Blog Entries

The next class in the ongoing Tech Tuesdays series at Handley Regional Library System is Understanding the Cloud – including Gmail and Google Drive Basics at Bowman Library. Free and open to the public, the class is led by George Williams from Senior Technology Services on October 8^th  at 11AM. Google Drive and Cloud Services will be explained. Attendees will also learn to manage their Inbox, download attachments, and other email basics. One-on-one assistance will be provided after to get help setting up an email account.

Our next author talk will be on October 14^th at 6;30PM at Handley Library. Author Sue Jaffarian will talk about her recent book Finding Zelda and about writing on the road full-time. Jaffarian is the author of three critically acclaimed mystery series:  The Odelia Grey, the Ghost of Granny Apples, and the Madison Rose Vampire Mysteries. She also writes the Winnie Wilde romance series, as well as general fiction and short stories. The program is free and open to the public.

It's the return of the fall event for kids, Handley Harvest Hoedown, on Monday October 14^th at 4:30PM at Handley Library!

Families can celebrate the season with a puppet show, interactive craft stations, balloon twists from Characters by Chelsea, face painting by Face Paint by Rachel, meet the Chik-fil-a Cow, and the first 100 kids receive a goody bag from Virginia Farm Market with apples and other prizes. The event is free and open to the public.

Add this event to your calendar here.

The Friends of the Handley Regional Library System announce the Fall Used Book Sale at Bowman Library. The sale runs October 8-12 and features thousands of gently books, DVDs, sheet music, and more. Prices are between .50 cents and $2.00. Payment is accepted in cash, check, or credit card. Inventory is restocked daily so you can shop all 5 days.  Donations cannot be accepted during the sale.  The hours are the same as Bowman Library; October 8-10, 10AM-8PM and October 11-12, 10AM-5PM.

The next class in the ongoing Tech Tuesdays series at Handley Regional Library System is All Things Apple – iPhones and iPads at Bowman Library. Free and open to the public, the class is led by George Williams from Senior Technology Services on October 1^st at 11AM. This week, George will be joined by Apple OS expert and Sprint Branch Manager Thomas Robinson who works hands-on with Apple products on a daily basis. 

Fall is here and for some that means pumpkin spice, falling leaves, harvests, and the return of warm sweaters. For others, it means football, basketball, soccer and more!

Last week, Craig Cobb and his family visited the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives from Indiana. While here they donated a personal account of the Battle of Cedar Creek written by Mr. Cobb's ancestor, B. F. [Benjamin Franklin] Cobb, in 1907.

Bowman Library was delighted to host Donna Day from Access Independence as part of Deaf Awareness week for our Top 10 Signs Everyone Should Know Workshop. The attendees had a great time learning about American Sign Language, facial expressions, ASL Grammar, and even playing a game. Participants had fun practicing the signs they learned together and asking questions on how to say different phrases and terms that apply to their everyday life. Donna taught the alphabet, how to ask a question, vocabulary words, colors, everyday phrases and more.

Our next DIY crafting workshop is Fall Decorations: Natural Gourd Display on October 5^th at 2PM at Bowman Library. The hands-on workshop is free and open the public and is designed for adults. Attendees will learn how to turn a plain gourd into a centerpiece or accent piece for your home at Halloween or Thanksgiving. Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners Association will demonstrate to attendees how to paint a gourd, use stencils, and how to mod podge materials onto gourds.

Handley Regional Library System and the Friends of the Handley Regional Library announce a unique book talk and reception on October 4^th at 3PM at Handley Library. Thompson M. Mayes, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for the National Trust for Historic Preservation will discuss recent book Why Old Places Matter: How Historic Places Affect Our Identity and Well-Being.  This is free and open to the public.

The Winchester Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Friends of Handley Regional Library System are co-sponsoring a Candidates’ Forum for candidates who are running for the Virginia House of Delegates from the 10th, 29th, and 33rd Districts and for the Virginia Senate in the 27th District. The public forum will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Handley Library Robinson Auditorium. This is not a debate; the purpose of the forum is to allow voters to learn more about the candidates and their positions.

We've released our annual statistics representing library usage and patron engagement from the recent fiscal year, July 2018-June 2019. The statistics are summarized below and are tracked at length to report on community usage, funding requests, and overall system performance.  The stats reflect usage at Bowman Library, Clarke County Library, and Handley Library. 

1455 A Place for Writers Author Series at Handley Library continues with Ronnie Citron-Fink, who will read from her book True Roots: What Quitting Hair Dye Taught Me about Health and Beauty. This free program for adults is on September 26^th at 6PM at Handley Library. Founding 1455 Director, Sean Murphy, and the author will discuss the process of writing this book, the contemporary literary scene, followed by an open Q&A. Copies of Ronnie’s book will be available for sale and signing, courtesy of the Winchester Book Gallery.

Handley Regional Library System and Shenandoah University Conservatory's Dance Division will present a collection of solos that will showcase original dance compositions created by members of the dance class of 2022. Free and open to the public, the performance will be at Handley Library at 3PM on October 1^st. This concert celebrates diversity and inclusion.

As we continue our Toy Story celebration of "Library Card Sign-up Month" here at Handley Regional Library System, we will turn towards one of the most beloved toys of the last century, teddy bears!