By Carole Howard | PREVIEW Columnist, and the library staff
The Friends of the Library’s highly popular annual summer book sale takes place tomorrow, Friday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis St.
Friends members will have early access to the sale both days — from 9 to 10 a.m. — so you may want to take this opportunity to join the Friends before the sale at the library or at the door. Individual membership is $15, family membership is $25 and a lifetime membership is $100 per person. Cash or credit cards are accepted.
This book sale is a wonderful opportunity for you to buy books for yourself, your family and for gifts at amazingly low prices while helping your library continue to thrive. All proceeds from the book sale go toward the library to purchase books, DVDs, CDs and equipment. In 2021, Friends of the Library contributed $10,000 to the Ruby Sisson Library Foundation for the library’s renovation and expansion plan.
End of Summer
Reading party
If you are participating in our free Summer Reading Program, be sure to save the date of Friday, July 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. for the all-ages ending celebratory party and bingo grand prize presentations.
You’ll watch performers from the Salida Circus, learn about community resources through a touch-a-truck event, add to the community chalk mural, play yard games and enjoy ice cream.
There’s still time to enjoy the program’s many special activities. Pick up monthly events calendars at the library so you don’t miss any of the free activities available to you and your family this summer.
Online author talk today
There will be two more talks in July in our free online virtual series featuring New York Times bestselling authors with an opportunity to ask questions.
Today, Thursday, July 20, at 11 a.m., you can interact with psychology professor Ethan Kross, author of “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters and How to Harness It.”
Tuesday, July 25, at 2 p.m. will feature “Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir” in essays by Emmy award-winning actress Erika L. Sanchez. Note that you can watch this talk live at the library with free cider and a cheese tasting.
Summer Reading
Club today
Our free weekly Summer Reading Club for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade takes place Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. with crafts, guest speakers, stories and more. We’ll explore topics such as kindness, service, teamwork, connection, friendship and community. No registration is required.
Two escape room
activities tomorrow
Solve puzzles and find clues quickly to be sure you can get out of the room before the deadline on Friday, July 21, for these free escape room sessions for teens and tweens from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
Read Baby Read
tomorrow
Babies aged up to 18 months will love this free interactive storytime on Friday, July 21, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. where we will sing, bounce and laugh as we enjoy books and songs.
Paws to Read
Friday, July 21, from 2 to 3 p.m., youngsters are invited to share their favorite books with Muppet or Maple, therapy dogs who love stories, at a free Paws to Read session.
LEGO Club Saturday
Kids aged 6 and up are invited to bring your imaginations on Saturday, July 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the free LEGO Club. Note the extended time of two hours rather than one. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours.
Kids Create Saturday
On Saturday, July 22, from 10 to 11 a.m., ages 6-11 are invited to a free Kids Create mixed-media art class based on a picture book. The story and projects change monthly. Note the change from Friday to Saturday this month.
Knit and crochet
Saturday
Join new and experienced knitters and crocheters this Saturday, July 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. This free session is aimed at anyone over the age of 18 who would like to knit or crochet together or get some help if you are stuck on your project.
Laundromat storytime
Join us at the Laundry on the Hill laundromat at 2339 Eagle Drive for stories and a craft at this free all-ages event on Tuesday, June 25, from 10 to 11 a.m. Families will receive a book to take home.
Dungeons and Dragons
Next Tuesday, July 25, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., join our Dungeons and Dragons game free for teens and young adults. Preregistration is required because space is limited. Contact Josie@pagosalibrary.org to join.
STEAM program
Camp Connect is a free STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) program for fifth- through eighth-graders next Wednesday, July 26, from noon to 2 p.m. Registration is required.
Wacky Wednesdays
for kids
Ages 6-11 are invited to get silly and play next Wednesday, July 26, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and every Wednesday in July. Each week will be a different activity.
Teen movie
Teens are invited to hang out with friends while enjoying a free movie and popcorn next Wednesday, July 26, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., join us for a free educational hour of reading, singing and free play to build early literacy skills.
Writers support group
Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m., Ruby’s Writers Guild welcomes writers looking for opportunities, support, resources and camaraderie with other writers.
Change in ESL
class times
Free in-person evening classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and there is a change in the way the time is divided: 4 to 5 p.m. is reserved for beginners, 5 to 6 p.m. for intermediate and 6 to 7 p.m. for 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.
Tech Time
Free in-person slots are available from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays. Judy helps you with basic questions relating to computers, smartphones and tablets and also provide assistance in accessing any of the library’s online resources. No appointment is needed for these drop-in sessions, but it is important that you bring your device’s charger with you.
PALS/GED adult
education
Join Mark or Sally for free PALS sessions Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to help with high school equivalency, GED, college prep, financial aid, tutoring and more.
Downloadable books
CloudLibrary has a wide variety of downloadable e-books and audiobooks for all ages. To access this free digital collection, 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. Library staff are happy to help you set up your device if you need assistance.
Novels
“Fireworks Every Night” by Beth Raymer is a coming-of-age story set in South Florida. “Glass Chateau” by Stephen P. Kiernan is a novel inspired by the life of artist Marc Chagall. “Watch Us Dance” by Leila Slimani follows two biracial siblings in the 1960s. “Brightest Star” by Gail Tsukiyama is a historical novel based on the life of actress Anna May Wong. “Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure” by Christina Lynch features a gossip columnist stranded in Italy in World War II. “The House of Lincoln” by Nancy Horan looks at the president’s life from the point of view of a young assistant to his wife.
DVDs
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is a James Cameron Pandora adventure that won an Academy Award for best visual effects. “American Arctic” is a PBS “Nature” documentary.
Nonfiction
“Alcoholics Anonymous” is the large-print fourth edition of this guide telling of the recovery program helping so many people recover from alcoholism. “Harvest the Rain” by landscape designer Nate Downey with illustrations by George Lawrence is a guide to help communities and individuals save the world’s water. “Dyslexia Tool Kit” by Yvonna Graham and Dr. Alta E. Graham is an expanded edition of this guide.
Book about Durango
“Prehistory in Peril” by Florence C. Lister is an account of the early period of archeology in the Durango area featuring both professionals and amateurs, some of whom dug for pots for monetary gain.
Books on CD
“Whispers at Dusk” by Heather Graham is book one in a new Blackbird thriller series. “Palazzo” by Danielle Steel features a woman managing her family’s haute couture business after a tragedy. “Private Moscow” by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy is a Jack Morgan mystery. “The Five-Star Weekend” by Elin Hilderbrand focuses on four friends gathering for a weekend on Nantucket. “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See features a woman whose grandmother was one of only a handful of doctors in China.
“Cross Down” by James Patterson and Brendon DuBois is an Alex Cross and John Simpson thriller. “The Survivor” by Iris Johansen is an Eve Duncan and Riley Smith mystery.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful for generous monetary donations from Susan and Terry Arrington as well as Rob Pew.
Quotable quote
“In all affairs, it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” — Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), British mathematician, philosopher and intellectual.
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.
