View & Renew Items [link opens in new tab] Pay Fees Online [link opens in new tab]
View & Renew Items
Baldwin Public Library uses an automatic renewal system. If your account is in good standing, eligible items, including MeL loans, will automatically be renewed three days before they are due*. If you are signed up for email and/or text notifications, you will be sent a confirmation of this renewal with your new due date(s). Please read the notification carefully, as it will also list any item that has not been renewed.
If one of your items becomes “long overdue” (e.g. 10-29 days overdue), the automatic renewal service will be blocked and you will not be able to renew items yourself. Instead, please contact the Information Desk at 248-554-4630 for assistance.
*items are renewed according to the date due, not the date of the automatic renewal
Four renewals are permitted for all card holders on all eligible Baldwin materials except Adult & Young Adult magazines, Hotspots, Hot Picks, Launchpads, Library of Things items, Skillbuilders, and Vinyl. Any item on hold for another patron is not eligible for renewal. You may renew your library materials online, in person, or by phone.
- To renew online [link opens in new tab] at any time, you will need your library card number and your password (most likely the last four digits of the phone number on your account). Once you are logged in, you can also view your checkouts, holds, and general account information.
- To renew during library hours by phone, call 248-554-4630. Please have your library card number ready when you call. If you do not have your library card number, we can renew items but we can give only limited information about them and your account in general.
Regarding MeL items: One renewal is allowed for items that circulate for 4 weeks, but there are no renewals for items that circulate for two weeks. MeL loan periods are set by the lending libraries, not by Baldwin.
Loan and Renewal Periods [link opens in a new tab]
Pay Library Fees Online
Click on the button below to be taken to our online payment portal. You will need your library card number & PIN/password along with a credit card to pay online.
Pay Fees Online [link opens in new tab]
Please note that fine-free does not mean “no responsibility”. Items have due dates and Baldwin sends notices according to the following schedule:
| Reminder Type | When materials are… |
|---|---|
| Reminder Email and/or text | 3 days before item is due |
| Overdue Email and/or text | 7 days overdue |
| Overdue notice by Mail | 14 and 21 days overdue |
| Overdue Bill by Mail | 30 days overdue; Patron billed for replacement cost |
| Collection Notice by Mail | 60 days overdue; Patron account is referred to collection agency |
| *these notices will be sent by USPS mail if an email address is not on file or notices bounce back to the Library | |
You will be unable to check out additional items nor will you be able to renew currently checked-out items if any of your materials are overdue by more than 10 days. If you return the overdue item(s) within 30 days of the due date, you will have your library privileges restored automatically.
You will be billed the replacement cost for any items that are damaged or are overdue by 30 days. At this point not only will you be unable to check out additional items but you will also be unable to use our digital resources and public computing services. If you pay the bill or return the items, in good condition, within 30 days of the billing date, you will have your library privileges restored.
Accounts owing more than $50 will be sent to collections if the materials are not returned or paid for after 30 days from the billing date. A $10 nonrefundable collection agency processing fee will be billed to your account. This information is NOT reported to credit bureaus. If you return the items, in good condition, within 90 days of being referred to collections, the replacement costs will be cleared from your account, but the collection agency processing fee will remain. Once that fee is paid, your library privileges will be restored. Payment of the entire bill in full will also restore your library privileges.
Past replacement fees for lost or damaged items still apply.
Patrons with any fees totaling $10.00 or greater will have their library privileges suspended until the issue is resolved. Please note that any lost/damaged item incurs a charge for the full replacement cost as of when we purchased the item.
To make a payment:
- Online: Pay online via a credit card using the link “Pay Fees Online” above. A link is also provided when you log into your account to see the amount owed.
- By Phone: Pay over the phone via a credit card by calling the Information Desk at 248-554-4630. A receipt for your payment can be mailed to you upon request.
- By Mail: Pay with a check, cashier’s check, or money order made out to “Baldwin Public Library” that is mailed to the Library:
Baldwin Public Library
300 West Merrill
Birmingham, MI 48009 - In-Person: Pay at the Information Desk via all methods listed above when visiting the Library.
If you have questions about fees on your account, please call the Information Desk at 248-554-4630.
Lost/damaged Items and Replacement fees
Note that lost items incur a charge for the full replacement cost.
Patrons are responsible for returning all library materials by their due dates and in the same condition as they were in when borrowed. If a patron does not return a library item, or returns it in such condition that the item must be replaced, the patron will be billed for the cost of replacing the item.
The Baldwin Public Library reserves the right to assess and declare the condition of all returned library materials. Depending on the extent of damage, partial or full replacement cost of the item may be billed to the patron. Highlighting, marking, staining, and damage by liquids are all examples of billable damage. Missing parts or discs will also result in partial or full replacement cost being billed.
Baldwin does not base its replacement policy on the age or condition of the item. We do not accept replacement copies of materials in place of payment.
Please note that the cost to replace an item obtained through MeL or Interlibrary Loan is determined by the lending library, not by Baldwin, and may be substantial. Payment for these items must be made in the form of a check or money order made out to the lending library.
Should you find a lost Baldwin item within 120 days of its due date, return it directly to the Information Desk. The item’s bill will be waived, or, if already paid, be refunded. Refunds are made by check and can take up to 30 days to be sent to you.
Patrons with outstanding bills totaling $10.00 or greater will have their library privileges suspended until payment is received.
