Your library foundation is one of the Pagosa nonprofits benefiting from the Pagosa Springs Golf Club’s 19th Hole music concerts this summer. Ours is today, Thursday, June 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., when the Jackson Mountain Ramblers will perform. Tickets are $10. We hope to see you there.
Then tomorrow, Friday, June 7, there will be two free talks of special interest:
• From 11 a.m. to noon, teens are invited to learn what you would need if you found yourself alone in the wilderness. Each month in this series we will focus on different skills such as creating a survival guide using household items or finding edible plants to make food or tea.
• From 2 to 3:30 p.m., all ages are invited to learn about the animals and plants who live in our Pagosa wetlands. Josh Pike will provide a virtual tour to allow you to explore ecology and history. He is a member of the Pagosa Wetlands Partners who has been leading naturalist tours for several years.
Early library closure
Your library will close early on Monday, June 10, for a staff meeting at 5 p.m. This is our regular staff meeting schedule — on the second Monday of the month.
Summer Reading Program underway
“Adventure Begins at your Library!” is the theme of this year’s free all-ages Summer Reading Program underway now.
You can choose your own adventure from the Smokey Bear reading challenge celebrating Smokey’s 80th birthday, a travel journal challenge where you document your experiences as you try new things and visit new places in the area, and a Camp Ruby Sisson bingo challenge that brings back our much-loved bingo sheets.
Prizes are available for all ages for each week of summer reading activities completed, and those results also put your name into a raffle for the grand prize at the concluding party on Aug. 9, Smokey’s birthday.
Sign up now in person or online and watch for details in this “Library News” column of all the fun free summer reading events coming your way.
Dungeons and Dragons
Today, Thursday, June 6, and next Tuesday, June 11, 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.
Chess Club Saturday
Learn how to play chess with free quick lessons and game time to practice your skills on Saturday, June 8, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All ages and abilities are welcome.
Adult knitting Saturday
Join new and experienced knitters Saturday, June 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.
Jane Austin 250th birthday series
Monday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon through July 1, local fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the 250th birthday of this beloved English author, whose works include “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Emma.”
Each week will feature a different topic, including the author’s life as a woman in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Regency-era English history, fashion, food and dance. The series highlight will be a tea party and English country dancing. Call Jenny at (240) 426-7887 for more information.
Tween Exploratorium Monday
Mondays in June from 3 to 4 p.m. is Tween Exploratorium, when tweens are invited to get together with friends to explore the world’s geography through maps and flags, travel games and more.
Ruby’s Book Club next Tuesday
Ruby’s Book Club meets from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11 to discuss “Fountains of Silence” by Ruta Sepetys. Copies are available at your library.
This book club is held the second Tuesday of each month, alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles. Anyone is welcome to attend. Snacks will be provided.
Teen Camp Half-blood on Wednesday
Wednesdays in June (except for June 19) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. is Camp Half-blood for teens. It is based on the very popular Percy Jackson novels and will allow young fans to participate in escape room-style activities centered around Greek myths, just like Percy Jackson.
Each week teens will be presented with puzzles and STEM challenges like “Create a device that will locate and capture the bugs that escaped from Pandora’s box” or “Arachne left webs to help you find a way through a secret passage in the labyrinth.”
Summer Reading for kids
Thursdays in June from 10 to 11:30 a.m. will be a special time for kids to explore insects, plants, fossils and animals, sometimes with special guests.
Virtual author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks continue in June with two more opportunities for you to interact live with New York Times bestselling authors and ask questions, or watch later. For details and to register go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming.
Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m., we’ll interact with Frieda McFadden, known as the “Queen of Twists,” discussing psychological thrillers.
Thursday, June 20, at noon will feature Tiffany Jewell looking at systemic racism in the American education system.
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., join a free educational hour of reading, singing and free play to build early literacy skills.
Elementary tutoring
Free tutoring for children ages 6-11 will resume in October.
Writers Guild
Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m., Ruby’s Writers Guild welcomes writers looking for opportunities, support, resources and camaraderie with other writers at this free gathering.
ESL classes
Free in-person evening classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 4 to 5 p.m. reserved for beginners, 5 to 6 p.m. for intermediate and 6 to 7 p.m. for advanced students. Please help us share the word about these classes.
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 provides assistance in accessing the library’s online resources.
No appointment is needed for these drop-in sessions, but please bring your device’s charger and passwords with you.
Pagosa Adult Learning Services (PALS)
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.
Activities calendars
Pick up monthly events calendars at the library so you don’t miss any of the free activities available to you and your family.
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.
Books on CD
“Mind Games” by Nora Roberts is a suspense story.
Mysteries, thrillers and suspense
“The Instruments of Darkness” by John Connolly is part of the Charlie Parker PI series. “Think Twice” by Harlan Coben features a suspected murderer who was thought to be dead. “Tom Clancy Act of Defiance” by Andrews and Wilson is a Jack Ryan adventure.
Large print
“Lone Oaks Crossing” by Janet Daily is book eight in the New Americana series. “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” by Janet Skeslien Charles features a librarian who disappeared after creating children’s libraries in France in World War I. “Toxic Prey” by John Sandford is a Lucas and Letty Davenport mystery. “Summers at The Saint” by Mary Kay Andrews is set in a formerly famous hotel. “Extinction” by Douglas Preston is a mystery set at a wilderness resort in the Colorado Rockies. “Clive Cussler The Heist” by Jack Du Brul is an Isaac Bell adventure.
“Circle in the Water” by Marcia Muller is a Sharon McCone mystery. “Last Seen in Havana” by Teresa Dovalpage begins when a woman returns to Cuba to find her mother. “Forget Me Never” by Susan Wittig Albert is a China Bayles mystery. “Village in the Dark” by Iris Yamashita features Anchorage Det. Cara Kennedy. “Feline Fatale” by Rita Mae Brown is a Mrs. Murphy mystery. “An Unfinished Mystery” by Jude Deveraux starts when a town’s famous house goes up for sale.
Nonfiction
“The Age of Grievance” by Frank Bruni examines how grievance dominates our culture and politics on the left and right. “Light Eaters” by Zoe Schlanger looks at the hidden world of plant intelligence. “All That Happiness Is” by Adam Gopnik explores alternatives to striving too hard for achievement. “No Going Back” by Kristi Noem is a look at today’s politics by the governor of South Dakota and former congresswoman.
“The Wide Wide Sea” by Hampton Sides looks at Capt. James Cook’s third exploration voyage that led to his death. “Say More” by Jen Psaki is a memoir of the former White House press secretary with advice on communicating and listening. “Bits and Pieces” by Whoopi Goldberg is a tribute to her mother and older brother. “The Full-Body Fat Fix” by Stephen Perrine is a seven-day plan to build a healthier, leaner you.
Donation guidelines
We are grateful to Joane Furko for materials donations.
When we are open, material donations are accepted for the Friends of the Library at the front desk — not down the outside returns slot at the library or the drop box at City Market, please.
Guidelines for donations: Yes to popular fiction books published in 2013 or later, nonfiction books published 2018 or later, and children’s and young adult books — all in excellent condition, please. No to CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, VHS or cassette tapes; textbooks, outdated travel books or reference books because they do not sell. No more than two boxes at a time because of space constraints.
Quotable quote
“When using a public campground, place a tuba on your picnic table. This will guarantee the campsites on either side of you will stay vacant.” — from a jokes and puzzles booklet.
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.
