Blog Entries

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

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.

The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley are again partnering to host Shenandoah Valley Heritage Day on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV).

A free showing of The Quiet Man will show at Handley Library on March 7^th 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. 

Once every four years in February, we LEAP into an extra day! This week at HRLS Storytimes, come hear some books that will get you ready for some jumping, hopping, and leaping through the calendar. 

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.

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 29^th 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.

The Heimat-Handley Quartet will be performing chamber music at Barns of Rose Hill in Clarke County on February 22^nd 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.

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

Big construction machines are a fascination for most young children and we'll indulge and encourage this love all week at Handley Regional Library Storytimes! Head over to one of our three locations for a storytime event and pick up some great construction books while you're there.

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.

Skidamarink a dink a dink, Skidamarink a doo. I love you!

The next book drop-off date at Bowman Library (Stephens City) has been announced as February 15^th 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.

We are celebrating Black History Month with a unique program called Black Artist Spotlight, where kids can learn about and create their own artwork in the style of famous Black artists. 

The programs will focus on Faith Ringgold, famous for using quilting techniques to create her artwork, on February 11th and Kara Walker, famous for creating massive silhouettes, on February 25^th.

There will be a preschool open house on February 8^th at 2PM at Handley Library. Families can meet with teachers and staff from local preschools and daycares as they consider their options before enrolling. Children are welcome to attend to try out different school activities and get to know potential new teachers.  The program is free and open to the public.