Baldwin Public Library’s Mission Statement

1. Baldwin Public Library’s Mission Statement The Baldwin Public Library enriches Birmingham and participating communities by providing opportunities and resources for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to learn, connect and discover.

2. Baldwin’s Collections • Books—of course: 140,000 of them • Also 15,000 magazines; 30,000 DVDs, CDs, video games, toys, puppets, etc. • 8,000 eBooks and downloadable audio books • Over 100,000 downloadable pieces of music • Several dozen databases • Interlibrary loan • 721,000 items checked out last year.

3. Baldwin’s Services • Reference • Readers’ advisory • Free service to homebound • School visits—public and private • Support for schoolwork • Support for homeschooling • Public computers & wireless access • Meeting rooms

4. Baldwin’s Programming • For all age groups • Youth, including Summer Reading Program • Teens, including lock-ins • Adults, including Learning in Retirement • Computer instruction • Book clubs • 26,000 people attended Baldwin’s programs last year.

5. Baldwin’s Contacts with Bloomfield Hills • Delivery of Books and Beyond Newsletter • Liaison from City Commission to Library Board • Statistics provided regularly • “Reading center” • Return box

6. What Would Be Different? • Baldwin would give full service to all Bloomfield Hills residents, property owners and businesses. • Bloomfield Hills residents would have limited service at 70 other public libraries. • No payment to Troy.

7. New Services to Bloomfield Hills Residents • Checkout of materials • Use of eBooks, downloadable audio books and downloadable music • Interlibrary loan • Priority registration for programs • Registration in Summer Reading Program • School visits • Access from home to databases like Value Line, Morningstar, Mango Languages, Consumer Reports, Ancestry.com, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. • Ability to check out materials at 70 other libraries

8. Baldwin’s Advantages • 2010 Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings: Baldwin scored in 98.3% percentile for its size group, ranking fifth overall in Michigan. • Troy Library has fewer hours and much lower per-capita expenditures on materials and programming. • History of working with two contract communities • Integral part of Downtown Birmingham • Close cooperation with the City of Birmingham • Historical building with a new HVAC system soon to be installed

9. More Advantages • Friendly, expert staff • Strategic plan covering 2011-13 • Building, marketing and technology plans are being prepared • Friends of the Library • Baldwin Public Library Trust • Parking • Handicap accessibility

10. Library Contract in Brief • Baldwin and the Bloomfield Hills City Commission negotiated in good faith. • Both sides compromised. • The amount is based on an average per-household cost. • Millage amount is 0.39 mill for 3 years. • Length of contract is 3 years. Can be renewed afterwards. • The contract was signed in July, but will go into effect only if Bloomfield Hills voters approve the millage.

11. For More Information • Search the website of the Baldwin Public Library: www.baldwinlib.org • Contact Doug Koschik at 248-554-4681 or doug.koschik@baldwinlib.org • Arrange for a personal tour of the Baldwin Library. We’ll be happy to show you around!