The library will be closed on October 15th.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, founded in 1985, is an international health campaign to raise funds for research into its cause, treatment, and cure. The aim is to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer. In 1993, Evelyn Lauder founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and made the pink ribbon its symbol. In 2009, male breast cancer advocacy groups established the third week of October as "Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week."

WorldTeachers' Day is October 5th. Established in 1994, it commemorates the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which outlines standards for recruitment, training, and working conditions. World Teachers' Day aims to focus on appreciating, assessing, and improving the world's educators. It's a reminder that the right to education can't be realized without trained and qualified teachers.

Halloween is on October 31st. Activities include trick-or-treating, carving jack-o'-lanterns, and games. Some games originated as divination rituals, especially regarding death, marriage, and children. It was believed that the souls of the dead wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and to avoid being recognized by one that might be seeking vengeance, people would don masks or costumes. In Scotland, youths went house-to-house with masked or painted faces, threatening mischief if they weren't welcomed. The souls of the dead were also said to visit their homes. Places were set at the dinner table welcome them. In Ireland and Scotland, the turnip has traditionally been carved during Halloween, but immigrants to North America used the pumpkin. The lanterns represented spirits or were used to ward off evil spirits.

(via Wikipedia)

September Recap!

Welcome to our new staff member, Brenda! She'll be working at the Service Desk.

The 501st Legion Paraji Squad visited us in September!

FWB Library Open House

Our Open House will be on Monday, October 10th from 4-7 PM. You'll be able to mingle with our community partners, meet local authors, enter giveaways, and more! There will also be live music and food.

Fall Carnival

The City of FWB will host a Fall Carnival at the Rec Center on Friday, October 21 from 6-8 PM. There will be a Trick-or-Treat Trail, face painting, carnival games, and more! Grab your friends and costumes and join us for a fun evening! Please call 850-833-9576 for more information. The Rec Center is located at 132 Jet Drive NW.

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.

Library Groups

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

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 Needlecraft Group meets at 10 AM every Wednesday. For more information, email Maria Santos at [email protected].

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

The Children's Area

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

Lapsit is back! 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.

The Children's Halloween Party is on October 25th at 10:30 AM. The party is aimed at ages 0-7, but all kids may attend. Registration is required. There will be stories, crafts, and light refreshments. Please no scary costumes. Register in person, by calling the library and asking for Ms. Nancy or Ms. Meghan, or by visiting https://live-okaloosa.pantheonsite.io/events/upcoming?branches%5B99%5D=99.

The library is partnering with the Emerald Coast Science Center to host Girls Empowered with Math and Science (GEMS). From October 2022 to May 2023, kids 8-15 will learn about female scientists and their contributions to science and engineering. The free workshops are on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30 to noon. Registration is required. Call the library and ask for Ms. Nancy or Ms. Meghan to sign up or visi https://live-okaloosa.pantheonsite.io/events/upcoming?branches%5B99%5D=99.

Read with a Cop is every Wednesday at 4 PM. A Fort Walton Beach Police Officer will be here to read a story, then there will be an activity! No registration is required.

The next Teen Hangout is on October 8th at noon. Teens 12 and up are invited to play board games and put together puzzles with Ms. Meghan! Snacks are provided.

October New Release

From killer Edward Rulloff's humble beginnings in upstate New York to the life he established in New York City, he used his intelligence and regal bearing to evade detection and avoid punishment. But by 1871, Rulloff sat chained in a cell, while 19th-century "mindhunters" tried to understand him. Each one thought he held the key to understanding the question: is evil born or made? All That Is Wicked by Kate Winkler Dawson draws on source materials and historical documents to present one of the first glimpses into the mind of a serial killer (description via Amazon). While waiting for this to become available, read more true crime books in print or online at readokaloosa.org.