By Carole Howard | PREVIEW Columnist, and the library staff
There are three more events this month in our free online virtual series featuring New York Times bestselling authors and thought-leaders giving live, professionally moderated book discussions you can view on your computer, tablet or smartphone with Internet access. You also have an opportunity to ask questions.
Next Thursday, Jan. 12, at noon we’ll interact with Namina Forna, author of “The Gilded Ones,” an epic fantasy young adult series.
Tuesday, Jan. 17, at noon showcases Dana K. White, creator of the popular podcast and blog “A Slob Comes Clean” as she imparts tips from her books “Organizing for the Rest of Us” and “Decluttering at the Speed of Life.”
On Jan. 31 at noon we’ll meet with Randall Munroe, creator of “XKCD: What If,” a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language.
Go to https://pagosalibrary.org/adult-services/ to learn more.
Flu season protocols
The curbside service that we began for COVID safety continues — and it’s also a healthful option in the cold and flu season. To save your energy and lessen germ exposure to other patrons, we recommend you use our curbside service — or add a name to your account authorizing that person to pick up items for you while you recuperate. Library hours:
• Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, your library is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, your library is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturdays, your library is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Activities calendar
To be sure you don’t miss any of the free library activities available to you and your family, we encourage you to pick up a copy of the events calendar each month. Its streamlined format combines all the activities and events for children, teens and adults on one handy, two-sided page.
Spanish class for kids
A free Spanish class especially for children ages 6 to 11 takes place twice this month — on Jan. 9 and Jan. 23 from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., both Mondays.
Homework and
tutoring help
Our highly popular free homework assistance and elementary tutoring are available for those in kindergarten through fourth grade on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. There is a registration packet for parents and guardians to fill out to enroll your child that you can get by emailing the library or coming in. This program has been a big hit because it helps build essential skills in core subjects. You still can register your child, but you may be put on a wait list.
Ruby’s Book Club
next Tuesday
Ruby’s Book Club meets in person from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to discuss “A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith” by Timothy Egan. Copies are available at your library.
This free book club is held the second Tuesday of each month, alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Gaming tomorrow
Enjoy free all-ages video gaming on the Xbox 360 Kinect tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 6 from 3-4 p.m.
In-person Dungeons
and Dragons
Next Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m., join our in-person Dungeons and Dragons game free for fourth through 12th graders. Registration is required. Contact your library to join.
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join us for free in-person children’s stories, games and plenty of reasons to get up and move.
ESL classes
Free in-person evening classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 4 to 5 p.m. reserved for beginners and 5-7 p.m. for both intermediate and advanced students.
Please help us spread the word about these classes to others in our community who would be interested, and contact us by phone or email if you have any questions.
PALS/GED adult
education
Mark is available for his free PALS sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to help with high school equivalency, GED, college prep, financial aid, tutoring and more. No registration is required.
Tech Time
Free in-person slots are available from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays. Judy will help you with basic questions relating to computers, smartphones and tablets and also provide assistance in accessing any of the library’s online resources. You do not need an appointment for these drop-in sessions.
Writing challenge
A new all-ages writing challenge was posted Dec. 12 on the library’s Facebook page. We hope you will challenge your creativity by participating in this free activity.
Downloadable books
CloudLibrary has a wide variety of downloadable e-books and audiobooks for all ages, and accessing this free digital collection has never been easier. You just need to download the cloudLibrary app, answer a few simple questions, select AspenCat Union Catalog for the name of your library, then enter your library card number and four-digit PIN. You are now ready to browse, borrow and read e-books and audiobooks using cloudLibrary. Library staff are happy to help you set up your device if you need assistance.
Books on CD
“Night Shift” by Robin Cook is a medical mystery. “A Hard Day for a Hangover” by Darynda Jones is the conclusion to the Sunshine Vicram trilogy. “All That We Are” by Mariah Stewart follows a woman facing a big surprise a decade after her husband died.
Large print
“A Christmas Memory” by Richard Paul Evans tells of a loving friendship between a young man and an elderly neighbor. “A Hard Day for a Hangover” by Darynda Jones is the conclusion to the Sunshine Vicram trilogy. “To Kill a Troubadour” by Martin Walker is a Bruno, Chief of Police adventure. “Tom Clancy Red Winter” by Marc Cameron is a Jack Ryan adventure. “W.E.B. Griffin The Devil’s Weapons” by Peter Kirsanow is set in war-torn Poland in 1940. “The Choice” by Nora Roberts is book three in the Dragon Heart Legacy series. “A World of Curiosities” by Louise Penny is the latest in the Chief Inspector Gamache series set in Quebec. “Night Shift” by Robin Cook is a medical mystery. “Hunting Time by Jeffrey Deaver is a Colter Shaw thriller. “Wyoming Homecoming” by Diana Palmer is a Wyoming Men western romance.
Nonfiction self-help
“Why We Meditate” by Daniel Goleman and Tsoknyi Rinpoche is a practical guide to meditation to help you reduce stress. “Flex Your Age” by Joan and Michelle MacDonald describes how this mother-daughter team helped the 70-year-old mother lose weight, eat healthily and gain strength.
Thrillers and mysteries
“Dead and Gondola” by Ann Claire is book one of a new Christie Bookshop mystery series. “Bleeding Heart Yard” by Elly Griffiths begins with a murder at a school reunion. “All the Blood We Share” by Camilla Bris based on the true story of the Bloody Benders of Kansas. “A Story of Fear” by Luke Dumas traces the downfall of a tortured graduate student. “Little Red House” by Liv Andersson” begins when a runaway heads to New Mexico and disappears.
Other novels
“Godmersham Park” by Gill Hornby is about an inexperienced family governess in England. “Flight” by Lynn Steger Strong showcases three adult siblings at a Christmas reunion with their families. “Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion” by Bushra Rehman is a coming-of-age story about a Pakistani American girl. “Cradles of the Reich” by Jennifer Coburn is set in a Nazi breeding home in Bavaria. “Termination Shock” by Neal Stephenson takes readers to a near-future world of superstorms and pandemics. “The Magic Kingdom” by Russell Banks is about a former Shaker looking back on his life in Florida where secrets finally are unveiled. “The Vibrant Years” by Sonali Dev follows three generations of women after one inherits a million dollars. “The Boy and the Dog” by Seishu Hase translated from the Japanese is about the bond between humans and dogs.
Donations
Many thanks to our anonymous donors for their materials donations.
When we are open, material donations are accepted for the Friends of the Library at the front desk — not through the outside returns slot at the library or the drop box at City Market, please.
The Friends take fiction published in 2012 or newer and nonfiction that is 2017 or newer. Limited workroom space means we can only accept one or two small boxes at a time.
Quotable quote
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer, Anglican lay theologian, and professor of literature at Oxford and Cambridge.
Website
For more information on library books, services and programs — and to reserve books, e-books, books on CD and DVDs from the comfort of your home — please visit our website at https://pagosalibrary.org.
