Blog Entries

In conjunction with the 2021 Adult Summer Reading Program, library staff held a series of virtual workshops about Exploring the Library to help patrons best utilize the library and its resources. 

Programs in this series focused on Library platforms that provide digital content to our patrons including eBooks, Audiobooks, Magazines, Music, Comics, and streaming video. The three platforms explored were Libby (for iOS and Android, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle).

Below is a list of the workshops with a link to the video recordings of each.

Our middle grade book spotlight this week is taking a look at Mysteries!!!  There are so many different types of mystery books available that there is literally something for everyone’s tastes!  Some are straight mystery/detective stories while others are more suspenseful and thrilling; mysteries are usually cross genre as well meaning t

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We sat down with an amazing group of librarians and lovers of literacy to talk about our community-wide Adult Summer Reading Program, new books at the library, programs for adults, and reading recommendations.

Listen to this episode on our website now.

Other Ways to Listen:

We sat down with Donna and Katie to learn about Youth Summer Reading 2021, prizes, how to register, and Info Please, a free online research tool for young learners!

Listen to this episode on our website now.

Other Ways to Listen:

Science fiction is often a misunderstood genre. It's assumed to be universally chock-full of inscrutable scientific or technical jargon (no offense to those who enjoy such things, you are far more powerful than I will ever be), and lacking in things one usually likes to find in stories such as relatable characters, well-plotted stories, and readable prose. But it’s hardly true that such science fiction (often called “hard science fiction” or “hard SF”) offers nothing in the way of enjoyable stories and characters. 

If you’ve been using the Libby App recently within the past month, you may have noticed some changes in how the app looks. The app recently underwent a major update that not only looks a little different, but it also has some updated and newly added features. Below are some of the highlights with this update:

You can find our latest "Database Spotlight" on our YouTube channel. In April we highlighted "Mango Languages", an online language learning tool that offers courses in Spanish, Polish, English, Mandarin, and over 70 other languages. You can access "Mango Languages" free with your library card though our website. Learn key phrases, watch movies in the language you are learning and use the online translator.

We have a new podcast episode on Library Out Loud!, the official podcast for Handley Regional Library System. 

In this episode we talk with Karen at Handley Library about DVD recommendations with a few surprises. We talk about Barbarella, David Hyde Pierce, and more. These are true gems in our DVD collection you will want to see.

Many Ways to Listen

Browse our virtual shelf from over 15 different genres to find your next great read!  These are some of the latest released, hottest authors, current events, and relevant stories all curated in one spot.  You can receive these reading recommendations through email too by signing up here.  Our virtual shelves are updated constantly, so check back often!

Are you familiar with our adult graphic novel collection? Graphic novels are not just for children or teens. Whether you enjoy fiction, nonfiction, biographies or memoirs, these novels are a format that encompasses all genres and has something for everyone. It is one reason why I enjoy them, since the combination of text and artwork adds variety and something different to my reading list. In between the regular novels I read, it’s great to squeeze in a graphic novel, especially while I’m waiting for my next eBook hold to come in through our Libby app.

It's a New Year, and a perfectly good new time to learn about the Handley Regional Library System Digital Library! We are kicking off 2021 with a monthly series called "Database Spotlights" where we will highlight one of our databases, specifically focusing on youth and families. Do you want support when it comes to Homework Help? Are you looking to build your research skills? Let us share the wonders of our Digital Library with you and your family! Learn about some of our online databases that you can access for free with your library card. 

We’re very happy to announce that our After-Hours Game Nights for adults are making a comeback. By teaming up with Discord and the online gaming platform Board Game Arena, we can come together while still keeping our distance. We’ve really missed seeing you all at Game Nights this past year, so we hope you’ll join us again online.

How will it work?

We have a new podcast episode on Library Out Loud! 

Available on Sound Cloud, iTunes, iHeart Radio, and on our website at https://www.handleyregional.org/podcast, this episode talks about science fiction recommended reads, our personalized BookMatch service, and more tips for library patrons, including users of our 24/7 Digital Library. 

Listen to the latest episode

Our middle grade book spotlight this week is all about graphic novels!!!  Graphic novels are amazing in that they are so visual allowing you to not only read the story but to see it as well!  I love graphic novels because they offer something for everyone; there are fiction titles as well as nonfiction and even written story retellings.  If you are looking to