Blog Entries

Library Buildings Open with Limited Services, Hours, and Occupancy

We are excited to announce our Phase Three opening plans in accordance with Governor Ralph Northam’s directive to the Commonwealth. The library system's buildings are open with limited services and adjusted public hours and building occupancy outlined below. 

Curbside pick-up service will discontinue on July 8th so library staff can carefully adjust and fully focus on serving patrons inside the building following social distancing and other safety guidelines.  Patrons will be asked to limit their time inside the building to one hour. Face masks will be re... Read Full Post

NEW Library Out Loud! Podcast - Youth Summer Reading

I sat down (virtually) with Donna and Katie to talk about the exciting youth summer reading for kids and teens.  We talked prizes, how to enroll, a few tools for parents and kids for fun and education during the summer, and more!

You can listen to the podcast on YouTube below or on SoundCloud here.

 

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Virtual Author Talk to Focus on What it Means to be an American

Handley Regional Library System and the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System is excited to partner with 1455 A Place for Writers on their next virtual author talk with Chris Register on his book Conversations with US.  The free program will run on June 27th at 3PM on Handley Regional Library System’s Facebook page (@handleyregional). The heart of Conversations with US beats with the words of hundreds of everyday people offering their thoughts on what it means to be American. After nearly 400 interviews and a cumulative year on the road, Register is now working to share the st...

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May Community Usage Stats are Available

May proved a busy month as we prepared for curbside pick-up and opened up our outside book returns.  Our digital library usage continues to grow while the buildings are closed to the public.  Look below for just a snapshot of community usage!

Download the infographic here.

 

 

If you have any questions on the stats here, or if you're a member of the media requiring more information, contact the Public Relations Department at mswain@handleyregional.org. 

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Top 15 Hoopla Titles from May

Hoopla is our 24/7 streaming platform for movies, music, TV, eBooks, audiobooks, and comics.  The top 15 titles borrowed by our community are below.  You can use Hoopla today with your library card.  Visit www.handleyregional.org/hoopla to begin streaming on your mobile device or computer.

And yes, the top title is I Need a New Butt! 

About I Need a New Butt!

A young boy suddenly notices a big problem - his butt has a huge crack! So he sets off to find a new one. Will he choose an armor-plated butt? A rocket butt? A robot butt? Find out in...

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Storytime Grab-And-Go Kits Available for Weekly Curbside Pick-up at the Library

We are excited to announce Storytime Grab-and-Go Kits designed for kids 6 and under.  The interactive kits include extension activities that go with library storytime themes packed with extra rhymes, songs, stories, and craft ideas.  New kits are released every week and supplies are limited with 1-kit per family each week with curbside pick-up via appointment.

Patrons can reserve their kit and appointment through the library calendar on the homepage at www.handleyregional.org with pick-up days on Tuesday at Handley Library, Wednesdays at Clarke County Library, and Thursd...

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Curbside Pick-Up Appointments and Online Borrowing

NOTE:  Curbside pick-up will be ending on July 8th as our buildings will be open to the public starting this day with limited services, hours, and occupancy.  See www.handleyregional.org/welcomeback for details.

We are excited to announce the implementation of contactless curbside pick-up of up physical materials by appointment at all library locations. Patrons will be able to place holds for items either online or by phone to the Bowman Library, 540.869.9000, ext., 4; Clarke County Library, 540.955.5144; or Handley Library 540.662.9041, ext. 10.  Books, digital L...

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April Community Usage Stats

The library system is pleased to highlight the stats below for April.  If you have any questions on these stats, or if you are reporter working on a story for the library and need access to other service or program data we might have, contact mswain@handleyregional.org. 

Download the complete infographic here.

 

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Virtual Adult Summer Reading Program

Our Adult Summer Reading Program starts Memorial Day on Monday, May 25th through Labor Day on September 7th.  Adults 18+ will have a chance to win prizes based on reading logs they complete and turn in listing the number of books, eBooks, and audiobooks they read. Prizes include a variety of gift cards to Netflix, Roma’s, Dominoes, Pizzoco, and more.  Registration opens May 25th at www.handleyregional.org/asrp2020.

Reading logs are due by September 9th and each completed log is a chance to win. Participants will receive their reading logs through email or mail and comple...

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Virtual Summer Reading Program Announced for Kids and Teens

Our annual summer reading program for kids and teens with the theme of “Imagine Your Story” begins on May 30th with a special day-long virtual kick-off program called Rally for Reading on Facebook and Instagram @handleyregional. 

The summer reading program will run through August 6th and will feature a mix of virtual programs for kids and teens including interactive storytimes and puppet shows, teen-led art programs and video game nights, STEAM activities from home, and more surprises.  Virtual and live programs can be viewed online through Facebook @handleyregional.&nbs...

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Digital Library Workshops for Adults to Focus on Streaming Movies, Music, eBooks, and Audiobooks

We have several new virtual programs for adults on social media @handleyregional on Facebook coming up – all focused on helping adults using the  Digital Library to enjoy movies, eBooks, audiobooks, and more.  All programs are free and open to the public. 

Hoopla Virtual Workshop - Wed. May 27 - 6pm-7pm

Want to learn more about our new online streaming service Hoopla? Tune in with us on Facebook LIVE to learn how to access online eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming movies and TV shows for free with your library card!

Kindle Virtual Workshop - Wed...

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Virtual Programs for Kids & Teens

We have several new virtual programs for kids and teens on social media @handleyregional on Facebook this week.  All programs are free and open to the public.  Registration may be required.

Programs for Kids and Teens

Monday 5/18 at 6PM:  Teen Drawing Club on Discord.  Join a teen led drawing tutorial and challenge with a weekly online showcase!

Tuesday 5/19 at 12PM:    QuaranTeen Cuisine.  Teens can learn how to make pizza sticks at home from our special cook.

Wednesday 5/20 at 11AM:  Storytime and Puppets...

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Outside Book Returns to Open May 18th at all Handley Regional Library System Locations

Winchester, VA (May 14, 2020) – Handley Regional Library System is ready for patrons to return their borrowed items to the library starting Monday, May 18th.  The outside book returns at Bowman Library, Handley Library, and Clarke County Library will be unlocked as the library system continues with several stages to open the physical library buildings to the public. In this stage, book drops will be emptied several times each day and returned items will be quarantined and sanitized before returning to the shelves for the next check-out.  No late fees will be charged to patron...

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Virtual Book Talk - The Midwife of Hope River and Author Patricia Harman

We are excited to announce the next virtual book talk with author Patricia Harman on May 16th at 2PM on Facebook Live @handleyregional.  Add to your calendar here.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System, Harman will speak on The Midwife of Hope River, her novel about a midwife working in rural poverty during the Depression relying on her gift: the chance to escort mothers through the challenges of childbirth.

Harman has spent over thirty years caring for women as a midwife, first as a lay-midwife, and later as a nurse-midwife in teaching hos...

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1455 A Place for Writers Continues Author Talks Virtually

We are excited to announce the next 1455 A Place for Writers author talk as Jeanne McCulloch, who will read from her memoir All Happy Families on May 14th at 6PM on Facebook Live @handleyregional. 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System, 1455 Founder Sean Murphy will be moderating the virtual program discussing the literary landscape and process behind writing the book. 

“We are delighted to continue to offer author talks to the community,” says Barbara Dickinson, Executive Director of the Friends of the Handley Regional Library Syste...

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