Adventure, imagination and knowledge, no matter the weather, are always on the shelf at a library near you.

Clarke County:

• Clarke County Library, is at 36 E. Main St. in Berryville. It is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Evening hours are Monday-Wednesday 5-8 p.m. Construction of the new library is expected around late September, after which the library will be at 101 Charmers Court, Suite 3 in Berryville.

Frederick County/Winchester:

• Handley Regional Library, at 100 W. Piccadilly St. in Winchester, was built with funds willed by Judge John Handley from Scranton, Pa., and opened in 1913. Residents of the city of Winchester, Frederick and Clarke counties can obtain a free library card by presenting identification and proof of residency to staff at any location. Those who reside in surrounding counties of Fauquier, Warren, Loudoun and Shenandoah can obtain a free Handley card by presenting their home library cards, and nonresidents can obtain a library card by paying $15 annually.

  Researchers can study local genealogy in the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, which are open Tuesday and Wednesday 1-8 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The archives are closed Sunday and Monday. The library is open Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. (October through November and January through April).

  A story time for families will be held Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Exploring Science for ages 6-9 on July 18 at 11 a.m., and a puppet show on July 25. The program will conclude Aug. 4. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, story time for toddlers is at 10:15 a.m., and for preschoolers at 11 a.m. A reading program is held weekly at 2 p.m. on Mondays. 662-9041. www.hrl.lib.state.va.us/handley

  Summer programs continuing through Aug. 4, include a morning story hour at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and a family program at 10.30 a.m. on Mondays. 955-5144

• Mary Jane and James L. Bowman Library opened in July 2001 at 871 Tasker Road in Stephens City. It is open Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. from October to November and January to April. Story time for preschoolers is at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The summer reading program is on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Aug. 2. 869-9000


• The Alson H. Smith Jr. Library at Shenandoah University is at 1460 University Drive in Winchester. It is open during the academic year Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-midnight, Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m.-midnight. 665-4632. www.su.edu/library

• The Paul Wolk Library at Lord Fairfax Community College is at 173 Skirmisher Lane in Middletown. (800) 906-5322. www.lfcc.edu/library

Shenandoah County:
The residents of Shenandoah County have access to seven public libraries. The Shenandoah County Library System consists of the county library in Edinburg and five community libraries. www.shenandoah.co.lib.va.us.

• Shenandoah County Library, at 514 Stoney Creek Blvd. in Edinburg, is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday.

  The library includes:
  

  
  
  • Fiction, non-fiction, audio, DVD, video, periodical and reference collections
  
  
  • Fax and copy service
  
  
  • Local historical information and genealogy
  
  
  • Internet access
  
  

  The summer reading program offers activities for the entire family. The program's theme throughout Shenandoah County is "Catch the Reading Bug." Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. the library offers preschool story time for ages 2-5; Wednesdays at 2 p.m. is grade-school story time for grades K-5. Books and Babies is held the first and third Thursday of each month. Story times continue throughout the year. The program's finale will be at the Edinburg Town Park on Aug. 15. A ticket is required for entry. 984-8200



• New Market Area Library, at 9417 Congress St., is open Monday 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday 1-4:30 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m.-noon. The library is closed on Sunday. 740-8650. nmlib@shentel.net


• Mt. Jackson Community Library, at 5901 Main St., is open Monday 6-8 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1:30-5:30 p.m.; Thursday 1:30-8 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday. The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program runs through Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. Regular story hour is on the third Monday of every month at 10 a.m. except during the summer. 477-3327. mtjlib@shentel.net


• Strasburg Community Library, at 195 W. King St., is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.; Tuesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-8 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday.

  The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program will be available for children ages 9-15 from June 16 through Aug. 16 and will include two American Girl Tea Parties, a visit from the fire department, bug collecting, stories and other activities. Summer camps still to come this summer include sculpture for teens ages 13-16 July 28-Aug. 1 and theater excursions with Richard Follett for ages 9-15, dates TBA. 465-8464. stlib@shentel.net

• Basye-Orkney Springs Community Library, at the Airport Building at Bryce Resort, is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. On Tuesday, the library is also open from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday. Summer programs will coincide with those at Shenandoah County Library. 856-8084. basyelib@shentel.net
• Fort Valley Community Library, at 6190 Woodstock Tower Road, is open Monday 3-8 p.m.; Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Friday from 9:30 a.m.-noon. The library is closed on Tuesday and Sunday. The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program will run June 11-Aug. 27 and feature nature programs such as releasing praying mantises. Story hour is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. 933-6714. ftvallib@shentel.net


• Woodstock Library, at 134 N. Church St., is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-noon. The library is closed on Sunday. Woodstock Library, a free public library, is the oldest in the county, but is not part of the county library system.

  Books may be checked out for two weeks. Adults and children older than 2 years old may check out five books at a time on one card. Call for other checkout, return and renewal rules. Fines are 5 cents per day for each overdue book, up to a maximum fine of $2.

  The library includes:
  

  
  
  • Bauserman Reading Room with new books designated by a red dot on the spine, large-print books and reference books, including genealogy
  
  
  • First floor with young adult books, non-fiction, biographies, oversized books and books on tape and DVD
  
  
  • Second floor with fiction, mysteries, science fiction and books for sale
  
  
  • Basement with a children's collection of books, tapes and puzzles
  
  
  • Internet access
  
  
  • Copy service
  
  

  The "Read to Win" summer reading program is open to all ages. Sponsored by the Shenandoah County Fair, the program is already in progress and ends on July 31. Participants of the program earn free admission to the fair on Aug. 24. Story hour is every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. from September through May, coordinating with the school year. 459-2774

Warren County:

• Samuels Public Library, at 538 Villa Ave. in Front Royal, is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m.

  The library offers programs throughout the year, including a story group that meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. for toddlers and at 11 a.m. for preschoolers. A knitting club and a creative writing club for teenagers meet once a month.

  The summer reading program takes place June 19 through Aug. 22 and will have a bugs and insects theme. Children will receive a prize whenever they read a book on their own or five books with a parent. Prizes include Rubik's Cubes, water-pump fans, necklaces and coupons to McDonald's. The library will also give away 75 books a week during the program. A story time for ages 6 and up will be on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. until Aug. 21 and may continue throughout the year. Other summer programs include Gem Mining for ages 7 and up on July 18 at 2 p.m., Story Time with Kelly Phillips on July 22 at 1 p.m., Chocolate Lover's Paradise for teenagers on July 28 at 2 p.m and the "Discover Japan" food and crafts event on Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. 635-3153. www.samuelslibrary.net



• The St. John the Evangelist Library at Christendom College is at 263 St. John's Way in Front Royal. 636-2900. (fax) 636-6569. www.christendom.edu/library