Blog Entries

As we celebrate the upcoming Star Wars holiday of May the Fourth, we are sharing some books that take place in outer space for middle grade readers!  Some of these books take place in the galaxy we know while others are in a galaxy far, far away.  The titles featured below can be found on Hoopla or Libby either as an audiobook, eBook, or both.  To find more titles, please search the Handley Regional Library System catalog using the search term #youthspacefiction--many of these titles can be found on Libby and/or

We are hosting a virtual eBook workshop on April 29^th at 6PM on Facebook at @handleyregional. The 1-hour live demo will feature the popular eBook Libby app for Apple and Android devices with questions being answered in real-time. Attendees will learn how to download and use the app to check out eBooks and audiobooks from home on your phone or tablet.

A few times each year the HRLS Youth Services takes a "Storytime Break" so your storytime presenters can take time to plan for the next season. During this time we sometimes offer something different, like play-times.

Recently, one of our researchers sent us an old news clipping found in a family scrapbook. The article, entitled “The Handley Library A Priceless Boon: Nemo Thinks All the Winchester People Should Feel Very Grateful For It” was undated but the content suggests it was written shortly after the Handley Library opened to the public in 1913.

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.

We are excited to announce NextReads, a monthly email newsletter service that helps patrons decide on their next great story based on genres they select.  The newsletters are curated by library staff based on materials available from over 20 different popular genres.  Sign-up for the free newsletters at www.handleyregional.org/adults.

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.

Many of us are stuck at home right but we can still let our imaginations soar with stories from the past. Winchester native Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) had an unquenchable thirst for adventure his entire life. At the age of twelve, he made an unsupervised journey around the entire world.  When the United States entered into World War I, Byrd received flight training and by 1918 had earned his wings. 

As we continue to celebrate April being National Poetry Month, we are featuring some more novels in verse but now for young adult readers!  Novels in verse are stories that are uniquely told through a series of poems instead of paragraphs. The titles featured below can be found on Hoopla or Libby either as an audiobook, eBook, or both.  To find more titles, please search the Handley Regional Library catalog using the search term #yaverse--many of these titles can be found on Libby and/or Hoopla as well!

With our April showers, we're looking forward to some May flowers. But why wait on flowers to enjoy the many joys of the outdoors through some puddle play?

During Social Distancing, Handley Regional Library System Reminds Community of Digital Library and Announces New Reading Recommendation Newsletters

Virtual Contests and Social Media Challenges begin with Handley Regional Library System for National Library Week

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.

Are you a doodler? If you are, you might appreciate this sketch found in an account book kept by George William Bragg between 1880 and 1884. The sketch shows a fantastical landscape of giant books connected by ladders and stacks. Meanwhile, a small figure in a top hat scrambles to reach the peak via a high staircase leading to what is labelled “room at the top.”

In honor of April being National Poetry Month, we are featuring some novels in verse for middle grade readers!  Novels in verse are stories that are uniquely told through a series of poems instead of paragraphs.