Panama City Beach leaders have rejected a proposal to replace physical fiction books with digital databases, choosing instead to keep the beloved Middle Beach Road library fully intact after a massive wave of community support.
Following an overwhelming turnout of passionate residents at Tuesday’s city council meeting, officials voted to keep physical books on the shelves rather than clearing them out to make room for other municipal projects.
The controversy began last week during a city budget meeting, where some council members floated the idea of moving the library’s entire adult fiction section to a digital, online database. The proposal aimed to free up building space for park and recreation initiatives.
However, the suggestion was met with immediate backlash from community members who argued that physical books are irreplaceable and that rearranging the library was not the answer.
“We wanted to get the best use possible...that was the initial thinking,” said Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer, reflecting on the initial proposal. “Again, inarticulately expressed. I think some folks got really concerned.”
Dozens of residents attended Tuesday’s meeting to make their voices heard during public comment, firmly demanding that the library remain unchanged.
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