The Baldwin Public Library is open for service.
Please keep the following in mind as you plan your visit:
- Curbside Pickup remains available during regular business hours.
- We ask that you enter the Library only if you’re feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
- Practice social distancing while you are in the building.
- Internet to Go kits are available to check out by any cardholder for use at home for up to one week.
- Copying, Faxing and Scanning are available.
- Programs are virtual, hybrid, and/or take away.
- Book and DVD donations are accepted on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until noon, and Thursday evenings between 6-8:30 p.m.
- Snack and beverage vending machines are available for use.
- All of BPL’s electronic offerings will remain accessible 24/7 on our website.
Read more about Baldwin’s phased reopening plan. All phases are subject to change at any time.
Level 4: Curbside BPL (June 15-July 3, 2020, November 17, 2020 – February 7, 2021)
Curbside pickup will be available to patrons at the following times:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
You can request items online or on the phone, and then call or text when you arrive at the Library. Staff will deliver your items to the sidewalk. Telephone and e-mail reference service will be available.
Level 3: Grab and Go BPL (July 6, 2020 – November 16, 2020, February 8, 2021 )
The new start date is to be determined. Patrons will be welcomed into the building for short periods of time, with masks and social distancing required. Public computers will be available for 45-minutes by appointment only for BPL cardholders only. Curbside delivery will continue. RETURNED ITEMS ARE QUARANTINED FOR SEVEN DAYS. We ask that you wait seven days after you have returned items before you contact us about any item still listed on your account. At that time we will be more than happy to investigate.
Level 2: Six-Foot BPL
The start date is still to be determined. There will be a 60-minute time limit at public computers. The photocopier, fax, and scanner will be available, as will study rooms. Proctoring will become available again, and the book sale table in the lobby will be open for business.
Level 1: An Even Better BPL
The start date is still to be determined. All library services will resume, including in-person programs. Room rentals will be available, and donations to the Friends of the Library book sale will be accepted.
- View a full list of online resources accessible from home.
- If you’d like to register for a Baldwin Library card, sign up online now.
- Read the current issue of our Learn.Connect.Discover newsletter
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Library reopen?
The Baldwin Library Board and Administration are closely monitoring COVID-19 case https://buyklonopintabs.com counts in the area. The Library will progress to Phase 3: Grab and Go of the reopening plan once the following four markers are met:
- Oakland County case counts fall below 500 per day (view the case count dashboard)
- Positive COVID-19 testing rates fall below 5% (view the current testing rates)
- Current cases fall below 25 per 10,000 within the Birmingham School District (view the school district map)
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidelines allow for reopening (view the Coronavirus site)
What does “reopen in phases” mean?
The Library has developed a reopening plan which entails bringing back different aspects of our services in phases, in order to ensure the safety of our staff members and patrons.
View the full Pandemic Response Plan.
Why won’t the building just open normally?
The Library will adhere to all local, state and federal health and safety guidance in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and maintain a safe working environment for our staff members and our patrons. Unfortunately, this means that we cannot provide services in the same way that we did before the pandemic. The safety of our community is our top priority.
Who developed this plan?
The Library Director, Associate Director, and Management Team developed the reopening plan with feedback and input from the Library staff members and the Library Board. It is in line with the way other area libraries are handling their reopening as well.
Will returned materials be quarantined/sanitized before recirculation?
All returned materials will be quarantined for a period of 7 days before being recirculated to subsequent patrons. We will not individually sanitize every time that is returned to the Library.
When will MeL or interlibrary loan be available?
MeLCat lending and borrowing resumed on August 10, 2020.
ILL will be available to patrons when MeLCat lending and borrowing is restored.
I have questions, concerns, or comments about this plan. With whom can I speak further about it?
You may contact Library Director Rebekah Craft by email at rebekah.craft@baldwinlib.org, or by phone at 248-554-4681, to share your thoughts about the plan. You may also virtually attend public Library Board meetings, scheduled for the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Are you accepting donations for Used Book Sales?
The Friends of the Baldwin Public Library are not accepting any used books or media donations until further notice.
The Friends would love to receive your donations in the future, but it may be a matter of many months before they can begin accepting donations again.
All items donated items left outside the Library entrance will be discarded.
What precautions will the Library take to protect patrons (and staff members) who are inside the building?
- Staff members will respond to a health checklist when reporting to work each day, and ill staff members will not be allowed to enter the building
- Patrons who are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus will be asked not to visit the Library
- All staff members will wear paper or fabric masks that cover the nose and mouth at all times when interacting with the public. Patrons will also be asked to wear masks when inside the building and wash or sanitize hands upon entering the building
- All staff members and patrons will observe 6 feet of physical distance from other people while inside the building
- High-touch surfaces, including door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, etc., will be cleaned with increased frequency
- Plexiglass sneeze guards have been installed at all public services desks
- Most seating has been removed or moved to ensure 6 feet of space between patrons
- All programming will be conducted virtually until further notice
- Computer use is limited to BPL cardholders by appointment only
Do you want any volunteer help with the check in of books, etc.?
Hi Thomas,
Thanks so much for offering to help. At this time we are limiting people in the building to staff only for safety reasons. Once we are confident that we can safely reopen, we will be able to welcome volunteers.
Regarding level four curbside BPL:
– Should I request an item by making a hold request through the library system, or should I place my request with library staff by telephone?
-May I make my request at any time, or should I make my request after level four begins?
Thank you for your time
You can make your hold in the library system and then just send an email or call staff to say you’d like your held items made available for curbside pickup. You can make your request at any time. Thanks for your support!
How can I get library books on my Nook.
Hi Phyllis-
Depending on the kind of Nook you have the steps are slightly different. Here is a link to some instructions, you should choose the option for the Nook device that you have: https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/9989.html
If you still need help after reviewing those instructions please email us at adult.reference@baldwinlib.org and we can schedule time to speak by phone and talk you through it.
This reopening plan doesn’t mention the remodel for the children’s room and when it will be open. Is there any word when that work will be completed? And should patrons retain until August 1 the hundreds of children’s materials that we checked out last year or should they be returned this month as was the original plan? I expect if there’s a huge delay in the reopening you would want to let us know to hold the materials or otherwise you will be overwhelmed with no where to put them.
Hi Greg,
The Youth Room project was delayed, but it is now on track to be completed by July 6 when we reopen to the public.
All items are due August 1 and you may return them at any time, however it would be helpful to us if you would return the long-term checkout children’s items to us next week or later.
On June 15, the Youth Room shelving is being installed and the books in storage are returning to the library. We will be using the time from June 15 to July 5 to reshelve and organize all of the Youth items so that we are prepared for the reopening.
Hi Greg,
Our renovation has been delayed again, and we now anticipate opening our Youth Room mid-July. However, you will be able to see a few of the changes on July 6 as our new aquarium is already installed and our new restrooms are open.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
When can books be returned that were checked out prepandemic?
You are welcome to return books at any time. We just starting accepting returns on Monday, June 8.