For Youth

Welcome to Baldwin Public Library’s Youth Department! We have a diverse variety of programs and events to satisfy all of our visitors, from young families to middle schoolers and everyone in between.

Feel free to call us at 248-554- 4670, email us at youth.reference@baldwinlib.org or stop by the Youth Desk. We look forward to talking with you!

April Story Book Trail: Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand.

Registration for Spring Programs (March – May) now open! Register here. 

Location - View Map

300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009

Hours

Monday to Thursday 9:30 am - 9:00 pm
Friday and Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Story Times
Reading to your child is a great way to grow a lifelong reader. And it’s easy to start them early with engaging story times led by our enthusiastic librarians. We have programs for young
listeners and their parents from birth through age 5.

1000 Books before Kindergarten

We are excited to offer this free program that encourages reading and helps to prepare your child for kindergarten. A big thank you to the Bob and Jean Kelly Endowment for making this early literacy initiative possible. The goal is to share 1,000 books together before your child starts kindergarten. Click here for more information.

2019 Preschool Directory

This directory contains a comprehensive list of local preschool programs, including contact information. Click here to access the 2019 Preschool Directory.

Youth eNewsletter
Want to stay in-the-know on upcoming youth programs? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here.

Purchase Suggestion

Are there titles you’d like to see at Baldwin? Make a recommendation! Residents of Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms or Bloomfield Hills are invited to share suggestions on great titles we may be missing from our collection. Let us know here.

Battle of the Books

The Battle of the Books is an exciting reading enrichment program the Library sponsors with the Birmingham School District. Fourth- and fifth-grade students enrolled in the Birmingham Public School District are invited to participate in this challenging and fun book battle that encourages students to read and explore books of varying genres. After reading a select number of titles, students are invited to battle against other teams and answer detailed questions on all the books covered. Congrats to everyone who competed in Battle of the Books 2019! Click here for this year’s winners.

Birbery
In this mock Birmingham Newbery program for students in the Birmingham School District, sixth through eighth graders read from a list of ten books. Five students from each school are then chosen to meet at the library and discuss all the selections before voting on which book deserves the Birbery award. The 2019 award goes to Small Spaces by Katherine Arden. Honors were awarded to The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty, The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair by Amy Makechnie, and Ending: The Last by Katherine Applegate.

Save on Tickets to Local Attractions

MAP (Michigan Activity Pass) allows you to use your Library card to print passes for free or reduced admission to popular Michigan institutions. Click here to check out your pass today!

TLN (The Library Network) members save on tickets, dining and more at the Detroit Zoo! Click here for details and to purchase and print your discounted tickets.