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 Laura Dave

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers--Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As Hannah's increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen's boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn't who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen's true identity--and why he really disappeared.

by Yusef Salaam

So begins Yusef Salaam telling his story. No one's life is the sum of the worst things that happened to them, and during Yusef Salaam's seven years of wrongful incarceration as one of the Central Park Five, he grew from child to man, and gained a spiritual perspective on life. Yusef learned that we're all "born on purpose, with a purpose." Despite having confronted the racist heart of America while being "run over by the spiked wheels of injustice," Yusef channeled his energy and pain into something positive, not just for himself but for other marginalized people and communities.

by Ashley C. Ford

For as long as she could remember, Ashley has put her father on a pedestal. Despite having only vague memories of him, she believes he's the only person who understands her. She's certain that one day they'll be reunited again, and she'll finally feel complete. There are just a few problems: he's in prison, and she doesn't know what he did to end up there. Through poverty, puberty, and a fraught relationship with her mother, Ashley returns to her image of her father for hope and encouragement. In her search for unconditional love, Ashley begins dating a boy her mother hates; when the relationship turns sour, he assaults her. Still reeling from the rape, Ashley finally finds out why her father is in prison. And that's where the story really begins.

by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

Matthew Keating, a former Navy SEAL and a past president, has always defended his family as staunchly as he has his country. Now those defenses are under attack. A madman abducts Keating's teenage daughter, Melanie, turning every parent's deepest fear into a matter of national security. As the world watches in real time, Keating embarks on a one-man special-ops mission that tests his strengths: as a leader, a warrior, and a father.

by Tom Clancy

Jack Ryan, Jr. would do anything for Ding Chavez. That's why Jack is currently sitting in an open-air market in Israel, helping a CIA team with a simple job. The man running the mission, Peter Beltz, is an old friend from Ding's Army days. Unfortunately, Ding had to cancel at the last minute and asked Jack to take his place. It's a cushy assignment to Israel in exchange for a couple hours of easy work. Jack is here merely as an observer, but when he hastens to help a woman and her young son, he finds himself the target of trained killers. Alone and outgunned, Jack will have to use all his skills to protect the life of the child.

by Elin Hilderbrand

On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she's assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three nudges to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently off again with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she'll have to think carefully where to use them. From the Beyond, Vivi watches The Chief Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi's family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes with or without a nudge of help from above.

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, a surfer and model; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva. By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family's generations will all come rising to the surface.

by Benjamin Rhodes

In 2017, as Ben Rhodes was helping Barack Obama begin his next chapter, the legacy they had worked to build for eight years was being taken apart. To understand what was happening in America, Rhodes decided to look outward. Over the next three years, he traveled to dozens of countries, meeting with politicians, activists, and dissidents confronting the same nationalism and authoritarianism that was tearing America apart.

by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she's thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They've only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, when a string of events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella's desk: LEAVE WAGNER NOW. It's hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace.

by John Green

The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet--from the QWERTY keyboard and Staphylococcus aureus to the Taco Bell breakfast menu--on a five-star scale. Complex and rich with detail, the Anthropocene's reviews have been praised as "observations that double as exercises in memoiristic empathy."

Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Covering the period from the 1930s to the 1980s, O'Reilly and Dugard trace the prohibition-busting bank robbers of the Depression Era, such as John Dillinger, Bonnie & Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby-Face Nelson. In addition, the authors highlight the creation of the Mafia Commission, the power struggles within the "Five Families," the growth of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, the mob battles to control Cuba, Las Vegas and Hollywood, as well as the personal war between the U.S. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and legendary Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa.

Annette Gordon-Reed

The essential, sweeping story of Juneteenth's integral importance to American history, as told by a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Texas native. Interweaving American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed, the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas in the 1850s, recounts the origins of Juneteenth and explores the legacies of the holiday that remain with us. A commemoration of Juneteenth and the fraught legacies of slavery that still persist, On Juneteenth is stark reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing.

For the most up-to-date information on Northwest Regional Library System location hours and services, visit the NWRLS Library Website.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to encourage all patrons to wear a mask and maintain social distancing at 6 feet while inside the library. Please do not enter the library if you are sick! All children under the age of twelve must be accompanied by an adult. Computer time is limited to 2-hour per person, per day. Meeting and Study Rooms will be closed until further notice.

This year's Summer Reading Program is Tails and Tales all about animals. Our programming is still virtual, however we have many in-library activities planned throughout our Northwest Regional Library System locations! Read the entire eNewsletter to find out about Craft Kits, Art Contests, Pet Food Drives, Storywalks, and MORE!

