A Baldwin Library card is the ultimate passport to wonderful works of literature, music, movies and more. It also allows you to enjoy our digital media, like our growing selection of eBooks, online music and magazines, and premium research resources.
In honor of Library Card Signup month, we are debuting six new Library Card designs. Current Baldwin cardholders can select a new card design by visiting the Circulation Desk in the lobby. If you haven’t yet signed up for a Baldwin Library Card, now is the time!
- If you’re a resident, property owner, or work in our service area of Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms or the City of Bloomfield Hills, you’re eligible to get a card of your own.
- For residents of other communities, check below to see if you are eligible to use your home library’s card at Baldwin Public Library, and to see your reciprocal borrowing privileges.
Before your visit, please fill out our online application. Our online application can accessed through our catalog : https://baldwinlib.polarislibrary.com/logon.aspx?header=1 . Click on the words “click or tap here to register now” to be taken to the application.
When you come into Baldwin, please come to the Circulation Desk and we will finalize your registration!
Baldwin Public Library Card
Residents
Visit the Circulation Desk with valid photo identification (driver’s license, passport, state identification) containing your current address. If you’ve recently moved or your identification does not reflect your current address, please bring an official piece of mail with your name and current address. Resident cards expire every 3 years and must be renewed in person with proof of current address.
Minors wishing to apply for a Baldwin resident card must be accompanied in person by a parent or guardian. The library card application requires the parent or guardian’s name and we will need to see their valid photo identification and proof of current address.
Property owners
Visit the Circulation Desk with current proof of property ownership (e.g., tax receipt for property or deed) and valid photo identification (driver’s license, passport, state identification) containing your current address. If you’ve recently moved or your identification does not reflect your current address, please bring an official piece of mail with your name and current address. Please note that Baldwin cards are issued only to the individual(s) named on the document showing property ownership. Property owner cards expire every 3 years and must be renewed in person by showing proof of current property ownership.
Employees
Visit the Circulation Desk with current proof of employment (paycheck stub or letter from employer) and valid photo identification (driver’s license, passport, state identification) containing your current address. If you’ve recently moved or your identification does not reflect your current address, please bring an official piece of mail with your name and current address. Please note that Baldwin cards are issued only to the individual employed in our service area. Employee cards expire every 12 months and must be renewed in person by showing proof of current employment.
K-12 Students
Students who live in Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, and the City of Bloomfield Hills are eligible for a Baldwin Public Library card. Students in the Birmingham Public School District who do not live in our service area should first obtain a library card from their home library, which can then be registered for reciprocal use at Baldwin. All BPS students are encouraged to use their library cards at Baldwin during Battle of the Books, Birbery, and Summer Reading.
Reciprocal Library Card
Other Library Cards
Even if you live outside of our service area, you may still be able to use your buy valtrex in Hong Kong library card at Baldwin! Baldwin participates in The Library Network cooperative. If your home library is a part of TLN and offers reciprocal borrowing, you may register your card for use here at BPL. Residents of Troy are also invited to register their cards. It’s easy; just fill out our online application, then visit Baldwin with your home library card and valid photo identification (driver’s license, passport, state identification) containing your current address. If you’ve recently moved or your identification does not reflect your current address, please bring an official piece of mail with your name and current address. Reciprocal cards expire every 3 years and must be renewed in person with proof of current address.
Reciprocal card services:
- Maximum of eight (8) items on a reciprocal card at one time. Certain collections have further limits.
- $2.00 fee per item for Hot Picks items and Videogames
- Access to public computers using the library card number and PIN
- On-site access to our digital databases and newspapers
- Invitation to Baldwin Book Clubs and Programs; please check with the appropriate department for any restrictions.
- Option to return Baldwin Library material to either Baldwin or home library. Please note that material goes first to a central warehouse before being delivered; thus, delivery time can take up to two weeks.
Please visit your home library for holds. For items that are currently on Baldwin’s shelves, you may call and have the items held for three days, or you can pick the items up through our curbside service.
Please check with your home library to see if they participate in the MeL system; if so, you may request MeL items to be sent there.
Please use your home library’s digital services.
Item Limits
We don’t limit our Baldwin cardholders to a maximum number of materials checked out, except in a few cases as noted below. All other cardholders are limited to a maximum of eight (8) items at a time.
The following material limits apply to all cardholders:
- Youth holiday materials (limit of 10 for Baldwin patrons, 8 for non-Baldwin patrons)
- Video games (limit of 6)
Library Card Responsibilities
A Baldwin Public Library Cardholder or reciprocal library user:
- Must agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the Library and accept full responsibility for all materials checked out on the card (including all fines and damages charged).
- Must present his or her library card or valid photo identification to Library staff at the time of checkout. Cardholders not wishing to carry a physical library card may present a digital version of their library card barcode on a mobile device.
- Agrees to report changes in name, street address, telephone number, and email address as soon as possible.
- Agrees to report a lost, stolen, or damaged card to the Library as soon as possible. A cardholder continues to be responsible for the use of the card until the Library has been notified of a theft or loss.
- Will be blocked from using Library services if library card fines reach $10 or more.
Use of Library Cards by Persons Other than the Owner
Borrowers are discouraged from lending their library cards for use by others. Cardholders who allow their library cards to be used by others continue to be responsible for the care and safety of all Library materials charged to their cards, as well as for paying fines, replacement charges, and other financial assessments that result from the use of the library card. A Library cardholder may allow another patron to pick up materials on hold for the cardholder. To do so, the Library cardholder must either call or visit the Library to authorize this with the Circulation Desk.
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