Blog Entries

Middle Grade Book Spotlight--Hispanic Heritage Month Authors!!!

With it being Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th-October 15th), our middle grade book spotlight this week is on books that are authored by Latino and Latina authors!!!  These books are amazing and so many of these authors have written more than just the titles that are being featured--so if you like this one there are others you can read as well.  We have some stand alones and other titles are the beginning of a series.  These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youthhispanicheritage as well as on Libby and Hoopla.  Check back ...

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Pirates Storytime Week!

Ahoy maties! We be excited this week t' take sail as pirates 'n we 'ave some great programs, books, 'n shanties t' share wit' ye. Skewer on the search bar above 'n type #ahoymatey fer a list o' great books ye can check out.

Here be a look at our fall pre-reader programs. Ye can find more information about each program or register where ye need on our library calendar. 

Here be a look at some o' the pirate shanties 'n fingerplays fer our young sailors!

A Pirate Went to Sea Tongue Twister
A pirate went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he ...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--Diaries & Journals!!!

Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is all about books that are written in a diary/journal format.  While many of us are very familiar with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, it was not the first to have a book written as a journal nor is it the only one out there.  We are taking a look at some amazing historical, realistic, and humorous titles that are delivered as though they were written in a diary or journal by the main character which can be a fun way to read a book.  These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youthdiarystories as well as...

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Superheroes Storytime Week!

Get ready superhero-super-readers! We have a storytime this week for you. All week long we'll be reading books and singing songs about our superpowered friends and you can bring the power of your library card along to take home some great books to read while you're visiting. Type into the search bar above, #superheroessave for some great titles you can check out. 

Here is a look at our fall pre-reader programs. You can find more information about each program or register where requested on our library calendar. 

Here is a look at some of the superhero songs and...

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Extracurricular Activities Fair will be held at the Handley branch on September 18th

Handley Regional Library System will be presenting an Extracurricular Activities Fair in the Handley Library Children’s Room on September 18, 2021, from 2 PM to 4 PM for all ages. 

Do you know what activity you're doing after school this year? Find out at this open house event. Ask questions, try out the activity, and get price breakdowns from local community organizations all in one convenient place. 

Some of the organizations in attendance include: 

Armstrong Irish Dance Academy (live interactive dance demo at 3 PM)  Blue Ridge United So... Read Full Post

Middle Grade Book Spotlight--Colorful Covers!!!

Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is focused on books that have some amazing Colorful Covers!!!  Let’s be real here for a minute because we all judge and choose a book on the front cover (most of the time) even though we are told not to do so, but that can honestly lead us to read some books that we would not have picked up otherwise.  Since we are choosing these books based on their front covers, then we have an amazing selection that are all completely different from realistic to humor, fantasy, horror and even some award winners!  These books and more can be foun...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--September 11th

Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is focused on  books that examine the events of September 11, 2001.  As we approach the 20th anniversary of that fateful Tuesday, it is a date that should be remembered and examined as everything changed at home and abroad by the end of that day.  Books are an amazing way of not only reflecting but also learning about that day and the events that took place as many of you may not be old enough to remember what happened and is just a mention or a blip in your history class or textbook; for those of us who were alive and knew what was h...

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We're having a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation!

HRLS will be presenting a very special celebration at the Bowman Library branch in the Children’s Room on September 11, 2021, at 11 AM for young children who completed the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge.

“We will be celebrating those children and their families who completed the challenge to read and/or listen to 1000 books before they go to kindergarten, which is quite a feat! The library system has not been able to hold this graduation in over a year, so it is very exciting to be able to celebrate this huge goal with the children,” said Donna Hughes, Youth Services Sup...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--Graphic Novels!!!

Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is focused on graphic novels!!!  Graphic novels are incredibly visual stories that can feature pretty much anything fiction and nonfiction.  Done in the style of comic books, there is a huge variety of choices; literally something for everyone so even if you have never read one before, you will definitely be able to find something.  For our talk this week, we have a great selection of nonfiction, fantasy, historical, humor, and realistic to get you started.  These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the sea...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--On the Ocean!!!

Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is focused on books that take place in or on the ocean leading to some pretty epic adventures!  When something takes place on the open water, it leads to scenarios that are filled with danger and choices which could lead to life or death given the limited options.  We have a great selection of titles this week, ranging from historical, adventure, realistic, and nonfiction.  These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youthseaadventure as well as on Libby and Hoopla.  Check back next week for a...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--New Books Pt. 5!!!

Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is focused on  books that have recently been added to our collection meaning they are new!!!!  New books are the best; they have a new book smell and there is just something about being one of the first people to read it.  There is a great mix of fantasy, realistic, adventure, and graphic novels this week; there is literally something for everyone!  These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #2021youthnewbooks as well as on Libby and Hoopla.  Check back next week for a new Middle Grade bo...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--Tales That Inspire!!!

Our middle grade book spotlight this week is all about Tales That Inspire!!!  This is the final week for the 2021 Summer Reading Program and we are using this week as a launching point for you all to be inspired going into the new school year!  Inspiration means something different to everyone; some people will want to try new things while others may take on a challenge to better themselves and the world around them or maybe you just need some encouragement to get you through the day or even as you look down the road into the future.  These titles are ones that you can use to...

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Tails & Tales of Pet Pals Storytime!

This week we’re taking care of our family animal friends. Our pet pals! 

We’re in our last week of our summer reading program, log your reading through the Beanstack App. This week’s badge challenge is Tails & Tales of Pet Pals, and you can complete the activities when you log on to Beanstack, go to the Summer 2021-Tails & Tales for Pre-Readers challenge, scroll down a bit and click on "Badges", then click on "Activity Badges." You'll then look for the Pet Pals badge:

Click on the badge and choose any three of the following cha...

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Tails & Tales of the Seven Seas!

Are you ready to read this week? This week we’re going to tell some tales of the Seven Seas!

Time is running out for our summer reading program, but there is still time left to read, log, and win. Head  to HandleyRegional.org/YouthSummerReading for all the details on how you can earn virtual raffle tickets towards prizes and free books from the library as you log your reading through the Beanstack App. 

This week’s badge challenge is Tails & Tales of the Seven Seas, and you can complete the activities when you log on to Beanstack, go to ...

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Middle Grade Book Spotlight--Tales From New Places!!!

Our middle grade book spotlight this week is all about Tales of New Places!!!  We are taking a look at books that take place in other places that are not here; they are in other parts of the world or even in places that do not exist in the “real world” but only in “book world”.  That is one of the best things about books--they can go as far as our imaginations let them.  We have a great selection this week of fantasy, mythology, and adventure; a mixture of stand alone titles as well as some firsts in a series.  By the time you are done reading some of these titles, you w...

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