To give back to the community during this year's Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program, libraries will be collecting pet food, toys, and cleaning supplies.

Fur-Baby Food Drive (July 1st - July 31st)

Gulf County library locations have partnered with the St. Joseph’s Bay Humane Society and Gulf County United to collect pet food for those in need, as well as toys and cleaning supplies for the shelter. Requested items include dry dog and cat food, canned dog or cat food, Tidy Cats non-clumping cat litter, Dawn dish soap, laundry detergent, tough dog toys (no stuffed dog toys), and cat toys.

Pet Food Drive (July 1st - July 31st)

Throughout the summer, the Liberty County library locations will be collecting donations to benefit Partners for Pets, a nonprofit shelter in Marianna, Florida. A list of items that are most needed by the shelter will be provided at your library.

Pet Food Drive (July 1st - July 31st)

All Bay County library locations will collect for the Pet Food Drive. Donated items will go to Salty Cats of St. Andrews Rescue and Alaqua Animal Refuge. Requested items include Purina Pro Plan/Purina One cat and dog food, Tidy Cats or Arm & Hammer Clumping Litter, as well as dog and cat toys.

Enjoy songs and stories with Tania and Kyle!

Thursday, July 1st at 10 a.m. CST / 11 a.m. EST Tail Feathers

Thursday, July 8th at 10 a.m. CST / 11 a.m. EST Cottontails

Thursday, July 15th at 10 a.m. CST / 11 a.m. EST Lion Tales

Thursday, July 1st at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Learn about bird watching and how to count birds with Pam Overmyer from the Bay County Audubon Society!

Monday, July 5th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Learn how to fold a recycled book into a fun hedgehog.

Thursday, July 8th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Children's yoga demonstration with animal poses.

Monday, July 12th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Learn how to make your very own groovy Pete the Cat based on James Dean's book series!

Thursday, July 15th at 10 a.m. CST / 11 a.m. EST

Share your pets on Zoom with other kids! What is your pet's name and favorite things? Email sburris@nwrls.com for Zoom invitation.

Thursday, July 15th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Library band "Bad Circulation" performs this mighty fun tune!

Wednesday, July 7th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Learn how to fold a cat and two fish!

Wednesday, July 14th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Learn how to make dog and cat treats.

Tuesday, July 6th at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Create your own unique animal using different line drawing techniques. It's a fun way to relax!

Wednesday, July 7th @ 10:30 a.m. CST / 11:30 EST

Book: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Email asmith@nwrls.com for Zoom invitation.

Thursday, July 8th @ 11:30 a.m. CST / 12:30 p.m. EST

Book: The Overstory by Richard Powers

Email rfillingame@nwrls.com for Zoom Invitation.

Tuesday, July 13th @ 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Introduction to night photography taught by Gary Crowson. Register in advance for this Zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1bzjgZC4R3qIC_4Ha5RH4A

Friday, July 16th @ 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Zoom Registration Required. Email sburris@nwrls.com for the Zoom invitation and the mountain dulcimer music.

Wednesday, July 21st @ 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST

Local Author, Michael Lister, will present his newest John Jordan novel "Out for Blood" and the true crime case that inspired it. Register in advance for this Zoom webinar:

Pet Show (All Ages)

July 1st - July 31st

Artwork of pets by local artists in Adult Services gallery space. Photographs and pet tales by library staff in the library gallery spaces. Image above: Masha by Mandy Yourick (2021) mixed media collage.

Family Movie Night Bundles (G - PG13)

Available while supplies last

Bundles include two "Tails and Tales" themed library DVDs, candy, and microwave popcorn. You must present a library card to check out a movie bundle. One per library card. Return library DVDs like a normal checkout. Sponsored by the Bay County Public Library Foundation. 

Animal Scavenger Hunt (School Age Students)

July 1st - July 15th

Search the library for different animals and learn fun facts!

Guess the Origami Cranes (School Age Students)

July 1st - July 15th

Guess how many origami cranes at the Youth Services desk. Those that guess closest to the exact number will win an origami book. Winner declared on July 15th.

Fakémon Art Contest (School Age Students)

July 1st - July 15th

Children are encouraged to draw, paint or sculpt their own Fakémon (a fictional monster inspired by Pokémon). Application is located in the Youth Services department. Winner declared on July 15th.

In-Library Bird Watching and Color Bird Houses (School Age Students)

Week of July 1st

Sit in the library and see what kind of birds are outside the Youth Service library windows at the new bird feeder. Table will be set up at the library if supplies are needed to make a color bird house, or take home the craft while supplies last. Sponsored by the Northwest FL Music Teachers Association. 

