850-522-2100

850-233-5055

850-871-3092

Port St. Joe

850-229-8879

Wewahitchka

850-639-2419

Bristol

850-643-2247

Hosford

850-379-3300

by Ann Napolitano

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, so when he meets the spirited Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it's as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her inseparable family: Sylvie, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment. But then darkness from William's past surfaces, jeopardizing Julia's carefully orchestrated plans and the sisters' unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

by Susan Patterson

A mother and daughter on vacation in Paris unpack a lifetime of secrets and hopes. Every daughter has her own distinctive voice, her inimitable style, and her secrets. Laurie is an artist, a collector of experiences. She travels the world with a worn beige duffel bag. Every mother has her own distinctive voice, her inimitable style, and her secrets. "Dr. Liz," Laurie's mother, is an elegant perfectionist who travels the world with a matched set of suitcases. When Laurie surprises her mother with a dream vacation, it brings an unexpected sparkle to her eyes.

by Thomas Hertog

Perhaps the biggest question Stephen Hawking tried to answer in his extraordinary life was how the universe could have created conditions so perfectly hospitable to life. In order to solve this mystery, Hawking studied the big bang origin of the universe, but his early work ran into a crisis when the math predicted many big bangs producing a multiverse--countless different universes, most of which would be far too bizarre to ​harbor life.

Holed up in the theoretical physics department at Cambridge, Stephen Hawking and his friend and collaborator Thomas Hertog worked on this problem for twenty years, developing a new theory of the cosmos that could account for the emergence of life.

by Jeff Benedict

Jeff Benedict, the most celebrated sports biographer of our time, paints a vivid picture of LeBron's epic origin story, showing the gradual rise of a star who, surrounded by a tight-knit group of teenage friends and adult mentors, accelerated into a speeding comet during high school. He went from a lost boy in Akron to a beloved hero who uses his fortune to educate underprivileged children and lift up needy families and brought home Cleveland's first NBA championship. But LeBron is more than just the origin story of a GOAT or a recap of his multi-championship, multi-MVP, gold medal-decorated career on the court. Benedict delves into LeBron's relationship with fame and power.

by Kate Morton

In 1959, on a scorching day a local man makes a terrible discovery. Police are called, and the town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most baffling murder investigations in the history of South Australia. Many years later and thousands of miles away, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. A phone call summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and is in the hospital. At Nora’s house, Jess discovers a true crime book chronicling a long-buried police case: the Turner Family Tragedy of 1959. It is only when Jess skims through its pages that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this notorious event — a mystery that has never been satisfactorily resolved.

by Jeannette Walls

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father's daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother's son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out. Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. Sallie confronts the secrets that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

by Maggie Smith

Poet Maggie Smith explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself in lyrical vignettes that shine, hard and clear as jewels. The book begins with one woman's personal, particular heartbreak, but its circles widen into a reckoning with contemporary womanhood, traditional gender roles, and the power dynamics that persist even in many progressive homes. With the spirit of self-inquiry and empathy she's known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself.

by Timothy Egan

The Roaring Twenties has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson.

Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman - Madge Oberholtzer - who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees.

by Matthew Desmond

The United States, the richest country on earth, has more poverty than any other advanced democracy.

In this landmark book, acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond draws on history, research, and original reporting to show how affluent Americans knowingly and unknowingly keep poor people poor. Those of us who are financially secure exploit the poor, driving down their wages while forcing them to overpay for housing and access to cash and credit. And we stockpile opportunity in exclusive communities, creating zones of concentrated riches alongside those of concentrated despair.

Elegantly written and fiercely argued, this book gives us new ways of thinking about a morally urgent problem.

by Dennis Lehane

In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessy is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the housing projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave of Boston. One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train. The two events seem unconnected. But Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her missing daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched—asking questions that bother Marty Butler, chieftain of the Irish mob, and the men who work for him.

by Gretchen Rubin

For more than a decade, Gretchen Rubin had been studying happiness and human nature. Then, one day, a visit to her eye doctor made her realize that she'd been overlooking a key element of happiness: her five senses. She'd spent so much time stuck in her head that she'd allowed the vital sensations of life to slip away, unnoticed. In this journey, Rubin explores the mysteries and joys of the five senses as a path to a happier, more mindful life. Drawing on cutting-edge science, philosophy, literature, and her own efforts to practice what she learns, she investigates the profound power of tuning in to the physical world.

The Northwest Regional Library System library catalog is upgrading! It will not be functional during Saturday, May 6 (evening) - Sunday, May 7 for the migration process. You will want to access 'My Account', your Libby account, and browsing the NWRLS before or after that time period. Stay tuned!

