To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1927 Library building, we are offering you a chance to design special edition library cards and bookmarks for use in 2027. Please submit designs which are inspired by the 1927 portion of our building, and/or your library experience. Designs selected by library staff will be turned into library cards and bookmarks that will be available to pick up after January 2, 2027 on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
Eligibility:
Submissions will be accepted from anyone who qualifies for a Baldwin Public Library Card. Cards are available to anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or owns property in Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills and the City of Bloomfield Hills (our service area). One design submission for cards and one design submission for bookmarks per person is allowed. The Library reserves the right to refuse any or all submissions. Entries that do not comply with the rules will not be considered.
Designs will be sorted by and chosen from age groups:
- ages 8 and under
- ages 9-12
- ages 13-17
- ages 18 and over
Among the criteria to be considered are:
- Creativity: Originality and artistic expression.
- Visual Impact: Overall appeal and clarity of design.
- Usability: How well the design will function as a Library card (e.g., readability, appropriate use of space).
Rules for designs:
- All designs must be original, unpublished and created by the participant.
- Designs for cards should fit the Library Card Template, and bookmarks should fit on the Bookmark Template.
- Images should be original; the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited.
- All visual art will be considered, including painting, drawing, digital art, oil, pastels, photography, fiber arts, etc.
- The image must be flat and scannable.
- Designs should not contain copyrighted material, offensive language, inappropriate images, or AI-generated components.
- Do not include personal identifying information on the design.
- We will include the artist’s first name and last initial on the finished card; “Made by Martha B.”
- Do not include the library logo in the artwork.
- The Library reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the selected designs to fit printing specifications.
- By submitting your work, you agree that the Library has the perpetual and irrevocable right to publish, reproduce, or modify your artwork for educational, informational or promotional purposes without any further permission, attribution, payment or compensation to participants, including in Library marketing materials and the library card design. You authorize the Baldwin Public Library to use and publish your artwork in print or electronically. Submitted art pieces become the property of the Library and may not be reused or sold for non-Library purposes.
- You also certify that any photos submitted were taken within our service area, and that all persons depicted in any photos consent to the Library to use their likeness in photograph in any and all of its publications, print or electronic, without any payment or compensation.
- Designs will not be returned, and all decisions made by the selection panel are final.
Submissions:
- Submit your physical design to Library Staff at the Information Desk near the Main Entrance of BPL no later than October 25, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- OR by email to designevent@baldwinlib.org, timestamped by 8:59pm on October 25, 2026. Please submit your images as PDF, .png, or .jpg files; minimum 300 dpi resolution.
- OR by mail, postmarked by October 25, 2026, to
Baldwin Public Library
Attn: Design Event
300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009