Stress Ball Take Home Craft Kit (School Age Students)

Week of July 8th

Instructions included and available while supplies last. Animal Zentangle coloring pages will also be available to pick up to create a meditative

moment! Sponsored by the Northwest FL Music Teachers Association. 

Animal Magnet Take Home Craft Kit (School Age Students)

Week of July 15th

Available in Youth Services department while supplies last. Sponsored by the Northwest FL Music Teachers Association. 

Teen Prize Giveaway (Ages 11 - 18)

July 1st - July 15th

Put your name in for a prize giveaway! One entry per teen. Winner declared on July 15th.

Book Bingo (Adults)

July 1st - July 31st

Complete a match from your book bingo card through June and July to be entered into our prize giveaway! Pick up a bingo card at the information desk or contact rfillingame@nwrls.com to be emailed one.

Tails and Tales Animal Photography (All Ages)

July 1st- July 31st

Stop by the library and check out our Tails and Tales animal photography presented by their library staff humans!

July Children's Reading Log (School Age Children)

July 1st - July 31st

Pick up a reading log and stickers to track your reading progress. Turn in completed reading logs by July 31st to earn a certificate, playful prize, and enter a prize drawing!

Purr-fect Pet Art Contest for Kids (July 1st - 25th submissions)

Get creative and show us your perfect pet - real or imaginary! Artwork can be any medium and basic art supplies will be available for use at the library. Every child who enters will receive a coupon for a free donut at Weber’s Little Doughnut Shop on Cape San Blas! Submissions will be

accepted from July 1st - 25th. Facebook and in-person voting will take place from July 26th - 31st. Art may be dropped off at the Corinne Costin Gibson Memorial Public Library in Port St. Joe, or emailed to mminnick@nwrls.com. File size must be under 5 MB. The following MUST be included with your submission: Student's Name, Student's Age, Title of Artwork. Prizes will be awarded to a winner in each age category (ages 3-5, 6-8, 10-12, 12 and up). Winners will receive a $25 VISA gift card. Artwork will be on display at the library through August 31st, after which the artwork may be picked up at the library.

Read to the Cats! (School Age Children)

July 1st - 31st

Pick up a pre-selected sack of Pete the Cat or Cat in the Hat easy readers (or any other books), then head over to the Humane Society to practice your reading skills with the cats! Come back and tell us about it, and receive a prize! St. Joseph’s Bay Humane Society: 1007 10th Street, PSJ.

Hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 12 - 4 p.m. ET

Storywalk: Bigfoot Cinderella (School Age Children)

July 1st - July 3rd

Outdoor Storywalk featuring "Bigfoot Cinderella" by Tony Johnston is a delightful story about a Bigfoot Prince in search of a bride who is as big and stinky as he is! When you reach the end, be sure to get your photo taken with Bigfoot and compare your foot with Bigfoot’s!

Weekly Take and Make Craft Projects (School Age Children)

Available each week while supplies last. Sponsored by the Friends of the Gulf County Public Libraries.

Fur-baby Reader's Prize Drawing (Adults)

July 1st - July 31st

For every five books you check out, earn an entry ticket for a special gift basket you and your fur-baby will love! Winner will be announced July 31st. Sponsored by a generous private donation. 

July Children's Reading Log (School Age Children)

July 1st - July 30th

Pick up reading log and stickers to track your reading progress. Turn in completed reading log by July 30th to earn a certificate, a goody bag, and enter a prize drawing!

July 1 - 30th

Outdoor Storywalk featuring "Bee Dance" by Rick Chrustowski. Follow a foraging honeybee as she searches for food and returns to the hive to share the news in a honeybee dance!

Weekly Take and Make Craft Projects (School Age Children)

Available each week while supplies last. Sponsored by the Friends of the Gulf County Public Libraries.

Crafts in the Library (School Age Children)

Please call to make an appointment at (850) 639-2419. Limit to one child/family at a time. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All supplies will be available for you at a designated table. Sponsored by the Friends of the Gulf County Public Libraries.

Fridays, July 2nd and 9th

Fridays, July 16th, 23rd, and 30th

Crafts in the Library (Adults)

Please call to make an appointment at (850) 639-2419. Limit to two individuals, must be scheduled together. All supplies will be available for you at a designated table. Sponsored by the Friends of the Gulf County Public Libraries.

Mondays, July 12th, 19th, and 26th

Library Cat Book Drawing (Adults)

July 1 - July 30

For every five books you check out, you’ll earn an entry ticket into a drawing for your own copy of "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World" by Vicki Myron. Winner will be announced July 30th.

