News

Jane Austen Friends Fundraiser

Posted on by Sarah Burris

Join us for a charming afternoon inspired by the world of Jane Austen! Enjoy tea, tea cakes, finger sandwiches, live music, and delightful activities worthy of Pemberley itself. Regency attire is warmly encouraged, but not required. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries, helping support programs and resources at our local libraries.

Musicians: Katja Chatfield and Don Brown with the opportunity to learn a simple Scottish Reel Country Dance
Calligraphy: Suzanne Miller Calligraphy & Lettering
Floral Arranging: Summer Garden Flower Farm
Jane Austen Tea Room (25 minute time-slots): Email [email protected] if in a group.

Attendees may bring additional cash donations to participate in a raffle generously donated by Rifle Paper Company. This bundle includes a Jane Austen ‘In Bloom” Book set and Ladies Night Book Club items. Additional raffle items include the Jane Austen inspired floral arrangements by Summer Garden Flower Farm. $5 for 1 ticket or $20 for 5 tickets.

Sunday, February 1 from 2 – 4 p.m.
Ticketed Event – $75 on Eventbrite
Held at the Bay County Public Library (898 W. 11th Street, Panama City) 

NEW Libraries are for Everyone T-Shirt Design

Posted on by Sarah Burris

Pre-Orders open through January 9th, 2026.

The Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries has a NEW t-shirt designed by Florida folk artist and illustrator, ​Lorena Eliasen​. T-shirts are available in Adult and Youth sizes. There are four different shirt colors to choose from: Jet Black, Team Purple, Dark Heather Grey, Steel Blue.

If interested in a “Libraries are for Everyone” Port & Co™ Core Cotton T-Shirt, email [email protected] with the color and size of shirt. Pre-orders will be collected until January 9th, and then a local print of the t-shirts will be made. Once the shirts are ready for pick-up, you will be contacted with several dates to pick-up at the Bay County Public Library. Each t-shirt is $25 to be paid in cash or check made out to the “Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries” at the time of pickup. 

Donation proceeds benefit the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries, helping support programs and resources at our Bay County local libraries. Thank you Friend for your continued support!

Libraries are for Everyone image with 4 different color backgrounds: black, purple, heather grey and steel blue

T-shirt Sizes

Adult Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Youth Sizes:  XS  4/5, S  6/8, M  10/12, L 14/16, XL 18/20

T-shirt Colors

Jet Black, Team Purple, Dark Heather Grey, Steel Blue

2025 Friends Annual Celebration

Posted on by Sarah Burris

For this year’s Annual Friends Celebration event, Lucky Mud and Sierra Everly performed a wonderful combination of Lucky Mud’s original Americana folk tunes, Sierra Everly’s original songwriting and several Celtic tunes. Light refreshments were provided. A short Friends meeting took place following the performance issuing in a new slate of officers. The program was free and open to the public to attend. We received many new members of the Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries. Thank you all who came!

Elected Slate of Officers:
Teresa Link, President 
Diane Kosky, Treasurer 
Michelle Matt, Secretary
Reuben Sparks
Sean Brosnan
Stephanie Rochefort
Rachel Howard 
Bernadette Findlay

PUBLIC NOTICE: Proposed By-Laws Changes

Posted on by GORGEOUS Brands

Proposed changes to our by-laws are under consideration. As required by our by-laws, any amendments must first be approved by the Board—which has already taken place—followed by a 30-day public notice period for all members.

This notice serves as the official public notification. If no objections are raised, the proposed changes will take effect on April 5, 2025.

You may download a copy of the proposed by-laws [here].

3rd Annual ‘Blood on the Bayou’ Murder Mystery Friends Fundraiser

Posted on by Sarah Burris

The Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries hosted our 3rd Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Fundraiser at the FSU Holley Center on February 28, 2025. This year’s theme was “Blood on the Bayou” where participants dressed for Mardi Gras and joined forces with the astute Detective Iva Gunn to solve the case. The interactive performance presented by Improbable Cause Mystery Theater provided an unforgettable evening of great food, conversation, and sleuthing!

Thank you to all of our wonderful donors for the Silent Auction including: Maranta Copy Company, Bookish Boutique, Jute & Palm, Aerial Dance Panama City, Gallery of Art, Thyme & Grace Day Spa, El Weirdo, History Class, Bookman Bookwoman Used Books, Scrappy Chic, and several artists.