Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Hoover Public Library’s viral videos just caught SPIN Magazine’s attention
Reading time: 3 minutes
Hoover Public Library has officially entered its viral era with a series of videos that pair popular song lyrics with books from its shelves.
After catching the attention of Good Morning America, the library is now getting another major shoutout from SPIN Magazine.
Read on for why these clever videos are creating such a stir, how they caught the attention of some pretty big names and how to watch.
How Hoover Public Library turned its bookshelves into a viral sensation
The formula for this library magic? Pick a popular song, find books that match the lyrics and let the library staff have some fun. It sounds so simple, but finding the right book for every lyric? That’s where the Hoover Public Library Team is showing off just how creative they are. And it’s pretty clear, they’re also having a blast!
The library’s first video hit social media on May 11, featuring Hoover Public Library’s Children’s Librarian Anna Beth Reece lip-synching to “The Puerto Rico Song.”
A few videos later, Anna Beth and fellow Children’s Librarian Justin Banger teamed up for their take on Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ timeless classic “(I’ve Had) The Time of My life.” The video has racked up over 2.9K views since July.
The concept keeps getting better, too, as the library finds new ways to not only match familiar lyrics with books, but to entertain its audience.
From Hoover to the national spotlight
The library’s videos have now made it well beyond Hoover.
Good Morning America was among the first major outlets to take notice, featuring Hoover Public Library and opening the national spotlight door to its social media series.
Now, the library has another big media mention to add to its fan list: SPIN Magazine, which gave the library a shoutout on September 1 for its newest video. The clip features the full library staff lip-synching to R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” with book titles matching the lyrics. SPIN called the video “an absolutely delightful watch.”
The video has racked up 41.6K views as of September 3, 2026. Watch it here.
Not bad for a Birmingham-area library simply having a little fun.
Plus, it’s a pretty strong case for not only visiting your local library, but following it on social media, too.
What else have Birmingham-area libraries been up to recently? Check this out.
What do you think of Hoover Public Library’s videos? Let us know your favorite by tagging us @bhamnow.
