Blog Entries

Calling all drama kings and queens! We're acting out a bit this week as we celebrate our summer reading theme, "It's Showtime", with drama! 

For many years now the Bowman Library has hosted a Game Night for the teens in our community, offering everything from Xbox gaming, to Apples to Apples, and Virtual Reality headsets. Though we're excited to offer a safe place for teens to meet once a month, we recognize the love of games many of our younger patrons have. 

Handley Regional Library System announces former freestyle Frisbee champion, Gary Auerbach, is coming for a special performance at Handley Library on June 10^th at 2PM. The performance is ideal for kids and teens, and is free and open the public. The Frisbee Guy will amaze the audience with his tricks, stories, and other interactive surprises. The performance is part of the library system’s summer reading for kids, teens, and families, Valley Reads:  It’s Showtime at Your Library.

We are sooo excited to announce that Parent’s Choice Award Winner and Grammy Nominated Kid Pan Alley will be offering a free songwriting workshop along with several performances for kids as part of the library system’s Valley Reads Summer Reading Program. Led by founder Paul Reisler, Kid Pan Alley will offer a song-writing workshop on June 24^th at 6PM with a performance from workshop participants on June 25^th at 11AM - both at Bowman Library in Stephens City.

Ready...

Set...

READ!

It's Showtime at Your Library!

We're setting the stage and getting creative this week as we head into our summer reading events, starting with "It's Showtime with Art!"

It's Showtime at Your Library this summer and the Bowman Library is excited to welcome some very special guests: Songwriters with a deep love for music and a tremendous amount of creative energy. 

That's right, we're welcoming children! 

The family-friendly Celebration in the Garden will be on March 25^th at 2PM in the outdoor Mike Foreman Reading Garden at Handley Library. The anticipated event features LIVE music from Parents’ Choice Award Winner, Mr. Jon and Friends, face painting, balloon twisting, interactive yard games, popsicles, and more! Kids and their families can also sign up for the Summer Reading Program where they can win prizes based on hours and books read or sign up for a library card for the first time.

Storytimes are back! 

The puppets have had their vacation, the librarians have made their plans, and we're super excited to share with you all of the wonderful things we've planned for our summer!

Our summer reading event this year is "It's Showtime" and we're ready for some lights, camera, ACTION! Save the date for our Rally for Reading at 11:00 AM on June 1st at the Bowman Library. 

At the end of each season, the staff (and puppets!) take a brief break from storytimes as we prepare for the next exciting set of storytime themes. Meanwhile, we welcome all of our pint sized participants to keep heading over to the library each week to enjoy some informal play times with blocks and other activities!

Playaway Launchpads have launched at Handley Regional Library System!

Launchpad tablets are now available for checkout at all 3 library locations.   Designed for kids of all ages, the tablets are pre-loaded with high-quality, ad-free apps that are both fun and educational, promoting literacy through digital content.  The devices are powered by an Android operating system and feature a 7” high-definition touch screen

Don’t miss out on the last moments of cool weather. Head over to any of our three library branches this week to hear some wonderful stories that will keep you warm and cozy through the final nights of winter.

You used to creep and crawl real well
But then you learned to walk real well.
There was a time you’d coo and cry,
But then you learned to talk and, my!
You almost always try.
You almost always do your best.
I like the way you’re growing up.
It’s fun, that’s all.

~ Mister Rogers, “You’re Growing” 1967

This week the Handley Regional Library System will take a look at Musical Instruments! Come on in this week to our storytimes at Bowman, Clarke County, or Handley for some musical book fun, then attend the Instrument Petting Zoo at Handley Library on February 16th at 2:00 pm.

Parents have been interacting with their young children through finger plays and bounces for centuries. Many of them have been handed down throughout the generations, and the pig seems to take center stage in quite a few!

We’ll be celebrating the Chinese New Year this week on February 5th at 5:00 PM at the Bowman Library. It’s the year of the PIG!