All Northwest Regional Library System locations will be CLOSED for

The Bay County Public Library is currently scheduled to be CLOSED starting Friday, May 26 at Noon and reopen Tuesday, May 30th. Follow our Facebook page if there is a schedule update.

Saturday, May 6 beginning at 9 a.m.

Celebrate Free Comic Book Day at the Bay County Public Library while supplies last. There will be blind grab bags of comics each with a specific age focus: Children, Teen and Adult. Thank you to Comic Emporium for their partnership. Follow the Bay County Public Library Facebook Page or the Northwest Regional Library System YouTube channel for a video that will introduce this years comics!

Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. CT

Early literacy fun for you and your baby with songs, rhymes, stories, and movement.

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. CT

Enjoy books, songs, and activities while building early literacy skills.

Wednesday, May 3 at 4 p.m. CT

Learn the joy of storytelling and refine your writing skills with this young creative writers’ group. Registration required, and opens 3

weeks prior to each class. Please call 850-522-2118 to register.

Wednesdays, May 10 and May 17 at 4 p.m. CT

Tackle unique LEGO engineering projects and challenges by putting basic STEM concepts into action. Registration required, and opens 3 weeks prior to each class. Please call 850-522-2118 to register. Registered students will be informed of future club availability if placed on the

waiting list. LEGO Club received generous donations from the GFWC Woman's Club of Panama City and the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries.

Tuesday, May 23 at 4 p.m. CT

Assemble your party and venture forth on a short, fun adventure. Learn the basics and jump right into your first session of Dungeons &

Dragons, 5th Edition. No experience needed. Registration required, and opens 3 weeks prior to each class. Please call 850-522-2118 to register.

Wednesday, May 31 at 4 p.m. CT

Young fans of Japanese games, anime, and culture will enjoy this beginner class to learn Japanese words and phrases. Registration required, and opens 3 weeks prior to each class. Please call 850-522-2118 to register.

Tuesdays at 10 - 10:30 a.m. CT

Come hear delightful stories, have fun with finger plays, move and groove to silly songs, and wave your scarf in the air like you just don't care!

Thursday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. CT - Being You!

Thursday, May 11 at 9:30 a.m. CT - Space

Thursday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. CT - Bath Time

Thursday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m. CT - Pizza

Get ready to have some fun with your child as they learn to take turns, share, and get along with others through stories, songs and craft time.

Flower Take and Make Craft Kit During the month of May, stop by our circulation desk to pick up a craft kit while supplies last.

Saturday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. CT - Let's Go to the Circus

Join us for a storytime, rhymes and more!

Available while supplies last.

May 1st - 5th

Celebrate Mexican history and culture with fun crafts!

Mondays at 2:30 p.m.

Learn new strategies, improve problem solving skills, meet new people, and have fun playing the game of Kings and Queens! All levels are welcome. Chess boards and instruction provided.

Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET

Have you ever wondered what it would like to be in the band? Did you know instruments have families? Students from our marching band will teach you about the instruments and you'll also meet the conductor!

Thursday, May 11 at 10:30 a.m. ET

FDLRS Parent Services will share tips to provide simple, meaningful learning activities for preschooler that can be done at home, and answer your child development questions.

Saturdays, May 13 and 20; June 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 10:30 a.m. ET

Pre-register for a 6-week introduction to music, music theory, and notation. Make your own instrument each week! Participants will receive their own recorder and instruction book. The class will culminate with a group "recital" of the songs we've learned. Class designed for children ages 6-10. Space is limited. Registration required. Call the library at 850-229-8879 to register.

Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 11 a.m. ET

Join us for songs, stories, and movement, followed by art or science enrichment activities and free play with peers!

Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Join us for weekly LEGO challenges, or just come show off your engineering skills with over 10,000 LEGOS!

Tuesdays at 10 a.m. CT (May 2nd - May 23rd)

Stories, songs, finger plays & crafts to instill a love of reading! All little ones welcome with a caregiver.

I Spy with my Jedi Eye - Month of May

Play 'I Spy with my Jedi Eye' and locate all of the Star Wars characters hidden in the children's area to receive a prize from the treasure box!

Thursday, May 4 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Are you a Star Wars fan? Join us to celebrate Star Wars Day! Enjoy a FUN after school event with games and a craft!

Thursday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Tuesday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Chess is a great way to improve your critical thinking skills. All abilities are invited to this all ages program!

Friday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Test your building skills at this exciting after school event! A variety of challenges will be offered, or you can build your creative ideas!

