Blog Entries

Listen: WINC FM Interview with John Huddy

In just about 3-minutes, you can hear the Community Corner interview with Barry Lee and John Huddy, Director of Handley Regional Library System.  John talks about current library operations, our 24/7 Digital Library, our new streaming service, and more.

... Read Full Post

Letter to the Community

Dear Residents of Frederick and Clarke Counties and Winchester City,

I’m writing today to provide an update on the operations and service availability of Handley Regional Library System.  The information in this letter has been carefully considered as we protect the health and safety of our staff and patrons due to COVID-19 – and reflect unified decisions made by Library staff and the Library System Board. 

As previously communicated, all library buildings are closed to the public, including to volunteers, and we have made the intentional decision to suspend o...

Read Full Post

Virtual and Live Programs for Kids & Teens

Our Youth Services team has been hard at work planning to bring the library world to you! 

Follow us on all social accounts (Facebook and Instagram are @handleyregional) and join us for the following programs:

Tuesday, March 31 at 2PM on Instagram Live

Kid Lit Reviews: Want to know what you should read next? Hear from kids your age that have sent in reviews in their own words of their favorite reads!

Wednesday, April 1 at 11AM on Facebook Live

Storytime and Puppets: Colorful Crayons is the theme this week in storytime. Join us ...

Read Full Post

Important - Library Buildings Closed to the Public - Holds are Suspended

Updated:  March 30, 2020 2:34PM

Handley Regional Library System Operations Update Regarding the Coronavirus Response

Read the complete letter from John Huddy, Director of Handley Regional Library System.

HOLDS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Due to safety and staffing levels, physical library materials are no longer available to be placed on hold. 

RETURN OF MATERIALS

We are no longer accepting returns at the outside book drops.  The book drops are now locked.  Please hold on to these materials safely until we annou...

Read Full Post

Stream 300,000 Movies, TV Shows, Music, eBooks, Audio Books, & More

We are excited to announce today the official release of a new streaming service called Hoopla Digital – expanding their online digital portfolio of materials to patrons. Library card holders of all ages can now access a massive digital library of over 300,000 movies, TV shows, eBooks, Audio Books, comics, and music online at www.hoopladigital.com at no cost. There are no wait times and patrons can borrow up to 3 items per month.  Content can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device, or platform by downloading the Hoopla Digital app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast...

Read Full Post

Magic Lantern Theater Presents That’s Dancing at Handley Library

The Friends of the Handley Regional Library System and Magic Lantern Theater are pleased to bring That’s Dancing! to Handley Library on March 14th at 2PM.  Free and open to the public, the film is a documentary about dancing on the screen, from its origins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s up to the break dance and the music videos from the 80s.  Gene Kelly hosts a compendium of great moments of dancing in the movies, from Busby Berkeley to Astaire & Rogers to the Nicholas Brothers to Sammy Davis Jr. and Jo...

Read Full Post

Emily Martin and Friends

The Friends of the Handley Regional Library System is pleased to bring the next Little Noon Music, Emily Martin and Friends, to Bowman Library. The performance is on March 13th at 12:15 and is free and open to the public. Based in the Washington DC region, Emily Martin, of The Martin Family Band, carries on the tradition of playing, teaching and performing. Her styles include Old Time Appalachian traditional music and Irish music on the mandolin, mountain dulcimer, tenor banjo and voice. Emily will be joined by Josh Henderson on guitar, bass and vocals and Elora Martin on Irish Flute and vo...

Read Full Post

1455 A Place for Writers with Thorpe Moeckel and Jessica Van Eerden at Handley Library

The next 1455 A Place for Writers Author Talk will be at Handley Library on March 7th at 3PM. Sponsored by the Friends of Handley Regional Library System, the program will feature authors Thorpe Moeckel and Jessie van Eerden. 1455’s Founding Director Sean Murphy and the authors will discuss the process of writing and the contemporary literary scene, followed by an open Q&A. Copies of their books will be available for sale by the Winchester Book Gallery.

About the Authors:

Thorpe Moeckel is the author of the nonfiction book Down by the Eno, Down by the Haw: A Wonder A...

Read Full Post

Online Public Facility Survey for Handley Library Location

Handley Regional Library System announces today an online public facility assessment for the historic Handley Library in downtown Winchester. The online public survey will help library administration gather responses as they evaluate the space use and configuration of Handley Library as they plan for the future. 

The public can complete the brief survey at www.handleyregional.org/handleylibrarysurvey until March 18, 2020.

“Great libraries evolve in how they deliver information, materials, and value to the communities they serve,” says John Huddy, Director of ...

Read Full Post

The Quiet Man to Show at Handley Library During Old Town Celtic Celebration

A free showing of The Quiet Man will show at Handley Library on March 7th at 12:30PM during Old Town Winchester’s Celtic Celebration. Free and open to the public, the movie tells the story of Irish-American boxer John Wayne, recovering from the trauma of having accidentally killed a man in the ring, returning to the Irish village where he was born. The movie is rated G, directed by John Ford, and is sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System and Magic Lantern Theater. 

... Read Full Post

SU Business Students Create Promotional Videos for Library System

Handley Regional Library System and a Design Thinking class at Shenandoah University’s Byrd School of Business collaborated on a project that resulted in students creating promotional videos for the library system to use for marketing purposes. The students of Professor Montressa Washington’s Design Thinking class took on the challenge to develop and create short videos to encapsulate the services of all three library locations to the general public.

Broken up into three groups, students produced two videos that would engage library patrons to use services and materials, attend pr...

Read Full Post

Scholastic Chess Tournament for Students to be Held at Handley Library

Handley Regional Library System announces the Scholastic Chess Tournament with the Shenandoah Valley Chess Club (local chess club that meets at Bowman Library and Handley Library) on February 29th at 10AM-5PM at Handley Library in Winchester. This event is for grades k-12 and all skill levels, with tournament rounds taking place and open chess play throughout the day.

Trophies will be awarded to top participants in the tournament. Tournament participants must register in advance at www.shenandoahvalleychess.org. The tournament is free and open to the public.    &nbs...

Read Full Post

Clarke County Library Brings Heimat - Handley Chamber Music to Barns of Rose Hill

The Heimat-Handley Quartet will be performing chamber music at Barns of Rose Hill in Clarke County on February 22nd at 2PM. The performance is part of Clarke County Library’s programming and is sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System.  All avid chamber musicians, each player brings a wide array of experience and renewed energy to both the music and the group playing violin and cello. The performance is free and open to the public.

Add the event to your calendar here.

... Read Full Post

Push Your "Shelf" Winter Challenge for Adults

For the month of February, adults can participate in a new program called Push Your “Shelf” at Handley Regional Library System.

The program gives adults the chance to experience new library services, check out library items outside of their comfort zone, and participate in different library activities by completing activity sheets. Many activities can be completed online if winter weather keeps you indoors. After completing activity sheets, adults can win Book Bucks to spend at the upcoming Used Book Sale in March, a branded HRLS book bag (while supplies last), and be entered to w...

Read Full Post

Book Drop-Off at Bowman Library

The next book drop-off date at Bowman Library (Stephens City) has been announced as February 15th at 9AM-12PM. You can bring gently used books, CDs, DVDs and electronic games. Donations will become part of the Spring Used Book Sale in March 2020.

... Read Full Post