New chess club to debut Saturday, Lifelong Learning to return next week

Posted

By Carole Howard  | PREVIEW Columnist, and the library staff

On Saturday, April 8, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., we will launch a new free intergenerational chess club offering quick lessons and game time. 

To help make this new club a success, we are collecting chess game donations. Our preference is for complete sets in good shape, with both the board and the pieces.  If you have a chess set you are no longer using, please donate it to the library. 

Lifelong Learning is back

A new free spring series of Lifelong Learning lectures in April and May begins next Thursday, April 13, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., when we will welcome Roberta Strickland, who will teach us about a simple art method that is also a form of relaxation. 

April 20 will feature Bill Hudson discussing Northwest Coast Native American art. 

April 27 will showcase Jen Doane talking about the amazing honeybees and other native Colorado bees.

Library fundraiser
coming soon

Saturday, April 15, is the second annual gala Library Affair fundraiser for our building campaign to expand and renovate your library. This elegant event will happen at 6 p.m. at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts and feature an auction of 20 different table settings designed by some of Pagosa’s most creative artists. 

Book themes for the tables range from delightful children’s stories such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to adult classics like “The Great Gatsby.” Food will be courtesy of Todd Stevens and the Pagosa Springs High School culinary class with acoustic guitar music by Steve Blechschmidt. Tickets are $50 each, on sale now at the library (cash or check only) or online at pagosalibrary.org.

Tween/teen takeover tomorrow

Teens and tweens will want to join us tomorrow, Friday, April 7, for our free Teen and Tween Takeover of the library from 2 to 4 p.m. During that time, our conversational computers will be reserved only for users aged 9-19.

Board games tomorrow

Tomorrow, Friday, April 7, is our free Board Game Central from 4 to 6 p.m. If you love board games we invite you to bring your favorite game or explore the library’s collection.

LEGO Club on Saturday

Kids aged 6 and up are invited to bring your imaginations on Saturday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to noon for the free LEGO Club. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours.

Adult knitting Saturday

Join other new and experienced knitters this Saturday, April 8, for our free Knitters Circle from 1 to 3 p.m. It is aimed at anyone over the age of 18 who would like to knit together or get some help if you are stuck on your project. 

New beginner computer class Monday

Join us Monday April 10, and Wednesday, April 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. for a new free beginner computer class Mondays and Wednesdays aimed at adults who want to learn practical skills related to PC use, emails, and creating new documents and folders. Registration is required.

Children’s Spanish
class Monday

Join us Monday, April 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a free Spanish class for kids aged 6 to 11 to help youngsters learn and improve their Spanish.

Ruby’s Book Club
next Tuesday

Ruby’s Book Club meets from 2 to 3 p.m. next Tuesday, April 11, to discuss “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk” by Ben Montgomery. 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.

Dungeons and Dragons

Next Tuesday, April 11, from 4 to 5:30, join our Dungeons and Dragons game free for teens and young adults. Registration is required because space is limited. Contact Josie@pagosalibrary.org to join.

Knowledge Bowl

Our free middle school Knowledge Bowl takes place next Thursday, April 13, from 4 to 5 p.m. for tweens and teens. Participants form teams of up to six people to compete against each other by answering questions that cover a range of topics from math to spelling to pop culture. 

Knowledge Bowl runs every second and fourth Thursday for the remainder of the school year. It is open to students in grades four through eight, or ages 11-14. No registration is required.

Online author talks

There will be one more talk this month in our free online virtual series featuring New York Times bestselling authors. You will have an opportunity to ask questions. Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. will showcase William Kent Krueger, author of “Ordinary Grace.”

Homework and
tutoring help

Our highly popular free homework assistance and elementary tutoring are available for students 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. 

Family storytime

Wednesdays from 10 to 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 to 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. 

Events calendar

To be sure you don’t miss any of the free library activities available to you and your family, 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.

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. 

Downloadable books 

CloudLibrary has a wide variety of downloadable e-books and audiobooks for all ages, and accessing this free digital collection is very easy. 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.

Nonfiction

“A Time to Dance: Chasing Joy in Difficult Seasons” by Shannon Singh is a memoir about a woman whose relationship with God helped her through troubled times. “Anasazi America” by David E. Stuart explores the complex reasons the Chaco Anasazi civilization collapsed. “USA RV Adventures” by Bonnie and Grant Sinclair details 25 flexible itineraries with maps provided. “Southwest USA and National Parks” is a DK Eyewitness travel guide. “The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe” by Mark Dawidziak explores the strange death of this author and poet.

Mysteries, suspense
and thrillers

“Saguaro Sanction” by Scott Graham is a National Park mystery. “Just the Nicest Couple” by Mary Kubica tells of the search for a missing man after a heated fight with his wife. “I Have Some Questions For You” by Rebecca Makkai follows a professor drawn into the secrets of an old murder when she returns to the school. “The Bullet That Missed” by Richard Osman is a Thursday Murder Club book. 

Other novels 

“Empty Theatre” by Jac Jemc explores the lives and friendship of 19th century icons and cousins King Ludwig II of Bavaria and Empress Elizabeth “Sisi” of Austria. “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin features two college students who launch a highly successful video game design business. “Someone Else’s Shoes” by JoJo Moyes follows two women who meet because of a lost gym bag. “The Love Scribe” by Amy Meyerson tells of a woman with a gift for writing love stories that then really happen to her friends. 

Books on CD

“The Second Coming of Lucas Brokaw” by Matt Braun features a wealthy man searching for his reincarnated self to be his heir. “The Last Orphan” by Gregg Hurwitz is part of the Orphan X government assassin series. “Preacher’s Purge,” part of the First Mountain Man series, and “The Fires of Blackstone” featuring Buck Trammel are both westerns by William W. and J.A. Johnstone. “The Last Kingdom” by Steve Berry is a Cotton Malone adventure about the discovery of a lost historical document.

How-to advice on DVD

We have two new Great Courses DVDs: “Taking Control of Your Personal Data” by Jennifer Golbeck and “Pioneering Skills for Everyone: Modern Homesteading” by Greg Pryor. “Mindfulness Goes Mainstream: Techniques” is a PBS documentary. “Finding Strength in Mental Health Struggles” is Wondrium Insights season three.

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 2013 or newer and nonfiction that is 2018 or newer. Limited workroom space means we can only accept one or two small boxes at a time. 

Quotable quote

“I believe that three of the most important words anyone can say are not ‘I love you’ but ‘I hear you.’” — Oprah.

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.