PANAMA CITY — This year’s Summer Reading theme for the Northwest Regional Library System is “Tails and Tales.”
Because summer breaks from school can cause a student to lose up to one month of instruction, the NWRLS locations aspire to help students prevent the “summer slide” by providing a variety of engaging, educational programs that encourage discovery. Summer Reading allows children to maintain their reading skills during summer break and foster a love of reading through the public library.
Library cards are free for residents of Bay, Gulf and Liberty counties. Each library card holder can check out up to 20 items at a time.
Last Summer:A Universe of Stories
More:Bay County libraries easing COVID restrictions
“Summer is a great time to read for fun while keeping up reading skills,” said Sarah Burris, NWRLS community relations and marketing coordinator. “Our library staff can also provide reading recommendations for all ages.”
All summer virtual programs and in-house activities are free of charge. Recorded programs will release on the specified date/time through the Bay County Public Library and Panama City Beach Public Library Facebook pages or the Northwest Regional Library System FL YouTube channel. Pre-register for Zoom programs by visiting the event details online through www.nwrls.com or email sburris@nwrls.com for the registration link. A variety of programs are available for all ages.
Pet Food Drive: July 1-31, all Bay County library locations will begin collecting items for local animal rescues, including the Salty Cats of St. Andrews Rescue. Requested items include: dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, Tidy Cats clumping cat litter 4 and 1, Arm & Hammer Double Duty cat litter, Arm & Hammer natural cat litter, tough dog toys (no stuffed dog toys) and cat toys.
Panama City Beach Public Library events
Tails and Tales Movie Bundles: Beginning the week of June 21, be one of the first 25 people to check out our Tails and Tales movie bundle (including two children’s DVDs, microwave popcorn and a theater candy box). You must present a library card in order to check out a movie bundle (one bundle per library card). Return library DVDs like a normal checkout. Available while supplies last; sponsored by the Panama City Beach Library Foundation.
Tails and Tales Animal Photography: June 21-July 31, stop by the library and check out the Tails and Tales animal photography presented by library staff.
Also, Summer Reading Bags for school age children will include various zoo and wildlife webcam links to see cool live animals.
Bay County Public Library events
Pet Show Art Exhibit: June 1-July 31, artwork by local artists featuring their pets will be exhibited in the adult services gallery space. The mediums include sketchbooks, paintings, collage and photography. Pet photographs and tales organized by library staff will be in the youth services gallery space. Exhibit is on display during library hours. See details below.
Family Movie Night Bundles: June 7-July 31, check out bundles (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, while supplies last; sponsored by the Bay County Public Library Foundation.
FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN:
Animal Scavenger Hunt: June 10-July 15, search the library for different animals and learn fun facts.
Guess the Origami Cranes: June 10-July 15, guess how many origami cranes are at the Youth Services desk. Those who guess closest to the exact number will win an origami book. Winner declared on July 15.
Animal Mask Wearables Take Home Craft Kit: Week of June 10, available in Youth Services department while supplies last. Video tutorial will release on the BCPL Facebook page at 11 a.m. on June 10. Take Home Crafts are sponsored by the Northwest Florida Music Teachers Association.
Elephant Zoo Craft Take Home Craft Kit: Week of June 24, available in Youth Services department while supplies last. Video tutorial will release on the BCPL Facebook at 11 a.m. on June 24.
In-Library Bird Watching: Week of July 1, sit in the library and see what kind of birds are outside the library windows.
Color Bird Houses: Week of July 1, a table will be set up at the library if supplies are needed, or it can be a take home craft available for school-age children while supplies last.
Animal Magnet Take Home Craft Kit: Week of July 15, available while supplies last.
Read, Rock, and Rhyme Time: Ages 3-5 years can enjoy songs and stories with Tania and Kyle in these virtual programs (all released on Thursdays at 10 a.m.): June 10, Animal Tales; June 17, Tales in the Dark; June 24, Zoo Tales; July 1, Tail Feathers; July 8, Cottontails; and July 15, Lion Tales.
FOR KINDERGARTEN-FIFTH GRADE:
(All events at 2 p.m. unless noted otherwise.)
Animated Anime Animals: Celebrate various animals that appear in favorite Japanese anime and manga with a quiz; June 17.
Animal Origami: Learn to fold origami puppies; June 21.
Stop Motion Animation Storytime: Enjoy a retelling of “Goodnight Gorilla” by library staff; June 24.
Fun with Food: Create cool animals out of food; June 28.
Library Bird Watching with Audubon: Learn about bird watching and how to count birds with Pam Overmyer from the Bay County Audubon Society; July 1.
Hedgehog Book Folding: Fold a recycled book into a fun hedgehog; July 5.
Animal Yoga: Learn animal poses; July 8.
Pete the Cat Sock Puppet: Make your own groovy Pete the Cat based on James Dean’s book series; July 12.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight: The library band “Bad Circulation” performs this fun tune; July 15.
Pet Show and Tell Zoom Program: Share your pets on Zoom with other kids at 10 a.m. on July 15. What is your pet’s name and favorite things? Email sburris@nwrls.com for Zoom invitation.
CRAFTS FOR TEENS AGE 11-18:
(All events are at 2 p.m.)
Totoro Bag: Make a small bag based on the character Totoro from Studio Ghibli’s film “My Neighbor Totoro”; June 16.
Upcycled Origami with Kat – Critters!: Fold a fox, a rabbit, and a squirrel; June 23.
Bird Feeder: Make a feeder for wild birds; June 30.
Upcycled Origami with Kat – Pets: Fold a cat and two fish; July 7.
Pet Treats – Teen Cooking: Make dog and cat treats; July 14.
FOR ADULTS:
Recycled Book Club – Hedgehog Photo Holder: Fold a hedgehog-shaped photo holder; 2 p.m. June 29.
Cat Castle: Create a cat castle out of cardboard boxes; 2 p.m. July 20. Small accessory bag available at the BCPL information desk while supplies last.
DIY Line Drawings: Adults and families can create unique animals using different line drawing techniques; 2 p.m. July 6, Zentangle Elephant.
‘Pet Show’ interactive exhibits
Pet artwork by several local artists along with their pet tales are on display in the Adult Services gallery space. The display case features 11 sketchbooks by Heather Clements of her dog, Charlie. Margaret Webster’s cat, Si, tells his tale “in his own words” with the recording being activated with the press of a blue button.
An interactive piece by Krista Eggleston features dog portraits in “Dogs Behind Doors.” Mediums include collage, photography, watercolor, colored pencil and drawings. Pet Show artists also include: Bonnie Tate-Woodby, Mandy Yourick, Jef Logsdon, Sarah Burris and Samantha Gay.
The Youth Services gallery space has a Staff Pet Show designed by Reference Librarian Rachael Fillingame. Meet several of the staff’s pets (cats, pups and a hamster) through photographs and their tales. Learn which pet likes to play tug of war with stolen socks, which pet is named after British cyclist Chris Froome, which one enjoys sunbeams and which enjoys chasing lizards.
The Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th St. in Panama City, is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. For details, visit NWRLS.com or call 850-522-2100.
