The library will be closed on January 2nd and 16th.

Martin Luther King Jr Day is a federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law in 1983, and it was first observed 3 years later. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000. Former Senator Harris Wofford and Congressman John Lewis transformed the holiday into The Martin Luther King Day of Service; a day of citizen action and volunteer service in honor of King.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th commemorates the victims of the Holocaust. January 27th was when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army of the USSR in 1945. The day remembers the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime. It was designated by the UN in 2005, the 60th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps. International Holocaust Remembrance Day encourages educational programs to prevent future acts of genocide, rejects denial of the Holocaust, and condemns religious intolerance, harassment, or violence against people. It calls for preserving the Holocaust sites that served as Nazi camps and prisons.

(via Wikipedia)

December Recap!

We had a float in the Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade! Thanks to our volunteers and staff who participated!

We had a little pallet library at the Winter Wonderland Pallet Town!

AmeriLife of Pensacola

Health insurance and retirement can be confusing! Experts from AmerLife of Pensacola will be here on January 12th from 5-6 PM to answer questions and help navigate the road ahead so you are prepared for your next chapter.

Ms. Nancy is retiring!

After many years of love, Ms. Nancy is retiring! We invite patrons to say goodbye with us at her retirement party on Tuesday, January 24th from 4-6 PM.

Andy & Judy

Folk duo Andy & Judy will be performing in concert on Thursday, January 26th from 6-7 PM. Andy & Judy play guitars, banjo, and many other instruments. The audience is invited to participate by singing, clapping, or stomping to the songs. They will also be at the Valparaiso Library on January 27th at 4 PM and the Mary Esther Library on January 28th at 2 PM.

Beads, please!

What do you do with all of those extra parade beads you catch? Bring them to us! You can drop them off at the service desk any time during open hours.

Tech-Talk

Have you heard about Tech-Talk?

Tech-Talk is a free website and newsletter offered by the FWB Library that helps people to stay up-to-date with technology and fosters better digital communication. At the Tech-Talk website, you can search a highly accurate and current library of articles and videos for specific topics ranging from Microsoft Office to Google - and everything in between.

While there, you can sign up for the weekly newsletter, to be delivered directly to your email inbox. The newsletters are quick and easy reads, featuring tips presented in videos and illustrated articles. Each week, Tech-Talk is written by top tech-training experts for students and professionals.

If you want to use Tech-Talk on the go, it is also available as a mobile app. Log in from anywhere and take it with you. All you have to do is log in with the username fwblib and the password fwblib.

Library Groups

The Mahjong Club meets at 1:30 PM on the first Tuesday of every month! Coffee and tea will be provided.

The Mystery By the Book Club meets at noon on the first Thursday of every month. For more information, call 850-833-9590 and ask for Lauren.

The Page Turner's Book Club meets at 10:30 AM on the first Friday of every month to discuss literary fiction. For more information, call 850-833-9590 and ask for Kimberly.

The Game Club meets at 1 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.

The Garnier Beach Garden Club meets at 10 AM on the second Saturday of every month.

The Canasta Club meets at 1 PM on the third Tuesday of every month! Coffee and tea will be provided.

The Children's Area

Call 850-833-9590 and ask for Ms. Nancy or Ms. Meghan for more information.

Lapsit will resume on Wednesday, January 11th! Lapsit classes are for preschool kids 0-3 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 AM. THEY ARE THE SAME CLASS AND YOU MAY ONLY REGISTER FOR ONE. Lapsit has stories, crafts, songs, and free play. Registration is required and begins on the first weekday of the month before. Register in person, by calling 850-833-9590 and speaking with Ms. Nancy or Ms. Meghan, or online at https://live-okaloosa.pantheonsite.io/events/upcoming?branches%5B99%5D=99.

Teen Hangout will resume on Saturday, January 14th. Teens 12 and up are invited to hang out with Ms. Meghan! They will also meet on January 28th. Snacks are provided.

January New Release

Kate Gamble’s father is the CEO of a data company whose clients include virtually every counter-terrorism organization in the Western World and a mother who committed suicide. When Patrick Battle comes back into her life, he changes everything she thought about her father and her mother’s death. Then Patrick suddenly goes missing and the ransom demand is the most potentially dangerous technology her father’s company has ever developed (description via Amazon). While waiting for this to become available, read more by James Grippando in print or online at readokaloosa.org.