Patrons with outstanding bills totaling $50.00 or greater and at least one lost item billed may be referred to a collection agency. Should this happen, a non-refundable $10.00 collection fee will be added to your account.
Claims Returned and Claims Never Had
If you see an item on your account that you are certain you returned, or are certain you did not check out, please call the Library at 248-554-4630, or visit the Information Desk upon your next visit. We will initiate a claims search for the item; during the following weeks, our staff will search our shelves to try and locate the item. Before contacting the library about a claims returned item, please double-check your home and car, paying close attention beneath furniture and car seats.
Library Fees FAQ
It is good for our community. Our community is stronger and healthier when all people have access to the Library programs, services, and materials they need to pursue their educational, career, family, and life goals. Once someone owes a late fine, they are less likely to visit the library again, and the fear of owing late fines can cause patrons to not borrow the items they need. We hope being fine free will encourage prior users to come back to the Library as well as encourage new users to explore our offerings.
It is good for our relationships with our patrons. When you visit Baldwin, we want to focus on helping you, not question you about late fees. Going fine free makes a trip to the Library a pleasant, positive experience for both you and our staff.
Late fines are not effective. Studies* have shown that small fines have no impact on return rates. According to “Removing Barriers to Access,” a Colorado State Library whitepaper, “The scant research on the impact of library fines and fees does not indicate a clear benefit to administering these policies.” Libraries who have removed late fees report few adverse effects on material return rates – in fact, they have actually experienced an increase in return rates after the adoption of fine free policies.
Libraries that have adopted fine-free policies find that:
- Library card registrations increase.
- Borrowing of materials increases.
- More library items are returned.
- Students return to the library to use homework resources.
- Staff time is redirected from fines-handling to patron-focused services.
*Studies and articles:
Yes! Books, movies, audiobooks, magazines, Internet to Go kits, magnifiers, Launchpads, bike locks – everything we loan is fine-free.
Overdue fines are daily charges applied to items not returned by their specified due date. These are the fines that will no longer be assessed to patrons. Fees are for library services and products such as replacement library cards, copying, printing, material replacement costs, etc. and are still applicable.
If you’ve returned all materials previously checked out from Baldwin, your fine has been waived. You are still responsible for any overdue fines that have accrued on your account at other TLN libraries.
Even though Baldwin is eliminating overdue fines, fees for lost or damaged materials still apply and will still be assessed.
“No fines” does not mean “no responsibility.” Our current due date system still applies. Baldwin will continue to send you courtesy reminders (by text, email, and/or mail) to return your items. It is the patron’s responsibility to notify the Library of any changes in their contact information or notification method.
If an item is not returned within/by 10 days of the due date, the patron’s borrowing privileges will be suspended. 30 days after the due date, the patron will be charged a fee for the value of the book and an additional $10 nonrefundable collection fee. At this point a collection agency will take over the responsibility of retrieving the items. The patron will no longer be able to borrow materials, use the public computers, or access digital resources and databases until either the entire bill is paid or the billed items are returned and the collection fee is paid.
Baldwin is funded mainly through local taxes and provides a diverse and responsive collection of materials to our community. If items are damaged or lost, we will assess a fee to replace the material. If a patron’s replacement fees accrue to over $10, their account will be blocked and they will be unable to borrow more materials, use the public computers, or access any of Baldwin’s digital resources and databases.
| Reminder Type | When materials are… |
|---|---|
| Reminder Email and/or text | 3 days before item is due |
| Overdue Email and/or text | 7 days overdue |
| Overdue by Mail | 14 and 21 days overdue |
| Overdue Bill by Mail | 30 days overdue; Patron billed for replacement cost |
| Collection Notice by Mail | 60 days overdue; Patron account is referred to collection agency |
| *these notices will be sent by USPS mail if an email address is not on file or notices bounce back to the Library | |
Almost all Baldwin items are renewable four times, as long as there aren’t holds for other Library patrons. Our automatic renewal service means Baldwin will renew all eligible items for you! If your item did not renew, please call the Information Desk at 248-554-4620 or email bplcirc@baldwinlib.org for assistance.
Please note: some items cannot be renewed: Launchpads, Hot Spots, Library of Things items, and Hot Picks, as well as any items on hold for other patrons. These items need to be returned on time. Interlibrary Loans may or may not be renewable; contact the Information Desk 248-554-4630 for further information. Thank you!
Overdue fines accounted for less than 0.5% of the Library’s overall income in past years and going fine free will not have a significant impact on the Library’s budget moving forward.
Donation forms are available at the Information Desk. Your donation will support critical Library programs and services. Thank you for continuing to give to the Library!
You will be unable to check out additional items if your materials are overdue by more than 10 days. If you return the overdue items within 30 days of the due date, you will have your library privileges restored automatically.
You will be billed the replacement cost for any items that are damaged or overdue by 30 days. At this point not only will you be unable to check out additional items but you will also be unable to use our digital resources and public computing services. If you pay the bill, or return the items in good condition, within 30 days of the billing date, you will have your library privileges restored.
Accounts owing more than $50 will be sent to collections if the materials are not returned or paid for within 30 days of the billing date. At this time a $10 nonrefundable collection agency processing fee will be billed to your account. This information is NOT reported to credit bureaus. If you return the items, in good condition, within 60 days of being referred to collections, the replacement costs will be cleared from your account, but the collection agency processing fee will remain. Once that fee is paid, your library privileges will be restored. Payment of the entire bill in full will also restore your library privileges.
Past replacement fees for lost or damaged items remain valid.