Aug 3, 2026
Handley Regional Library just had its biggest year ever — and executive director John Huddy joins Janet to break down exactly why. From nearly 850,000 items checked out to a 100,000-visit jump since before the pandemic, the numbers tell the story of a library system that's become an essential gathering place for Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke.
John and Janet dig into what's driving the surge — new library cards, digital checkouts, early literacy partnerships, and a mobile library launching this fall — plus a few laughs about Zoom, curmudgeons, and library card colors. Tune in for the full picture of what your library card actually gets you.
LINKS & RESOURCES
- Handley Regional Library System — handleyregional.org
- Friends of the Handley Regional Library Book Sale — August 14–15, Bowman Library
- How-To Fest — Saturday, September 26, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM, Handley Library
- Leyendo Juntos (Spanish-language outreach partner)
- Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (early literacy partner)
THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations.
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