Blog Entries

Now that days are short there's more time for inside activities. Cold weather makes a warm kitchen that much more enjoyable. Why not try a new dish? It used to be ingredients featured in international recipes were hard to come by. A surprising number of exotic spices and international flavorings are now available in our local grocery stores. We have hundreds of cookbooks in the HRLS collection; dozens feature cuisines from other countries. Looking for a new pasta sauce? Korean BBQ? Real Irish food? Asian wraps and rolls? African Flavors? German baking? Mexican favorites?

Celebrate Old Town Holly Jolly at Handley Library!

We have Christmas movies and crafts during Old Town Holly Jolly at Handley Library on December 14^th.  The program for kids and families is from 1PM-3PM and is free and open to the public.

There is a unique Sunday performance at Bowman Library from the Apple Valley Ringers. Free and open to the public, the performance is on December 15^th from 2PM-4PM. This choir was formed several years ago and is comprised of hand bell choir members from five churches. These talented musicians performed to a packed house in previous years and are making another return for this holiday season. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System.

RFID System Improves Material Availability, Faster Customer Service, and More Individual Help with Library Programs and Services

A travelling exhibit, the first in a series, will be coming to the Bowman Library on December 10^th. On loan from the Library of Virginia, the exhibit is called Teetotalers & Moonshiners: Prohibition in Virginia, Distilled and consists of a series of informative banners on the Prohibition Era in Virginia from 1916 to 1933. It will be featured in the lobby of the Bowman Library for the next month and a companion exhibit which was prepared by our archivists will be on display at the Handley branch on the lower level outside of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archive.

At the end of the season the staff (and puppets!) take a brief break from storytimes as we prepare for the next exciting set of storytime themes. Meanwhile, we welcome all of our pint sized patrons and parents to keep heading over to the library each week to enjoy some informal play times with blocks and other activities! While you're there, the library staff will be present to help you select some great books to take home. 

With the holidays approaching and whispers of snow in the air, make sure that everyone has something to read. The Handley Regional Library System has many eBooks available for children and teens when you cannot make it to the library. All you need is your library card and your PIN to access most eBooks through the library website or library apps such as Libby from Overdrive. Don’t remember your PIN?

We have a unique author talk with Norman Fine on his new book, Blind Bombing on December 14^th at 2PM at Handley Library. Fine tells the little-known story of how microwave radar got the Allies to D-Day in WWII, despite initial apathy and even opposition by many in the entrenched military establishments of Britain and the United States. The program is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and provided by Winchester Book Gallery. The talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System.

We are excited to announce the next Little Noon Music performer as Madeline Macneil on December 13^th at 12:15 at Handley Library. Madeline is a treasure as a performer. Known for her talents as a singer and performer on the hammered and fretted dulcimers, she is equally well known for the warmth and generosity with which she shares her music and encourages others to play and sing. The performance is free and open to the public.

We have a free holiday program for teens, Ugly Festive Party, at Bowman Library on December 13^th at 5:30PM. Gamers can rotate throughout the console, tabletop, and computer games, bring a gift to share ($5 or less), and dress in their holiday worst or best! This program is intended for middle school and high school youth and is free and open to the public.

We are excited to announce a special dance performance by Shenandoah University students. The Junior BFA choreography class will present their second evening of projects, 6 X 6, at Handley Library on December 12th at 7pm. This evening will showcase 11 new dances created by the students, using a 6 x 6 wood platform and working with trios or quartets. The students are continuing their choreographic process and language investigations with these projects and it promises to be an exciting and unique dance performance to experience. The performance is free and open to the public.

This week at HRLS storytimes, all branches will be celebrating some holiday cheer

 full of music and celebration! 

At Handley Regional Library System, we want to say “Thank you!” to all of our wonderful patrons of all sizes. You give us reason to give thanks every day.  In that spirit of gratitude, we will share some of our favorite books about gratitude and thankfulness this week.

“Patient and long we waited for the day/ When the saloons should all be wiped away,” begins The Doom of the Saloon, one of several song scores to be found in the book Best Temperance Songs, published in 1913.   This book and many other prohibition related items are featured in the latest exhibit by the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives.

Need A Resume?  We’ve Got You Covered!

If you are looking for a job, having a stand out resume is a critical first step on the journey. At the Library, we have tools to get you on your way.