The first library in Bay County was established in 1911. It was located in
Lynn Haven. The library was created by 14 women who met under the name of the Lynn Haven Literary Club. Each of the 14 women donated one book and three magazines to start the library, meeting in different locations to share their love of books and reading. When their collection grew to over 500 volumes, they needed more space. In 1922 the McMullin family donated land and a building located at 9th Street and Ohio Avenue that would become the McMullin Library. In 1961, the McMullin Library became part of the Northwest Regional Library System. In 1990, following a shortage of funds within the public library system, the city of Lynn Haven took over responsibility of the library, and it is no longer part of the Northwest Regional Library System. The library's name changed from the McMullin Library to the Lynn Haven Public Library to honor the change in ownership.In January 1914, The Woman’s Club of Panama City formed the Library Association. The first library began with a personal donation of 1,500 books from a Mrs. West. That first library was housed in the Chamber of Commerce Building, bought with $3,500 that the members of the Woman's Club donated. On September 10, 1941, the building was repurposed solely as a library, and was renamed the Bay County Public Library. In 1960 the soon-to-be [http://www.nwrls.com Northwest Regional Library System consisted of the Bay County Public Library, a bookmobile, as well as the McMullin Library. Later that same year, in September, the Bay County Public Library became incorporated as the Bay County Public Library Association, Inc. In 1962 the Association purchased a second bookmobile, and together with
Washington County, formed the Northwest Regional Library System. The Bay County Library also moved to a new location in 1962, moving from Washington Park to the Christo Dime Store building on Harrison Avenue. Five years later, in 1967, the library would move once again, this time to a new building on the City Marina. In the early to mid-sixties,
Gulf,
Calhoun, and
Walton Counties joined the library system.
Walton County withdrew from the system sometime during the 1970's.
Liberty and
Holmes Counties joined the library system in 1973 and 1974; the system now served six counties covering 3,946 square miles:
Bay,
Washington,
Gulf,
Calhoun,
Liberty, and
Holmes. On February 6, 1978, the Springfield Public Library opened. Ann Robbins was the branch manager. The library contained 5,000 books with a small reference section, magazines, and a few reading tables. The building, renovated for the Library, was previously home to the Fire Department, Springfield Baptist Church, and Springfield City Hall. Later the library would share the building with the Health Department. On February 16, 1992, the Springfield City Commission voted to leave the Library System and the Springfield Library became a city library. Several years later, the Springfield Library rejoined the Library System, but the staff remained city employees. A public library for
Panama City Beach was the goal of many civic-minded volunteers and hardworking city officials. The first official meeting of the Advisory Board of the Panama City Beach Public Library took place on October 3, 1978. The members Dan Russell, Jane Patton (NWRLS Director), Robert Young, Mildred Russell, Julian Bennett, Jim Johnson, and W.H. Kampbell elected Peggy McCabe chair and Joe Sitton co-chair. On October 20, 1978, Peggy McCabe announced the City of Panama City Beach had designated a parcel of city land at the corner of Firenzo and Highway 79 as the library site. A new library was built at Panama City Beach in the 1980s. The people of Panama City Beach were requesting their own library. At first, the Northwest Regional Library System sent their bookmobile to the Beach and staffed it with a volunteer. Each day, an employee of the library would meet the staff member to assist in providing library service to the community. The Bookmobile service began in 1981. In October 1978, a piece of land was designated on Highway 79 as the site of the future library. The City of Panama City Beach came to an agreement to pay the library's utility bill, which came to an estimated $3,000-$5,000 per year. The community then needed to raise the cost of construction, which was an estimated $200,000 for a building that was 5,000 square feet. By 1992, three more counties withdrew from the system;
Washington and
Holmes county, and the Lynn Haven library. Holmes County would join Calhoun and Jackson County in the PPLCS. == Programs and Services ==