Thanks to Dr. Thomas D. Parke, a founder of Children's Hospital and a specialist in pediatric diseases, there has been a neighborhood library on the corner of 11th Avenue South and 19th Street since 1945. It was through their deep love of libraries and intellectual pursuits that Dr. Parke and his wife Amy Smith gave their home to the city for use as a branch library. Parke's endowment also included a generous amount of money for buying books, and partially funded a new building which replaced the house in 1955. This building served the community for almost 40 years. The present building, designed to complement existing local structures, opened its doors on March 17, 1996.

• Library Neighborhood Data
• Five Points South Neighborhood
• Southside Community
• Other Birmingham Districts
• Library Neighborhood Coverage - Western (pdf)

• Calendar of events

1814 11th Ave S
Birmingham, Alabama 35205-4808
(205) 933-7776

• I-65 to 4th Ave South Exit.
• Go east to 19th Street.
• Turn right (south) onto 19th Street & go to 11th Ave. South.
• Turn right.
• Library on corner on right