Everyone has at least a few questions about the library! Read on for answers to some of the queries we hear most:
Yes! As of February 2026, you can download the Baldwin Public Library app from the App Store or Google Play (link will open in a new tab). Use it to:
- check out material
- store your card number
- manage your library holds
- find out if an item is available
- see the online events calendar
- access databases and other online resources
and more!
Parking is available on the street at parking meters and at the Chester Street Parking garage. Parking is free in the garage for the first two hours. All parking on Sunday and Federal holidays is free.
Yes. Change is available at the Information Desk.
- Covered beverages are acceptable everywhere, except at public computers.
- Single-serving snacks are acceptable everywhere, except at public computers, in study rooms, and in the Idea Lab.
- Uncovered beverages and larger snacks and meals need to be consumed in the BPL atrium.
- To minimize damage, staining, and pests, please report all spills to BPL staff immediately.
Coffee vending, beverage machines, and snack machines are located in our atrium and lower level. Prices range from $1.50 to $5.00 per item.
We do not have a notary public on staff. The Birmingham UPS store [link opens in new tab] has notary services available for a small fee.
Your PIN is generally the last four digits of your phone number. If you need additional assistance with your PIN, please call the Information Desk at 248-554-4630 and provide the staff member with your library card number.
Yes. If a person has your library card they can use it to check out your holds.To authorize someone else to pick up your holds without your card, contact the Information Desk at 248-554-4630.
Students who attend K-12 school, public or private, in Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and the City of Bloomfield Hills are eligible for a library card. All K-12 students are encouraged to use their library cards at Baldwin during our Battle of the Books, Birbery and Summer Reading programs!
Your Baldwin card isn’t welcome in just Birmingham, you have check-out privileges at other local libraries, too! Most of the 100+ libraries in The Library Network [link opens in new tab] allow Baldwin card holders to borrow materials directly, as does the Troy Public Library [link opens in new tab]. And don’t forget: almost all of the libraries in Michigan share part or all of their collection to you at Baldwin – at no charge – through the state-wide MeL lending service [link opens in new tab].
While you are able to return books and media to other libraries in The Library Network, we prefer that you return all items to Baldwin. Items may be returned after hours in our curbside dropbox and in the automated return slot adjacent to the front entrance. Please do not return Baldwin items to the Troy Public Library as they do not participate in our local inter-library delivery service.
If you find an item on your account that you returned, or that you never checked out, please call us at 248-554-4630 or visit the Information Desk during your next visit. We will do a “claims returned search” for the item: during the next month, our staff will search our shelves multiple times to try and locate the item. Before contacting the library, please double-check your home and car, looking closely under furniture and car seats.
If you live outside of our service area (Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and the City of Bloomfield Hills), but are interested in checking out Library materials, you may be able to use your home library card at Baldwin. Read more about how to register your home library card at Baldwin.
There are no limits to the number of items you can check out, except for several material types as noted in the next question.
Library of Things items, Internet to go kits, and Hotspots (limit of 1)
Video games (limit of 6)
Yes! Reciprocal card holders may place holds on Baldwin materials. Please note, though, that holds for Baldwin card holders will have priority.
We offer a wide variety of educational toys for checkout. To select a toy, visit the Youth Services Reference desk and ask for the toy you’d like. Each toy is numbered. You can browse our available toys online [link opens in new tab].
We do! Further information is available on our Rental & Study Rooms page.
Please visit the Information Desk to check on Study Room availability. Further information is available on our Rental & Study Rooms page.
We do! Further information is available on our Proctoring page.
Color printing fees are $0.10 per page
Black and white printing is $0.05 per page
We do have a public fax machine available for patron use. It costs $1.00 per transmission to send a fax.
A typewriter is available for checkout from our Library of Things collection.
Connecting to our BPL Wireless Network is easy. Just select “BPL Wireless Network,” accept our terms of use, and you’ll be connected quickly. For WiFi assistance, just ask the Adult Services desk staff.
Used Books and Media sales, hosted by the Friends of the Baldwin Public Library, are held periodically throughout the year. Learn more about upcoming Book Sales. You can shop at The Friends’ Bookshop in the center gallery any time the Library is open. Stock is refreshed daily and payments can be made in the donation slot or through Venmo.
The Friends of the Baldwin Public Library does not accept these types of materials. Many art teachers and scouting troops use magazines for art projects and welcome these types of donations. Flipside Records in Clawson buys used records; and textbooks and encyclopedias may be recycled at SOCRRA in Royal Oak.