Survey Says: Residents Want More Computers, Study Rooms at Baldwin Library

In addition, survey respondents said they would be willing to pay more in taxes for a renovated or expanded library, though they want to see plans first.

When it comes to renovating Baldwin Public Library, the surveys say Birmingham residents are willing to pay a little more to renovate the library, but they want to see a complete plan first.  In late October, the city heard the preliminary results from various surveys conducted throughout 2012 on the state of Baldwin Public Library and the renovations or projects residents would like to see happen first. According to plans presented at the city's long-term planning session in January, Baldwin is looking to either expand the library's footprint by 42 percent or renovate the entire building. The last comprehensive renovation of Baldwin happened 30 years ago and estimated costs for another renovation could range between $3 million and $10 …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Baldwin Library Welcomes 2 Authors to Birmingham This December

Local photographer and writer Michael Hodges, as well as Northville author Theresa Irish, will read from their latest books at Baldwin this month.

History fans, take note: Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library will be hosting two authors this December and they're talking World War II and Michigan history. Baldwin will be hosting author programs with Teresa Irish on Dec. 6 and Michael Hodges on Dec. 19. Both programs are at 7 p.m. Irish is the author of A Thousand of Letters Home: One WWII Soldier's Story of War, Love and Life. The WWII Correspondence of Aarol W. "Bud" Irish. A Northville resident, Irish's visit to Baldwin is in remembrance of Pearl Habor Day on Dec. 7. One day after her father's death in 2006, Irish discovered an old army trunk in her childhood home, finding thousands of handwritten letters postmarked from 1942-45. Written by Irish's father to his parents and the …

• Photos (2)

Give the Gift of Reading at Baldwin Public Library

The Birmingham library will serve as a drop-off location for the Detroit Free Press Gift of Reading program, as well as a toy and book drive for the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Baldwin Public Library is giving residents another chance to give back this holiday season. The Birmingham library is serving as a drop-off location for two book drives this holiday season, including the Detroit Free Press's "Gift of Reading" program and the book and toy drive for the Children's Hospital of Michigan. "The Baldwin Public Library is pleased to partner with these local programs and hope that others in the area will get behind their great causes," said Matt Church, Baldwin's associate director. New books are needed for the "Gift of Reading" program while the Children's Hospital of Michigan's book and toy drive is also accepting new and gently used books and toys. That book drive is sponsored by the Hip Hop Knit Shop and the …

• Photos (1)

Celebrate Thanksgiving With Stories, Games and Popcorn

Baldwin Public Library is hosting a morning full of kid-friendly Thanksgiving activities this weekend.

Wondering what to do with yourself this weekend? Don't dismay: check out today's Weekend Spotlight: Our pick for today: Popcorn Fun Thanksgiving Stories Also happening this weekend: Come back to Birmingham Patch on Wednesday for more weekend things to do in our Weekend Planner, or visit our events calendar.

• Photos (1)

Love Books? Baldwin Library's Fall Book Sale is This Weekend

With more than 10,000 books, music and movies up for sale, the event is open to the public Saturday through Monday.

Wondering what to do with yourself this weekend? Don't dismay: check out today's Weekend Spotlight: Our pick for today: Baldwin Public Library fall book sale Also happening this weekend: Come back to Birmingham Patch on Wednesday for more weekend things to do in our Weekend Spotlight, or visit our events calendar.

• Photos (1)

Baldwin Honors Late Birmingham Book Lover, Trustee and Friend With Poetry Reading

Elaine Morse, a former trustee at Baldwin Public Library who passed away in April, will be honored with a poetry reading by Milford author Thomas Lynch this Sunday.

On her obituary, Elaine Morse is remembered as "an energetic, vibrant and talented woman with a smile who lit up the room." "Elaine's memory is now forever etched on all our hearts wherever love lives, stars shine, poets write and music plays," writes one friend about Morse, a longtime Birmingham resident, book lover and Borders employee who passed away April 18, 2012 at the age of 71. And this weekend, Baldwin Public Library will be honoring Morse for her contributions to the library with a special poetry reading from Detroit-area poet Thomas Lynch. "Everyone associated with Baldwin is pleased and honored to be offering this event in memory of Elaine, who accomplished so much for the library and the rest of Birmingham," said Doug Koschik…

• Photos (1)

Relax at the Baldwin Public Library During Books and Bites Fundraiser Thursday

Proceeds from the event will benefit the library's Teen Space renovation.

Books and Bites at the Baldwin Public Library is back for round two! Hoping for a follow-up to last year's big success, the Oct. 18 event will bring together local restaurants for a night of food and fundraising, in a festive atmosphere. Establishments scheduled to be present include Big Rock Chophouse, Chen Chow Brasserie, Frank Street Bakery, Maggiano's Little Italy and more. All proceeds from the event will benefit a renovation of the library's Teen Space. The project will include updated carpet, paint, additional seating and designated computers for its patrons. "The result will be a larger, aesthetically pleasing and more functional area, one that will attract teens and provide them with a pleasant environment in which to study and …

• Photos (1)

Four Local Young Adult Authors to Visit Baldwin Library

Michigan authors Amy Ackley, Tracy Bilen, Beth Neff and Lara Zielin will be at Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library at 1:30 p.m. today.

Fans of young adult literature will want to pay attention: Four Michigan young adult authors will be stopping in Birmingham today. The four writers — all authors of books for teens and young adults — will be at Baldwin Public Library at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. All four will read from their latest novels, which will be available for signing and purchasing, courtesy of Oak Park's BookBeat Bookstore. In addition, Tuesday will mark the special pre-release of Lara Zielin's newest novel, The Waiting Sky. Take a look at who's stopping by: All descriptions courtesy of Baldwin Public Library.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Should You Be Allowed to Openly Carry Guns in Libraries?

The Baldwin Public Library Board is requesting local lawmakers add libraries to the list of places where openly carrying firearms is not allowed.

Should people be allowed to openly carry guns in Michigan's libraries? The Baldwin Public Library Board doesn't think you should, and they're appealing to area lawmakers to change Michigan's open carry law. According to a letter sent to State Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) and State Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy), the movement was spurred by a group of open carry advocates who came to the library on June 11, all of which were carrying weapons. The group was part of a planned protest in support of Troy 18-year-old Sean Combs, who was then facing charges after he was caught carrying a loaded rifle in downtown Birmingham in early April. Combs was declared not guilty of all charges by a jury in 48th District Court last week. "These individuals…

•  63 Comments
• Photos (1)

Burton Knows

2:03 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

@David Doerr: Thank you so for the recognition. It's greatly appreciated. It's too bad that the general malaise in this country on municipal budgets is that deficits can be balanced on the backs of public safety, i.e., first responders, police/fire. etc. I saw with horror where my brothers and sisters in blue with the Detroit Police Department are forced to accept a 20% pay reduction AND a 20% …   more ›

New York Times Writer to Discuss the 'Big Three' During Book Signing Today

Bill Vlasic, Detroit bureau chief for the New York Times, will read from his latest book — 'Once Upon a Car: The Fall and Resurrection of America's Big Three' — today at Baldwin Public Library.