Baldwin has a variety of curated books and non-traditional items for check out. View our collections below.
Toy Collection
Our Toy collection has over 200 toys for you to check out and take home! Toys for check out include baby dolls, marble runs, Magna-Tiles, vet play sets, coding robots, family board games, American Girl Dolls, and so much more! Toys are selected for ages 0 to 12, check out for 3 weeks, and do not renew. Browse the selection above the Youth magazines in the Youth Room, ask for a specific toy at the Youth Reference desk, or place a toy on hold.
Library of Things
Baldwin has a variety of non-traditional items for check out in our Library of Things (LOT) collection. From home entertainment items like record players and video game consoles to fun outdoor games like Giant Jenga and cornhole we have a growing number of interesting things for you to take home and enjoy. Patrons 18+ can checkout items from this collection for 7 days. Our LOT collection is housed near the Adult Reference desk for browsing. Any items not on display are represented by a picture that you can bring to the Information Desk or are checked out and can be placed on hold.
View the Library of Things collection, along with instructions and guides, in our online catalog.
Skill Builders
Skill Builders is a collection of educational kits that feature books, games, and activities. The kits include everything from preschool readiness activities to reading and math practice for elementary age students. Skill Builders are available in the Youth Room and can be placed on hold. They check out for 3 weeks and do not renew.
Baldwin’s Best Bets
Can’t decide what to read next? Explore Baldwin’s Best Bets collection. Located in the Grand Hall, just past the study rooms, this collection features curated selections across genres. These titles are staff favorites chosen from a long list of recommendations.
100 Essential Architecture books
The Rae Dumke Collection of 100 essential architecture books was established by a Michigan Architectural Foundation committee in 2014. Through an endowment fund set up with the Baldwin Public Library Trust, this collection was selected by architects from around the country. While the collection is housed at Baldwin, it is available nationwide through interlibrary loan. The collection is updated on a regular basis.
Download the 100 Essential Architecture Books brochure.
View the 100 Essential Architecture books collection in our online catalog
Women in Architecture
This sub-collection of 100 Essential Architecture Book features 25 books on trailblazing women in Architecture. This collection was made possible with a generous donation from the Rae Dumke fund of the Michigan Architecture Foundation (MAF).
Download the Women in Architecture brochure.
View the Women in Architecture collection in our online catalog
Build Imagination - donated by the Michigan Architectural Foundation
Made possible with a generous donation from the Rae Dumke fund of the Michigan Architecture Foundation (MAF), the Build Imagination collection is intended to help foster children’s imaginations and raise awareness about architecture. The collection includes books about architecture, construction, civil engineering, art, color, shapes, graphic design, Legos, Minecraft, and famous landmarks for babies through 6th grade.