Blog Entries

Poetry is a great example of Aristotle’s concept that “The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts.” Individual words have their meanings but when they are strung together using cadence and rhyme to form a poem, the “whole” is definitely greater. Poems connect the head to the heart, ideas to emotions, and our senses to places.

I enjoy introducing patrons just starting off with our Blue Ridge Download Consortium to OverDrive’s Libby app. With the app, patrons can easily browse, borrow, and read (or listen) to free, downloadable library books.

When I think about my own reading interests, I tend toward books containing elements of fantasy, supernatural, humor, and a touch of science fiction and mystery. It’s always nice reading genres I enjoy since it is both comforting and entertaining. But I also work at a place where I’m surrounded by all sorts of reading materials, and one of the services we provide here at the library is assisting patrons in finding new things to read. If I’m only reading certain types of books, how can I best help other people explore new titles?

If you haven’t discovered Hoopla yet, you’re in for a real treat. We've added Hoopla streaming to our already abundant digital library options for patrons to access. With more than 300,000 movies, television shows, ebooks, audio books, music, comics, and more, your digital world just got enhanced by leaps and bounds!

For families of all ages, a global pandemic can be alarming and confusing. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been spreading throughout the United States now, specifically, and has led to school and public closures. The uncertainty of this national and global situation can induce more anxiety in our kids. However, learning how to talk about what is going on and what to do next can be the first step that grown-ups can take to lead to better understanding for families with kids.

The census is a count of every person who lives in the United States and its territories. It happens every 10 years. It's not too late to respond but you need to act quickly! Data collection for self-reporting and nonresponse followup will end September 30th. In early 2020, you were asked to count everyone who lived in your home as of April 1. Responding to the 2020 Census is a chance to shape your future. It even helps secure funding for your local public library! For the first time, you can complete the census online, by phone, or by mail.

Water is life, yet we very much take water for granted in the developed parts of the world. March 22nd is World Water Day, a yearly reminder that this precious resource is vital to survival. Water as a subject is broad and deep. It appears in the title of books on spirituality and religion; flows through science; policy and current events; swirls around fish, oceans, marine mammals, birds and all the wildlife that also depend on water for their existence.

Every year since 1998, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society have sponsored the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). About the GBBC (taken from their website): “The GBBC was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.

Each year the Handley Regional Library System participates in the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program (TFOP). Recent changes from TFOP mean we're receiving fewer tax forms in print. Although the Internal Revenue Service is not able to supply libraries with the full range of printed tax forms, instruction booklets, and tax publications provided in the past, we will still be happy to assist you during this tax prep season. Library staff can assist with locating and printing online tax forms but are not able to give advice regarding the forms that you might need.

When it comes to the latest films, the library has them. The latest Marvel films? Check. Summer blockbusters? Check. But don’t forget about the smaller films. As a movie lover I enjoy discovering new and different things to watch, so this month I have some selections that caught me by surprise from last year. If you’re looking for something different to watch here are some titles I recommend:

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?

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.

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.

What to read?

This age old question has new solutions. The library now subscribes to a feature called NoveList. NoveList can be reached from the HRLS homepage by hovering over “Research & Learn” then under “Subjects” click on “Reviews and Recommendations.”

October is that time of year where I find myself watching mostly horror movies. While I never used to consider myself a horror fan, over the years I’ve discovered there are many different types of horror films. Not all horror movies have to be just frightening or disturbing. Some can be rather fun and entertaining. With Autumn officially here and Halloween not too far off, it’s a great time to delve into our horror film catalog.