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Realized primarily through painting, Butrus’ artistic practice focuses on the intersection of science, landscape and memory. Her interest lies in how mapping shapes our idea of place and belonging, how to document change and time, and how often the source of our interaction with nature is from the inside looking out. Her process employs many series of latex resist and layers of opaque and translucent acrylic paint, applied in succession to create lines and boundaries. Labor intensive, the resist application records the act of painting, allows complete control of the painted surface and then, once removed, transforms the painting over and over, creating positive and negative voids. This is exhibition only and does not include an opening reception. Wednesday May 1 - June 30 - All Day Friends Gallery, Plaza Art Gallery
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Online Adult ESL Classes Join us for an online version of our ESL classes. There are beginner level and intermediate to advanced level classes available. Registration required. Call 205-444-7840 with any questions. Level 2 (intermediate to advanced)
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Read and discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities. Thursday, May 2 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am Adult Program Room
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Are you a hopeful board game designer looking to workshop ideas or playtest prototypes? Then take advantage of this great opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals in the board game community. Thursday, May 2 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Library Plaza
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Rissi Palmer Rissi Palmer's gift lies in breaching musical boundaries. While she made her mark in country music, she is equally at home in R&B music with a sound she calls "Southern Soul." Her most recent album, Revival, was released in 2019 and has been critically hailed as her most personal and uplifting work to date. Aside from chart-topping singles, she has performed at the White House, launched her own radio show, shared stages with Taylor Swift and The Eagles, has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and created the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund designed to support new country artists of color who are just beginning their music careers. Tickets cost $35 plus processing fees. The Library Theatre
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Masterworks: Mahler's Fourth Symphony Register with your library card from April 19 - 21 for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks series. Ticket holders are chosen by random drawing and awarded two tickets. All entries during the registration period are treated the same regardless of date or time of entry. Only one entry per library card. Ticket holders will be notified on April 22 with tickets available for pickup April 23 - 30 at the Library Plaza desk. Call 205-444-7821 for more information. Coffee Concert program to include: Ludwig van Beethoven: Prometheus Overture Richard Strauss: Burleske Gustav Mahler: Symphony #4, First Movement Masterworks program to include: Ludwig van Beethoven: Prometheus Overture Richard Strauss: Burleske Gustav Mahler: Symphony #4 Music Director Carlos Izcaray leads Mahler’s charming Fourth Symphony, a work exploring themes of childhood and innocence, highlighted with soprano soloist Helen Huang. Sara Davis Buechner, lauded for her “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” and “astounding virtuosity” will feature on Richard Strauss’ Burleske. This uncharacteristically complex scherzo will highlight her incredible talent and nuanced musicianship. Alys Stephens Center - Jemison Concert Hall
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Birmingham calligrapher, Elsa Penso, teaches how to use a balsa wood pen to learn the strokes that make up the capital letters of this technique. Neuland typeface, designed by German calligrapher Rudolph Koch in the early 1920's, continues to be a favorite of lettering artists. This class is presented by the Birmingham Calligraphy Guild and sponsored by the Hoover Public Library. Registration and supplies for your first class are free! The BCG and HPL ask that you join the guild for subsequent classes to allow more patrons the opportunity to attend. Patrons must be 18 years or older to attend all classes. Annual dues are $25. Saturday, May 4 from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Fitzgerald & Shakespeare Rooms
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Learn more about tequila and the celebration of Cinco de Mayo! Registration required. Adults 21+. Did you know Cinco de Mayo is more popular in the United States than in Mexico? Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army's astonishing victory over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. With every sip of tequila, you are celebrating the land tequila comes from and the people who discovered it, making it the perfect drink for Cinco de Mayo! Learn more with our tequila expert! Sunday, May 5 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Library Plaza
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Computer Classes All computer classes are located in the Friends Meeting Room. Must register to attend. Click on each date for more information and a link to register. One-on-One Tech Help
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Practice your French and celebrate the culture! All levels, beginner to fluent are welcome. Use what you know or expand your vocabulary with the help of our trained facilitator. Adults only, 17+ please. Call 205-444-7840 with any questions. Tuesday, May 7 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Fitzgerald Room
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Decoupage a glass lantern with paper flowers. Thursday, May 9 from 10:30 am - 11:30 am East 59 Event Room - Lee Branch
