Do you have to be a resident of Ferndale to sign out book, or is there a fee that you have to pay

Yes Brandy is correct. If you're a Detroit resident you would first need to have a library card through their library system, and from there request a Michlib sticker that would then enable you to borrow books and/or media from Ferndale. Detroit residents may borrow up to 10 items at a time.

They're part of a network of libraries. If your home library is part of that network, you can borrow books. I think it includes Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw counties, minus Detroit and Ann Arbor.