Pet Photo Contest (Adults)

July 1st - 30th

Bring in your favorite pet photo or print one free at the library. Email submissions are accepted at jlinton@nwrls.com. Online (Facebook Polling) and in person voting will take place from July 26th – 30th. Three

winners of different categories will be chosen for a variety of prizes on July 30th.

Children’s Summer Reading Challenge (6 – 12 years)

June 8th – July 28th

Summer Reading Logs will be available at the Liberty County library locations. For every 10 hours of reading, verified by a parent or legal guardian, the child will be entered into a prize drawing. The winner will receive a new Amazon Fire 7 Kids Pro Tablet. Tickets can be redeemed at the Bristol or Hosford locations. Funds to purchase the grand prize were made possible thanks to a generous donation from our friends at PeoplesSouth Bank of Blountstown, FL. Winner announced on the 29th. 

Teen Summer Reading Challenge (13 – 17 years)

June 8th – July 28th

Summer Reading Logs will be available at the Bristol and Hosford library locations. For every 10 hours of reading, verified by a parent or legal guardian, the teen will be entered into a prize drawing. The winner will receive a $25 gift card. Tickets can be redeemed at the Bristol or Hosford locations. For more details please contact your library branch. Funds to purchase the grand prize were made possible thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Winner announced on the 29th. 

Summer Take and Go Activity and Craft Bags (Ages 4 - 12)

Weekly activity bags include coloring, hidden pictures, word finds, early literacy sheets and a craft. The bags will vary depending on the age group. Available while supplies last.

Self-directed Craft Table (School Age Children)

Designated craft table set up so that one family at a time may pick up their weekly-themed activity bag and complete the craft with supplies fully provided by the library.

Children’s Summer Reading Challenge (6 – 12 years)

June 8th – July 28th

Summer Reading Logs will be available at the Liberty County library locations. For every 10 hours of reading, verified by a parent or legal guardian, the child will be entered into a prize drawing. The winner will receive a new Amazon Fire 7 Kids Pro Tablet. Tickets can be redeemed at the Bristol or Hosford locations. Funds to purchase the grand prize were made possible thanks to a generous donation from our friends at PeoplesSouth Bank of Blountstown, FL. Winner announced on the 29th. 

Teen Summer Reading Challenge (13 – 17 years)

June 8th – July 28th

Summer Reading Logs will be available at the Bristol and Hosford library locations. For every 10 hours of reading, verified by a parent or legal guardian, the teen will be entered into a prize drawing. The winner will receive a $25 gift card. Tickets can be redeemed at the Bristol or Hosford locations. For more details please contact your library branch. Funds to purchase the grand prize were made possible thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Winner announced on the 29th. 

Monthly Take & Make Craft Kits (Ages 5 - 10)

Kits available while supplies last.

Senior Monthly Activity Packets (Adults)

Packets contain coloring pages, word searches, and more!

The Gulf County Master Gardeners invite the public to explore a new pollinator garden at the entrance of the Charles Whitehead Public Library in Wewahitchka. Library branch manager Joyelle Linton worked with Master Gardener Patty Dunlap and her team to select native Florida trees, shrubs and grasses that attract and support pollinators, especially native bees and butterflies. The garden is educational for both children and adults and demonstrates how native plants can be used in a more formal garden. Signs identifying the plants are labeled and fact sheets for each plant are available at the library desk.

Layers of cardboard covered by mulch were used over the beds in a method sometimes called “lasagna gardening” because of its layering; this method creates a weed barrier and helps with water conservation. The cardboard smothers and kills the grass and weeds, and will eventually decompose to become part of the soil. Plants are watered by soaker hoses using timers to conserve water.

Funds to purchase the plants and materials were generously gifted to the library by an anonymous donor. The cardboard was donated by Badcock Furniture in Port St. Joe and compost was donated by Mr. Lee Goodwin of Wewahitchka. The Library extends its gratitude to Master Gardeners Sandi McInnis, Jill Bebee, Anne Grace and Patty Dunlap, and to Gulf County Extension Director Ray Bodrey.

by Alex Michaelides

Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. A handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana's niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge. Mariana becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder.

by Amanda Montell

What makes "cults" so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we're looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join—and more importantly, stay in—extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell's argument is that, on some level, it already has ...

by Malcolm Gladwell

In The Bomber Mafia, Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history. Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought. But a small band of idealistic strategists, the "Bomber Mafia," asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal?

With the Libby by Overdrive app, you can check out five e-books and downloadable audiobooks 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 OverDrive and 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.