Design a library card for Baldwin's 100th anniversary

Baldwin Public Library is turning its 100th building anniversary into a community art project, inviting residents to design special-edition library cards and bookmarks that will circulate starting in January 2027.

The competition is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school or owns property in Birmingham, Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills or the City of Bloomfield Hills. Submissions are due by Sunday, Oct. 25.

The library's Grand Hall opened to the public on Dec. 19, 1927. To mark the centennial, staff member Jaclyn Miller announced the design competition on Tuesday, Aug. 4, calling for original artwork inspired by the 1927 portion of the building or the artist's own library experience.

Entries will be judged in four age groups: 8 and under, 9–12, 13–17 and 18 and over. Each person may submit one card design and one bookmark design. Templates are available for download at baldwinlib.org/anniversarycard.

Judges will evaluate creativity, visual impact and usability, meaning how well the design functions at library-card size. All flat, scannable media are accepted: painting, drawing, digital art, photography, pastels, fiber arts and more. Generative AI is strictly prohibited.

Winning designs will be printed as library cards and bookmarks available for pickup after Jan. 2, 2027, on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Each card will credit the artist by first name and last initial.

The 1927 building, with its arched windows and stonework, sits at 300 W. Merrill St. The library traces its roots to 1869, when Martha Baldwin and 19 others formed a literary club with 48 volumes. Today it holds more than 120,000 books.

How to submit

Entries can be delivered three ways by Sunday, Oct. 25:

In person at the Information Desk by 5 p.m.
By email to [email protected] by 8:59 p.m.
By mail postmarked by Oct. 25 to Baldwin Public Library, Attn: Design Event, 300 W. Merrill St., Birmingham, MI 48009

Designs must not include the library logo, personal identifying information, copyrighted material or offensive content. By submitting, artists grant the library rights to reproduce and modify the artwork for educational and promotional purposes.

For templates and full guidelines, visit baldwinlib.org/anniversarycard.