300 W. Merrill St. Birmingham, MI 48009 | (248) 647-1700

photo of BPL library cards

Get A Library Card

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.

If you’re a resident, a property owner, a K-12 student, or are employed in our service area of Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms or the City of Bloomfield Hills, you’re eligible to get a BPL card of your own.  Click for a map of our service area: BPL Communities Map.

For residents of other communities, check below to see if you are eligible to use your card at Baldwin Public Library, and to see your reciprocal borrowing privileges.

Library Card Application

Before your visit, please fill out our online application which can be accessed through our catalog. 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

Baldwin card services:

  • Full borrowing privileges (at no cost) for our physical collections via in-person checkouts and curbside pickup
  • Interlibrary loan services through the MeL (statewide) and OCLC (nationwide) systems
  • Priority holds on items currently checked out
  • Access to public computers using the library card number and PIN
  • Access both on-site and off-site to our digital databases and newspapers
  • Access to our digital resources including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and streaming media
  • Study room rental (first come, first served basis)
  • Invitation to Baldwin Book Clubs and Programs; please check with the appropriate department for any restrictions.

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 a current 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. Alternate renewal methods are at the discretion of the Library staff.

Minors wishing to apply for a resident card must be accompanied in person by a parent or guardian. The Library requires the parent or guardian to present valid photo identification in order for a minor to obtain a card when the Library is fully open for service. Alternate confirmation methods are at the discretion of Library staff.

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. Alternate renewal methods are at the discretion of the Library staff.

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. Alternate renewal methods are at the discretion of the Library staff.

K-12 Students

All K-12 students who attend school in Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, and the City of Bloomfield Hills are eligible for a Baldwin Public Library card, regardless of their home community. To apply, students and/or their parent or guardian should provide proof of current enrollment (e.g. a student ID or confirmation via Powerschool). Baldwin Library cards are issued to the student who is registered in school, and must be co-signed by a parent or guardian. Electronic applications and renewals may require secondary verification with the parent or guardian by Library staff.

Student cards must be renewed every 12 months by showing proof of current enrollment.

All students are encouraged to use their library cards at Baldwin during Battle of the Books, Birbery, and Summer Reading.

Reciprocal Library Card
Even if you live outside of our service area, you may still be able to use your 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 a current 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. Alternate renewal methods are at the discretion of Library staff.

Reciprocal card services:

  • Full borrowing privileges (at no cost) for our physical collections via in-person checkouts and curbside pickup
  • Holds on items currently checked out – please note that priority is given to Baldwin cardholders
  • Access to public computers using the library card number and PIN/password.
  • 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.

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 do not limit cardholders to a maximum number of materials checked out, with the exception of Video games which have a 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). Cards issued to minors are the responsibility of the parent or guardian whose name is associated with the Library account.
  • Must present their 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.
  • Understands that the Library staff do not act in the place of parents/guardians regarding selection of materials and the adherence to Library rules in the case of minor use.

 

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 Baldwin Library cardholder may allow another person to pick up materials using the cardholder’s account. To do so, the Library cardholder must contact the Library and provide the name of the person who is authorized to pick up materials on behalf of the cardholder. Permission may be revoked by the cardholder at any time by contacting Library staff.

 

Baldwin Library Card Policy

Baldwin Library Card Policy 03.15.2021

Location - View Map

300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009

Library Hours

Monday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures

Sunday, March 31

 

 

Parking

Free Two-Hour Parking in Chester Street Deck

Metered street parking around Library

Free Parking on Sundays

248-647-1700

300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009

Library Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures:

March 31: Closed

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