail.com using
Topic Job Hunting & include your name & phone number.

Birmingham Historic Sights Lost & Saved

Please join us on Thursday, July 12th from noon - 1:00 p.m. as Linda
Nelson, preservationist with the Jefferson County Historical Commission,
presents Birmingham Historic Sights Lost and Saved.  She will be giving a
visual tour of historic Birmingham buildings and sites, as well as some
historic houses and neighborhoods, including Bessemer.  Admission is free.

Teaching Birmingham Women to Cook: From the Magic Meals Cooking School to Julia Child

Birmingham's rich culinary history was built, in large part, by women who cooked in their homes for their families every day.  Learn how Birmingham women shaped the city's culinary history, economy, and character simply by putting dinner on the table.

Please join us for this presentation by Kelsey Bates, Assistant Archivist at Birmingham Public Library, on Thursday, June 7th from noon - 1 p.m.  Admission is free.

Music of the Mines, Mills, and Railroads of the Birmingham District

On Thursday, May 3rd from noon - 1:00 p.m., Karen Utz, Curator and
Historian of Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, will present a
program on labor-related music brought into Birmingham's industrial
district by migrants.  Music of the Mines presents histories and personal
recollections from the musicians and their families, and includes an audio
account of the unique music.  Please join us for an educational and
entertaining program. Free admission.

Genealogy News

Due to a lack of funding the Jefferson County Library Cooperative had to drop HeritageQuest from the Alabama Virtual Library.  The good news is that patrons can now access HeritageQuest through the library's website as a result of a donation from the Friends of the Bessemer Public Library.  Under the Reference heading, click onto HeritageQuest and follow the directions.

The 1940 Census records were released by the U.S. National Archives on April 2, 2012 and brought online through a partnership with Archives.com.  The website 1940census.archives.gov  allows you full access to the 1940 Census images in addition to 1940 Census maps and descriptions.

You cannot look up people by name, however, because the census has not yet been indexed by name.  Therefore, only searches by location and enumeration district are currently possible.

The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project is a volunteer initiative currently underway to make a name-index
available for free.