About Baldwin Public Library

The Baldwin Library has a distinctive history of service to the Birmingham community. In 1871 Martha Baldwin decided Birmingham needed a first class library and she was determined to make that happen. “Miss Mattie” as she was affectionately known to her friends was not one to back down when faced with more than a little opposition. The formation of the Baldwin Library is fascinating reading as Martha and her group of ladies from the Library Association battled the village fathers to establish the Baldwin Library by referendum in 1907.

Today Baldwin is that first class library and we often muse, “what would Martha think if she were here today?” We work to hold to her principles. Please take a few minutes to read the Baldwin History and you will be in awe of Miss Mattie’s determination to make the Baldwin Library a reality.