Library News

Fun facts about American book reading habits in 2023

Posted

Information from a new YouGov survey about the book reading habits of American adults last year yielded a wealth of interesting results. 

Here is a summary:

• Just over half of all Americans said they read at least one book in 2023, with 46 percent saying they read no book at all last year. Eighty-two percent read 10 or fewer books.

• Physical books are still more popular than e-books or audio books. More than 40 percent read a physical book, 21 percent an e-book and 19 percent listened to an audio book.

• E-book users were more voracious readers, saying they read or listened to more than 20 books last year.

• Mysteries and histories were the most popular genres for all Americans. Women preferred romance and mysteries while men read more history and sci-fi. Fantasy, historical fiction, biographies and literary fiction were other popular genres. 

• If you read or listened to five books last year, this puts you ahead of two thirds of U.S. adults. Readers of 10 books are in the 79th percentile, while Americans who read 20 or more books read more than 88 percent of their peers.

Alert about teen programs

There will be no teen programs the weeks of Jan. 15 or Jan. 22 because Josie will be on vacation. In addition, the Teen Art Club is taking a break in January, but will return in February.

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.

Online author talks 

Our highly popular free online author talks continue with two more opportunities for you to interact with New York Times bestselling authors and ask questions this month. For details and to register, go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming.

Thursday, Jan. 23, at noon will showcase a conversation with Rajiv Nagaich, author of “Your Retirement.” 

On Jan. 30 at noon, we will talk with Dr. Robert Lustig, author of “The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition and Modern Medicine.”

Paws to Read tomorrow 

Friday, Jan. 19, 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. 

Craftapalooza tomorrow

You’re invited to create a variety of crafts tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 19, when we will have several different craft stations set up for your enjoyment. Stop by anytime between 2 and 3:30 p.m. This is an all-ages event.

LEGO Club Saturday

Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO Club on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours. 

Pokemon Club Saturday

If you’re aged 6-11 and love Pokemon, this club is for you. Bring your cards to a fun, free event on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. when you can play games with others who feel the same way. No experience is required.

Knitting and crochet lessons

Learn to knit or crochet next Monday, Jan. 22, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at this free event for ages 8 and up. Supplies will be provided. 

Shakespeare is back

The Shakespeare Read-Aloud Club has returned, with “As You Like It” on the agenda. Join us every Monday in Jan. from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Call Jenny at (240) 426-7887 for more information.

Music fun Monday

Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, 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.

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 us for 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

Free in-person evening classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays: 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 provides 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 both your device’s charger and also your device 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. PALS stands for Pagosa Adult Learning Services.

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 on CD

“Reborn as a Demonic Tree” by XKarnation is book one of a new Isekai LitRPG fantasy series. “Manner of Death” by Robin Cook is a medical thriller. “The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman is a Thursday Murder Club mystery. “Robert B. Parker’s Broken Trust” by Mike Lupica is a Spenser mystery. “I See London” by Chanel Cleeton is book one of a new International School romance series.

Nonfiction on CD

“How to Plan a Wedding” by Terri Pous is a 12-month guide to weddings large and small, unique or traditional. “Your Journey to Financial Freedom” by podcaster Jamila Souffrant show up to grow your savings and blast through debt. “Starting a Business 101” by Michele Cagan, CPA, covers necessities such as a business plan, budgeting, marketing and making profit.

Mysteries, thrillers and suspense

“Alex Cross Must Die” by James Patterson is the latest in the Det. Cross series. “A Christmas Vanishing” by Anne Perry features a clever grandmother investigating the disappearance of a friend. “The Other Half” by Charlotte Vassell begins with a murder at an elegant black-tie birthday party. 

Other novels

“Alice Sadie Celine” by Sarah Blakely-Cartwright follows three women’s lives over decades. “The Icarus Twin” by Timothy Zahn is book two in the Icarus Saga sci-fi series. “A Grandmother Begins The Story” by Michelle Porter is a story told by five generations of Metis women as well as the land, bison and two dogs that surround them. “The Wildest Sun” by Asha Lemmie tells of a young woman’s search for a literary figure she believes to be her father. “Vampires of El Norte” by Isabel Canas is a supernatural western. “Where the Dead Wait” by Ally Wilkes is about disgraced man searching for a missing shipmate in the Arctic. “After World” by Debbie Urbanski features AI’s documentation of the last human on earth.

Large-print westerns

“The Lonesome Gun” by William W. and J.A. Johnstone is book seven in the Perley Gates western series. “Cade’s Redemption” by Robert Vaughan is book three in the Western Adventures of Cade McCall series.

Large print nonfiction

“The Six” by Loren Grush explores the untold stories of America’s first women astronauts. “How Not To Age” by Dr. Michael Greger lays out practical strategies for achieving longevity. “Empress of the Nile” by Lynne Olson tells of a French female archaeologist who was instrumental in saving Egyptian ancient temples from being underwater forever. 

Other nonfiction

“Growing Up Roosevelt” by Nina Roosevelt Gibson is a granddaughter’s memoir of Eleanor Roosevelt. “A Woman I Know” by Mark Haverstick is the true story of a filmmaker whose research leads her to Cold War espionage and CIA secrets. “The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2024” is America’s bestselling reference book.

Donation guidelines

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. 

The Friends recently announced 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; or 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 people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.” — Steve Jobs (1955-2011), American inventor and businessman, co-founder of the technology giant Apple Inc., founder of NeXT, and chairman and majority shareholder of Pixar.

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.