Blog Entries

We will celebrate Diwali and the Festival of Lights during a program for kids and families on October 26^th at 11AM at Bowman Library. The whole family can enjoy stories, songs, food, decorations and dance while exploring the Indian holiday. The free program also features the youth puppeteer troupe.  The activities support early literacy skill development. This family event is developed and shared to foster a love of books, libraries and reading.

More information can be found at www.handleyregional.org/kids. 

Lights have played an important role in celebrations for many cultures throughout history. This weekend the Bowman Library will be highlighting the Diwali Festival of Lights at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 26^th.

On Saturday, October 26th at 2:00 PM, the Handley Library will host the Festival of Magic Show featuring many magical appearances and fun for all ages. To prepare for the spellbinding show, here are five facts about magic to enjoy. 

1. The word “magic” is derived from the Greek word “mageia.”

We have a new series designed just for adults called Small Space Living.  Free and open to the public, the first workshop is called Small Space Living Series:  Organization, and is led by Chuck Lehrer from ClutterTroopers. This workshop is geared toward young adults who live in a small apartment or share a space with roommates, or for older individuals who are downsizing to a smaller living space than they are accustomed to. This program is at Handley Library on October 24^th 6:30PM.

The Heimat-Handley Quartet will be performing chamber music at Handley Library on October 19^th, February 22^nd at the Barns of Rose Hill with Clarke County Library, and April 25^th at Bowman Library. Each performance begins at 2PM. The Heimat Quartet was founded during the fall of 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.  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.

PBS film Dark Money will be screened on October 17^th at 6:00PM at Handley Library. The movie showing is free and open to the public and a discussion will follow. Dark Money examines one of the greatest present threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials. The film takes viewers to the front line in the fight to preserve fair elections nationwide. The screening is sponsored by the Friends of the Handley Regional Library System.

The last class in the ongoing Tech Tuesdays series at Handley Regional Library System is Stump the Chump. Here, attendees can ask the toughest or most pestering tech questions about their laptop or mobile device. The opportunities are endless! Free and open to the public, the class is led by George Williams from Senior Technology Services on October 15^th  at 11AM at Bowman Library.  Don’t forget to bring your laptop or mobile device.

Handley Regional Library System announces “Just for the Health of it”, a day showcasing the area’s health, safety, and family resources from the local community on October 21^st at Handley Library and October 29^th at Bowman Library – both from 10AM-4PM.  Aids Response Effort, The Child Care Network, Healthy Families NSV, The Laurel Center, Project Lifesaver, Shenandoah Community Health, Dr, Terry Sinclair Health Clinic, and Winchester Parks and Recreation Department will be meeting with patrons to offer free resources and information.

Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, corn and more! It's harvest time and the farmer's markets are bustling with business. This week at Handley Regional Library storytimes we'll celebrate the harvest with books, music, and fun! 

Although the American Library Association's "Library Card Sign-Up Month" has officially passed, your library card is better now than ever! Did you know that using your FREE library card is worth more than just books? Our special collections are as easy to check-out as your average library book! Which collections below have you checked out? 

October is Health Literacy Month. This makes it the perfect time to discover how the library can help you stay healthy and live well.  Join us for Just For The Health of It. And check out these great resources to help you live your best.

Magazines and eMagazines

Handley Regional Library System expands their portable Wi-Fi device check out program with T-Mobile devices – available for patrons to borrow for 7 days at Handley Library.

If you're a dog lover, or just a lover of books about dogs, head over to Bowman, Handley, or Clarke County library for storytimes this week! We have songs, activities, and some wonderful stories to share about our furry, wet-nosed pals. 

The next class in the ongoing Tech Tuesdays series at Handley Regional Library System is Understanding the Cloud – including Gmail and Google Drive Basics at Bowman Library. Free and open to the public, the class is led by George Williams from Senior Technology Services on October 8^th  at 11AM. Google Drive and Cloud Services will be explained. Attendees will also learn to manage their Inbox, download attachments, and other email basics. One-on-one assistance will be provided after to get help setting up an email account.