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An intimate night of stories and songs with Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South. Books available before and after the show. After the show, stay a bit for the meet and greet where Sean will shake hands, dole out hugs and sign books. Doors open at 6:00 pm. Tickets cost $35 plus processing fees. Thursday, May 9 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm The Library Theatre
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While on a two day leave in New York City, soldier Joe Allen meets secretary Alice Mayberry when she trips over him. They hit it off, and Alice decides to show Joe around. As they tour the sights of New York, they begin to fall in love. After inadvertently meeting a milk delivery man, they befriend him and help him finish his route. The next morning, they decide they should get married before Joe must return to duty. Directed by: Vincente Minnelli Starring: Robert Walker, Judy Garland and James Gleason Runtime: 94 minutes Friday, May 10 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm The Library Theatre
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Feed your need for nonfiction titles and bookish conversations. This month's topic is "Foodways." Saturday, May 11 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Friends Meeting Room
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Join old friends, learn new skills, get help with your project or find new inspiration at this monthly gathering of fiber enthusiasts. All fiber artists are welcome. Saturday, May 11 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Library Plaza
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Feed your need for nonfiction titles and bookish conversations. This month's topic is "Foodways." Saturday, May 11 from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Online Program
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Do you have too many plants or want to give indoor gardening a try? Get to know other plant addicts while trading houseplants and sharing tips and tricks. Bring in healthy plants, either rooted in dirt or as loose cuttings that are ready to be traded with others. Have cuttings to spare? Leave them on the Houseplant Exchange for the general public to trade between official swap events. Sunday, May 12 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Library Plaza
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Read and discuss The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. As these characters' stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town's white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community-heaven and earth-that sustain us. Sunday, May 12 from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Friends Meeting Room
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Teen and adult volunteers can drop in to roll newspapers for the humane society. Monday, May 13 from 3:00 pm - 8:30 pm Nonfiction Area
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All levels, from beginner to fluent, are welcome to practice their Spanish. Use what you know or expand your vocabulary with the help of our trained facilitator. Some prior experience with the language is recommended. Adults only, 17+ please. Tuesday, May 14 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Fitzgerald Room
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Watercolor painting. Supplies provided. Registration required. Wednesday, May 15 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Youth Program Room
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Read and discuss The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. As these characters' stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town's white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community-heaven and earth-that sustain us. Thursday, May 16 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm East 59 Meeting Room - Lee Branch
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Friends Book Sale Find great deals on used books and media. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. All sales benefit the Friends of the Hoover Library. Call 205-444-7840 for more information. Library Theatre
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Masterworks: Dvorak's Cello Concerto & Brahams' 1st Symphony Register with your library card from May 3 -5 for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks series. Ticket holders are chosen by random drawing and awarded two tickets. All entries during the registration period are treated the same regardless of date or time of entry. Only one entry per library card. Ticket holders will be notified on May 6 with tickets available for pickup May 7 - 14 at the Library Plaza desk. Call 205-444-7821 for more information. Coffee Concert program to include: Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor Masterworks program to include: Martin Kennedy: Drift Antonin Dvorak: Cello Concerto Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor Acclaimed for his stellar stage presence and joyous musicianship, cellist Sterling Elliott is a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and the winner of the Senior Division of the 2019 National Sphinx Competition. Witness as he performs Dvorak’s wistful yet powerful Cello Concerto in B minor. The orchestra will also perform Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. The work, at one time referred to as “Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony,” is noted for its amazing lyricism and thematic unity and remains one of the greatest examples of the Austro-German symphony to this day. Alys Stephens Center - Jemison Concert Hall
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Heed the call of the tabletop and come out to the library for a night of board game fun. Meet up with friends or make some new ones, then crush them in your favorite game. We have a great selection of board games available, but you are welcome to bring a favorite of your own to share. Friday, May 17 from 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm Library Plaza
