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Just for the Health Of It

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

A wealth of content is waiting for you. Most know we have books to checkout, but did you know we have magazines too? We have titles like Eating Well, Clean Eating, and Food Network to help you find the best meals. Others like Health, Diabetes Forecast, Men’s Health, and Natural Solutions to inform you on healthy living.  And for some fun physical activities we have titles like Backpacker, Bicycling, and Family Fun.  We also have Shape, Yoga Journal, and Spirituality and Health just to name a few.  Even better you can download many of these titles without having to leave home. Read titles like Eating Well, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health on your smart device. Visit our online magazine collection provided by  RBdigital

Video

Perhaps you are looking for the right video to lead you through a workout routine (yoga , dance , Pilates, even kickboxing  and belly dance - we have them) or maybe you are looking for a little help relaxing (tai chi, meditation , hypnosis - we have them too). We carry DVD titles like these plus more for handling stress, developing healthy life skills, and keeping children safe.

Interactive

Our digital library also includes video courses designed with wellness in mind. Universal Class  offers courses on Anti-Aging Techniques, Aromatherapy, Memory Improvement, Caring for Seniors, Life Coaching, and Lifetime Wellness as well as a host of others.

Music

Need the right soundtrack for your high energy workout? We also have sleep music, ambient music, and nature sounds available when you want to relax. You can check out music CDs from one of our branches or download music to your device from Freegal Music.

More Online

In addition to those already mentioned, the library offers a number of free online resources that can boost one’s overall wellness. We carry a number of databases  that search thousands of articles, encyclopedias, newspapers, and other content providers to find information relevant to your interests.

Community Resources

One effective way the Library promotes health and wellness is by helping link community members  to community resources. Our website lists organizations that can assist with legal matters, health matters, childcare, safety, education, and more. Find a complete list on our Community Resources Page . One great, yet often overlooked, resource is Virginia Navigator.  Navigator provides help connecting people with the services best suited to their need. It is a great place to search for programs and services or use their “Ask an Expert” feature.

Books

And of course we have books both in our physical collections and in eBook form.  Some of our newest reads include: Dementia Reimagined  , Your Brain Needs a Hug, and A Walking Life. Some of our newest “listen-tos” include: Eat, drink, and be healthy : the Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating, and The Sleep Revolution.  Again, as with so many of our physical resources, we have digital options too. Find eBooks and downloadable audio books through the Blue Ridge Download Consortium or at RBdigital

Parks Pass

We must mention one more little known resource the library has to offer. For many, nothing speaks of wellness like some time enjoying the fresh air and wild bounty of our Virginia State Parks.  The library has state park passes  available for check out. It comes in the form of a backpack geared to children however, it is available to all ages. The kit includes a free parking/ entrance pass to all Virginia state parks plus pocket naturalist guides, discovery activities, and assorted naturalist tools.

For assistance with any of the resources mentioned here please call our Information desk at 540-662-9041 Ext. 19 (Handley Library) or 540-869-9000 Ext. 203