5 Things About the Baldwin Public Library's Building Program

Editor's Note: In November 2011, Bloomfield Hills residents narrowly passed a a 0.39-mill levy to fund a three-year contract with the Baldwin Public Library, giving them a library to call their own after several years and two previous millage attempts.

Earlier this month, we told you about the Birmingham City Commission's approval of plans to improve the Baldwin Public Library in the very near future.

So what is the Baldwin Public Library Building Program? According to Director Doug Koschik, the official report not only details specific recommendations for the renovation project, but also speaks to how Baldwin will be used in coming years. Here's five things you need to know:

• Needs and wants: Needs include expanding the building, particularly the youth and children's section. Wants include adding a cafe area with vending machines and creating a "bookstore" space for the Friends of the Baldwin Public Library to sell used books year-round.
• More space: At the very least, the Building Program recommends adding almost 9,000 square feet to the library. An additional 4,000 square feet is included under the "wants" section.
• More areas for kids and teens: Baldwin's Youth Department would see the largest expansion, growing from 4,420 to 7,583 square feet. The teen section is expected to double.
• Changing functionality: According to Koschik, the most recent addition to the library has made the building more confusing and did not anticipate the rise of technology. This renovation would include changing the lighting, layout, acoustics and how people come and go. Computers would be consolidated in a new "Information Commons."
• Preserving Baldwin's history: While survey results showed many residents aren't fans of Baldwin's new spaces, they love the 1927-era Grand Hall, Koschik said. A renovation project would protect this space.