Blog Entries

This is our third month in compliance with the stay at home order to halt the spread of Covid 19. We are comfortable in our home and we’ve been able to work and study from here.  But it has not been an easy time. The “snow day” atmosphere that first surrounded my family has been replaced by health concerns and uncertainty. We’ve sought comfort in food, with a few cocktails thrown in for the adults. In fact, we’ve been consuming ice cream by the bucket, brownies, cookies and anything else that makes us feel better.  Judging from posts I’ve seen on social media,

My lunch routine is to grab a couple of magazines before heading to the Library breakroom. My favorite pairing: Businessweek with People. And while I enjoy the leisurely flip through magazines, I’m like many of our patrons – format flexible. I go with what’s convenient in the moment. If I can’t get the print copy, I get the digital one available through the Library’s RB Digital service. In RB Digital, every issue is always available.

Now that we are all stuck at home the majority of the time, there is no time like the present to visit old memories of listening to music  or discover something new that you aren't familiar with. Our new service, Hoopla has a lot of really great music that you can
"check out" and listen to. When you download an album it is available to you for 7 days and then will be returned automatically. All you need to do is sign up for an account using your library card and you are good to go.

With our branches closed and physical checkouts currently suspended, you may think that there's no way to get graphic novels with your library card. That's not the case at all! As much as we've been promoting our new graphic novel collection for adults, it's definitely not the only option available to you.  The library now offers you more ways than ever to get your graphic novel fix, even while social distancing.

We all need some escape every once in a while, even more so when we’re cooped up indoors and hounded by frightening news stories. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of fun, escapist novels for you to enjoy! From more recent releases to well-loved classics, these books are sure to give you a break from the stresses of life during a pandemic. 

Newer Releases

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Are you stuck at home during Covid-19? The Handley Regional Library System has you covered! You can access a lot of our services online from the comfort (and safety) of your own home. From educational to fun and entertaining, check out a list below of what you can do to occupy your free time and still enjoy the library 24/7. Know what the best part of all is? All of these services are free with your library card!

If you’ve ever logged into ‘My Account’ through the Library website, then you know the convenience of having the library at your fingertips no matter where you are. Through your library account you can view what items you have checked out, note due dates, renew items, place holds on materials, and pay account fines all from the comfort of home. But today we are going to delve into another great feature of your account: creating and managing lists.

1. Write a letter: Not an email; a real old-fashioned pen (or pencil) to paper letter. One you will have to edit as you gather your thoughts and copy over to look presentable.

When the library is closed it’s always reassuring that there are services still accessible with your library card no matter where you are. Thanks to our eBook collection through the Blue Ridge Download Consortium (BRDC) and the new Hoopla media service, I have plenty of options to stay entertained. Check out our Downloadable Media page for more information on how to access these services if you haven’t tried them yet. In the meantime here are some titles I’ve enjoyed that are available through these platforms.

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.