Thursday, May 4 at 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET

Join us for early literacy fun as we have stories, songs, playtime and crafts.

Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m. ET

Children will explore fun, monthly STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) challenges fostering a love of learning through play!

Tuesday, May 2 at 11 a.m. ET

Join us for early literacy fun as we have stories, songs, playtime and crafts.

Tuesday, May 30 at 4 p.m. ET

Children will explore fun, monthly STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) challenges fostering a love of learning through play!

Tuesday, May 2 at 4 p.m. CT

Earn volunteer hours and help your library! Discuss books you enjoy and potential teen library programs. Snacks provided by the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries. Registration required. Call 850-522-2118 to register.

Tuesday, May 9 at 4 p.m. CT

Talk about anime/manga with fellow fans, participate in fun activities, and learn about Japanese culture! Registration required. Call 850-522-2118 to register.

Tuesday, May 16 at 4 p.m. CT

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (AANH/PI). Learn about South Korean culture (K-Pop and K-Dramas) and try Korean snacks! Registration required. Call 850-522-2118 to register.

Wednesday, May 17 at 2 p.m. CT

Learn how to fold an origami kusudama, which is a beautiful decorative sphere or toy. Program taught by Kat Kan, Bay County Public Library. This will be released on the library’s Northwest Regional Library System FL YouTube channel and Facebook.

Saturday, May 20 from 2 - 4 p.m. CT

Join a motley crew of adventurers in Dungeons & Dragons. No experience needed. Registration required, and opens 3 weeks prior to each class. Call 850-522-2118 to register.

Wednesday, May 31 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Play various Switch games. Program held in the Meeting Room. Registration required. Call 850-522-2118 to register.

Thursday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Tuesday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Chess is a great way to improve your critical thinking skills. All abilities are invited to this all ages program!

Friday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Join us for a special Cinco de Mayo themed meet up with snacks and a fun card game called Throw Throw Burrito!

Mondays at 2:30 p.m. ET

Learn new strategies, improve problem solving skills, meet new people, and have fun playing the game of Kings and Queens! All levels are welcome. Chess boards and instruction provided. Made possible in part by a grant from the Battelle Foundation and the Junior Service League of Port St. Joe.

Join us for an interview with author, Erika T. Wurth. We'll discuss her literary horror novel, White Horse, about Urban Native, Kari, who must face her past when she discovers a bracelet haunted by her mother's spirit. Unwind with Erika as she shares her writing process, love of horror literature and film, Denver, libraries and more!

Join us for an interview with bestselling fantasy author, Alex Jennings. We'll discuss his debut novel, The Ballad of Perilous Graves set in a fantastical version of New Orleans where music is truly magic. Unwind with Alex as he shares his writing process, love of New Orleans, Jazz history, Escape Artists Podcasts, Star Wars, libraries and more!

Unstacked is a bi-monthly library podcast with author interviews. The titles can be placed on hold in the library collection as soon as they are available. Listen to Unstacked on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Monday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. CT

Come learn some basics of conversational Japanese, as well as reading and writing hiragana. Registration Required. Call 850-522-2107 to register.

Tuesday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. CT

Let's discuss how to round out your supporting characters! Program geared for adults, but teens are welcome to join.

Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. CT

First part of the class is beginner basics. The second part is for jammin'! We will have a few loaner instruments available but you are encouraged to bring your own.

Tuesdays, May 9 and 16 at 2 p.m.

Bring your photos (1 - 2 per person) that help tell the story of Bay County. We will scan and add them to the Local History Dept. Digital Photography Collection to be enjoyed by future generations! Share your photos with others.

Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m.

Corey Hall performs homegrown Florida folk, blues and roots music. Join us for this free, afterhours library concert sponsored by the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries.

Thursday, May 11 at 11:30 a.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. ET

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Email rfillingame@nwrls.com for Zoom invitation or meet in the Bay County Public Library Meeting Room.

Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m. CT

Film: Star Trek (PG-13)

Popcorn and waters provided by the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries.

Friday, May 19 at 2 p.m. CT

First song is a beginner tune, then mountain dulcimer practice. Email sburris@nwrls.com for Zoom invitation or meet in the Youth Services Program Room. Several spare instruments will be available.

Panama City Beach Public Library 

Fridays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. CT

Bring your knitting, crochet, or quilt projects and join other crafters for an enjoyable time. Newcomers welcome!

Wednesday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. CT

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

Email shill@nwrls.com for Zoom invitation or meet at the library! New members are always welcome.

Wednesday, May 17 at 2 p.m. CT

Humana health education class on digestion tips presented by Christopher Cardinal. Refreshments provided.