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Now Showing: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023) After the death of the family's patriarch, Toula attempts to locate her father's childhood friends in Greece for a family reunion. Runtime: 92 minutes Rating: PG-13 The Library Theatre
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Abby Gwinn-Arakas, Director of STEM Education at McWane Center, leads an interactive discussion on what makes us human and the future of AI, robots and related technologies. Assign robots uniquely human abilities and imagine how they react to a novel situation. Tuesday, May 21 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Library Plaza
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Learn how to create compelling characters and write believable dialogue. Delve into what resonates with readers and brings your fictional worlds to life. Expect to come away with skills that elevate your stories as well as practical techniques that enrich your plot and keep readers hooked. Tuesday, May 21 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Fitzgerald & Shakespeare Rooms
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Choko Aiken, born and raised in Japan, began studying classical piano at the age of three. She studied piano, violin, voice and music theory at colleges in Tokyo and Fukuoka, as well as making journeys to the United States to study jazz in LA and NY. Her Imagination album, recorded in LA in 2011, was featured in the February issue of JAZZIZ magazine. Since moving to Alabama in 2013, Choko has enjoyed playing in the Magic City at many of its local venues. She'll be joined by Gary Wheat (saxophone), Michael Glaser (drums) and Tim Carroll (bass). Wednesday, May 22 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Library Plaza
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Welcome your neighbors with cute door décor! Thursday, May 23 from 10:30 am - 11:30 am East 59 Event Room - Lee Branch
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Come to Trivia Night for competitive chill, fantastically bad puns, music, questions and answers! Mystery prize for the winning team. Snacks all around! Thursday, May 23 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Library Plaza
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Celebrate the start of summer with crafts and games for the whole family! Friday, May 24 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Children's Department, Fitzgerald & Shakespeare Rooms, Library Plaza
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Write Club offers the opportunity for burgeoning writers to share a five-minute selection from their current endeavors (novels, short stories, memoirs, poetry, plays, script, articles, essays, etc.) and then receive feedback from their peers. Write Club provides a friendly and welcome atmosphere to discuss different topics concerning the craft of writing. Saturday, May 25 from 10:30 am - 1:00 pm Shakespeare Room
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At the Pen & Paper RPG Society meetings, you create larger than life heroes and join forces with fellow gamers as you adventure through dungeons, haunted tombs and forgotten regions of space. Let us show you a new, exciting hobby! No experience needed! Sunday, May 26 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Library Plaza
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Learn how science is able to provide insight into making lifestyle choices that may help to keep your brain healthy as you age. Presented by the Alzheimer's Association. Tuesday, May 28 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Fitzgerald & Shakespeare Rooms
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Read and discuss Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM by Sarah Berman. They draw you in with the promise of empowerment, self-discovery, women helping women. The more secretive those connections are, the more exclusive you feel. Little did you know, you just joined a cult. Investigative journalist Sarah Berman explores the shocking practices of NXIVM, a global organization run by Keith Raniere and his high-profile enablers (Seagram heir Clare Bronfman; Smallville actor Allison Mack; Battlestar Galactica actor Nicki Clyne). Through the accounts of central NXIVM figures, Berman unravels how young women seeking creative coaching and networking opportunities found themselves blackmailed, literally branded, near-starved and enslaved. With the help of the Bronfman fortune Raniere built a wall of silence around these abuses, leveraging the legal system to go after enemies and whistleblowers. Tuesday, May 28 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Friends Meeting Room, Zoom
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Decorate and fill a jar with ideas for the summer or create a summer vision board. Wednesday, May 29 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Fitzgerald Room
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Distinguishing News from Misinformation Alabama Media Professionals invites community members of all ages to hear scholars, local reporters and editors explain their processes, provide insight into ethical-journalism practices, provide an in-depth look at how current technologies are expected to affect the information landscape this year and answer audience questions. Light snacks will be provided. Panelists include: Dr. Bill Singleton, Assistant Professior of Communication and Media at Samford University; Dr. Matt Barnidge, Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism & Creative Media at The University of Alabama; Alander Rocha, government policy and healthcare reporter for Alabama Reflector; Barnett Wright, executive editor, Birmingham Times; Jon Anderson, editor, Hoover Sun; and Virginia Martin, news editor, Birmingham Watch. Thursday, May 30 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Fitzgerald & Shakespeare Rooms
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