Library Resources

Library Cards, Borrowing and Renewing

Catalog
Books, magazines, music, and movies
Classic Catalog
Kids Catalog
Books, magazines, music and movies for children
Online Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
Start your online search with these databases.
BPL Electronic Journals
Full-text magazines and journals available through the BPL group of databases.
BPL Subject Guides
Resources chosen by librarians about specific subjects
Download Audiobooks and eBooks: Libby and Hoopla
Library of Things
Check out art prints, games and puzzles, 3-D objects and more,

Archives
Collections of government records, business records, maps, photographs, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, and other primary material documenting the history and development of Birmingham, Jefferson County and the surrounding area of Alabama known as the Birmingham District.
Genealogy
Extensive collections of genealogically relevant material, including the Southern history collection.
Digital Collections
Photographs, books, magazines, newspapers, yearbooks and maps.
Neighborhoods
Birmingham neighborhoods and communities
Newspapers
From Birmingham, Alabama and around the country
Cartography Collection
Contains original printed maps from the sixteenth century forward with a primary concentration on Birmingham and Alabama.

Books by Mail
A service to residents of Jefferson County, Alabama, who are unable to go to the public library in person.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary loan (ILL) acquires books, photocopies of non-circulating materials (such as magazine articles), and government publications not already owned by the public libraries of Jefferson County for library patrons.
Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled
This service brings special format reading materials, playback equipment and other library resources to qualifying users. Click above link for more details. See also the Books-By-Mail program (above) which works in conjunction with the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled to provide said materials and access.

To contact the Birmingham Public Library directly, use 711 providing them with the BPL main phone number of (205)226-3600.

For more services and access information, the following contact points are available:
Alabama Relay, 205-370-6037
Alabama Telecommunications Access Program, 205-328-3989
T-Mobile Accessibility

Book Store
Friends of the Library Book Store sells used books, magazines, selected media, and book bags all nominally priced. Proceeds assist in funding library programs.

Authors and Books
Information about selling books to the Birmingham Public Library including guidelines for local authors and small presses.