Tuesday, May 30 at 2 p.m.

Jessica Foster from WJHG News Channel 7 will lead Chapter Chat Book Club. Open to the public to attend. Title will be announced on air in the beginning of the month. Follow us on Facebook for the exact title. Stay tuned!

Celebrate wildflowers this week at the library!

Fridays, May 12 and 26 at 10:30 a.m. ET

Find inspiration, share a sense of accountability and meet other writers at this informal discussion-based writing group. Group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month.

Tuesday, May 16 at 11 a.m. ET

UF/IFAS extension agent Ray Bodrey will reveal how you can manage rainfall to the max on your property.

Monday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m. ET

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Join us for coffee & conversation with avid readers.

Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET

We offer a warm, seaside welcome to anyone who is interested in needle arts. Bring your latest project and join us as we knit together a more vibrant community!

Mondays at 2:30 p.m. ET

Learn new strategies, improve problem solving skills, meet new people, and have fun playing the game of Kings and Queens! All levels are welcome. Chess boards and instruction provided.

Thursday, May 11 at 9:30 a.m. CT

Meetings are open to all members. If you are not yet a member, but are interested in supporting the Library through advocacy, volunteer work and fundraising, we invite you to join us!

Thursday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Tuesday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m. CT

Chess is a great way to improve your critical thinking skills. All abilities are invited to this all ages program!

Monday, May 22 at 2 p.m. CT

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

New members join our in-person discussion or join our Facebook group for questions and written commentary!

Tuesday, May 9 at 2 p.m. ET

Join us for a cup of coffee as we share our latest favorite book. Each month we will explore a different theme or genre with a list of great titles available!

Tuesday, May 9 at 3 p.m. ET

Crafters are invited to bring your own craft and socialize, while sharing tips and ideas with other crafters. Not currently working on a project? We have crafting supplies, adult coloring and more to enjoy!

Wednesday, May 3 at 10 a.m. ET

Join us every first Wednesday of the month for coffee, friends, and playing card games like Phase 10 and Uno!

The Bay County Public Library Foundation is organizing a Children's Book Drive during May 1 – 19, 2023 to restock the Foundation’s Free Library on Wheels (FLOW) and FLOW Book Boxes. The Book Drive is open to community members to donate new or gently used children’s book titles that would be appropriate for preschool age to 8th grade students at any of the drop-off locations. These titles will be collected and then distributed free of charge to Bay County children throughout the upcoming year.

Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th Street, Panama City

The Law Offices of Sam K. Zawahry, 227 Harrison Avenue, Panama City

The Little Mustard Seed, 437 Harrison Avenue, Panama City

Panama City Beach Public Library, 12500 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach

Parker Public Library, 4710 2nd Street, Parker

St. Andrews Publishing Museum, 1134 Beck Avenue, Panama City

The Bay County Public Library Foundation’s mission is to promote literacy and provide cultural enrichment that enhances the Bay County libraries and strengthen the community. For more information, visit https://bcplfoundation.org/ or email theflowforbay@gmail.com.

by Megan Miranda

A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine—a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night. On the tenth anniversary, a new mystery begins as one of the survivors disappear, casting fear and suspicion on the original tragedy.

by Kevin Hazzard

Until the 1970s, if you suffered a medical crisis, your chances of survival were minimal. A 9-1-1 call might bring police or even the local funeral home. But that all changed with Freedom House EMS in Pittsburgh, a group of Black men who became America's first paramedics and set the gold standard for emergency medicine around the world, only to have their story and their legacy erased—until now.

by Disha Bose

Ciara Dunphy has it all—a loving husband, well-behaved children, and a beautiful home. Her circle of friends in their small Irish village go to her for tips about mothering, style, and influencer success. But behind the Instagram filters, reality is less polished. Then Ciara is found murdered in her own pristine home, and the house of cards she’d worked so hard to build comes crumbling down. Everyone seems to have something to gain from Ciara’s death, so if they don’t want the blame, it may be the perfect time to air their enemies’ dirty laundry.

With the Libby app, you can check out five e-books and audiobooks at a time for free for 21 days. All you need is your library card number and PIN. Forgot your PIN? Just give us a call at 850-522-2100 and we'll set one up for you. And you can return items early!

To access e-books and downloadable audiobooks, click here or:

Go to www.nwrls.com

Click on Books & Research

Click on eBooks & eAudiobooks

Click on Libby to find eBooks, audiobooks and magazines

Download the Libby App to your device.

Sign in by selecting Panhandle Library Access Network.

Select Northwest Regional Library System as your library,

and login with library card number and PIN.