Now that spring is here, you may be looking for something to chase away the winter blahs. If so, we suggest you take advantage of our many free online learning resources that can be accessed from your home with your library card. Here are some examples:
Academic Search Premier is a collection of full-text articles and journals offering information in nearly every area of academic study. Auto Repair Source provides repair information on 34,000 U.S. and imported vehicles. Britannica for Kids has research materials for elementary, middle and high school students. Business Source Premier provides access to more than 1,000 business publications. Consumer Health Complete contains consumer-oriented health content.
Driving Tests includes practice tests for car, motorcycle and commercial driver’s licenses. Environment Complete and GreenFile cover all aspects of human impact on the environment. History Reference Center offers thousands of historical documents and maps. Legal Information Reference Center helps you address a wide range of legal issues.
MyHeritage helps you create your family tree and discover your family history. Transparent Language Learning offers nearly 100 languages to learn. TumbleBook Library has books, e-books and videos for children in English and Spanish. Universal Class has intellectually stimulating courses for people interested in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
To access these and more, go to our website at pagosalibrary.org and select the gray tab toward the top of the page that says “Online Resources.”
Tax help session
If you would like help with your taxes, please call Kathy at (970) 553-9150 or email her at kathy.taxhelp@gmail.com for an appointment for the third and final free session at your library.
A representative of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) will meet with those who have signed up in individual session on Tuesday, April 9, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Registration is required in advance.
Free tax forms
We have 1040 federal tax forms and instructions, as well as 0104 Colorado tax forms and instructions, available free while supplies last.
If you need other forms, we will pull them up online and print them out for you for free, but there is likely to be a charge for the instructions when they are long, multipage documents.
Health insurance help
Drop in on Tuesday, April 2, when we’ll have experts available from 1 to 4 p.m. to help you sign up for health insurance and answer your questions during a special free Connect for Health session taking place during Colorado’s open enrollment period.
Special writers’ guild anthology
Local writers — both guild members are those who are not — are invited to contribute to a Ruby’s Writers Guild anthology collection that will be donated to the library.
Submissions should be sent to Judy by email at judy@pagosalibrary.org by Thursday, April 4, when there will be open readings of submissions from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then blind reviews will take place April 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, please contact Judy at the library at (970) 264-2209.
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.
Virtual author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks continue with three opportunities in April for you to interact with New York Times bestselling authors and ask questions in April.
For details and to register, go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming.
Tuesday, April 2, at noon we’ll interact with Smithsonian curator Paula J. Johnson, author of “The Foods, People and Innovations That Feed Us,” a sweeping history of food and culture.
Tuesday, April 9, at noon will showcase Diane Foley and National Book Award-winner Colum McCann about “From Murder to Atonement: Confronting My Son’s Killer.”
On Wednesday, April 17, at 6 p.m. we’ll focus on a literary examination of power, love and art with Xochitl Gonzalez, author of “Anita de Monte Laughs Last.”
Last chance for cardboard construction contest
Creative people of all ages are invited to show off your building skills by competing in our free cardboard construct-a-thon that offers prizes for each of five age categories: Ages 0 – 5, ages 6-8, ages 8-11, ages 12-17 and ages 18 and up.
Entries need to be brought to the library by Friday, March 29, at 5 p.m. You must be able to carry your entry in and out of the building without help of library staff. Winners will be contacted on March 30.
Entries may not exceed 36 inches by 36 inches by 36 inches and must be built ahead of time. Your creation must be made entirely of cardboard — but tape, glue, paperclips or brads may be used to hold pieces together. While you are welcome to decorate your creation, please note that we will be judging based on construction and not final decorations.
Entries must be your own creation, not a kit or other pre-built structure.
Cardboard is available at the library, or you are welcome to use your own. One entry per person.
Knitting and crochet lessons
Learn to knit or crochet on Monday, April 1, at our free gathering from 2 to 3:15 p.m. for ages 8 and up. Supplies will be provided.
Teen/tween art camp
Each month we explore a different style or medium at this free event. In April it’s watercolor art. Join us Mondays, April 1, 15, 22 and 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, April 1, for amateur musicians who would like a safe, supportive, non-bar setting to play, sing or both with other people. For program information contact Susan at (970) 946-3396.
Spanish conversation
Practice your Spanish in a free group setting on Tuesday, April 2, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No minimum skill level is needed. This group meets twice a month, on the first and third Tuesdays.
Dungeons and Dragons
Next Thursday, April 4, from 4:30 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.
Elementary tutoring sessions
Children ages 6-11 are welcome at these free sessions on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. where they will build essential skills in core subjects. Preregistration is required.
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.
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.
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.
Local author
“FrontRunner” by Reynard Faber, the honorary and traditional chief of the Jicarilla Apache people, is an inspirational autobiography of an Apache Indian whose spiritual conversion to Christianity brings both challenges and empowerment. His devotion to Jesus Christ enables others to view Christianity from a new perspective and helps them discover how to humbly embrace a more powerful walk with God.
The book contains a foreword by the Rev. Jerry Fallwell Sr. The author continues to live with his young son, Trevor, on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in Dulce, N.M.
Nonfiction
“My Dad Had That Car” by Tad Burness is a nostalgic look at the U.S. automobile from 1920-1990. “Road Trip USA” by Jamie Jensen is a Moon guide to adventures on two-lane highways. “Mind Your Gut” by Kate Scartlata and Megan Riehl describes a science-based holistic approach to living well with irritable bowel syndrome. “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport offers advice about the lost art of accomplishment without burnout. “Scientist” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Rhodes is a biography of Harvard biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson, known as “Darwin’s successor.”
Local history
“My Pioneer Life: The Memories of Abner E. Sprague” is a collection of writings and photographs by this Colorado pioneer. He came with his family from the Midwest in a covered wagon to settle in Estes Park and then played a role in America’s railway expansion and operated two successful ranch resorts. You’ll find his autobiography in the Hershey Collection section of your library along with other local history books.
Novels
“Community 215” by Dr. M.K. Black focuses on the relationship of a boy and girl to whom he exposes the truth of the harsh controls of her life in a walled community. “All of Our Yesterdays” by Joel H. Morris is a fictional look at the life of Lady Macbeth, one of literature’s most notorious figures.
Books on CD
“The Hunter” by Tana French tells of a family in rural Ireland upended when a long-absent father appears. “Watch Where They Hide” by Tamaron Hall is book two of the Jordan Manning series, this one about a missing mother in danger. “Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange is a fictional look at the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 and an industrial school of Indians, a sequel to “There There.”
DVDs
“Poor Things” won several Academy Awards including best actress for Emma Stone. “Ferrari” was called “the best car movie ever made” by The Wall Street Journal. “All Creatures Great and Small” is season four.
Donation guidelines
We are grateful to Joanne Ferko for her 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.
Here are the Friends’ new guidelines for donations: Yes to popular fiction books published in 2014 or later, nonfiction books published 2019 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
“The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth.” — Sir Wilfred T. Grenfelt (1865-1940), British medical missionary and author.
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.
