Tonight, July 18, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., members of our local San Juan Outdoor Club will offer guidelines and helpful tips for hiking safety in our wilderness at this free session.
As well, members of the Upper San Juan Search and Rescue organization and the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office’s emergency management team will be present to answer questions about their work and their roles in assisting persons lost in the mountains.
And as bikers enjoy the summer opportunities for good rides, we want to remind you that your library has a bike repair tool kit available for free check out. This tool kit includes a handbook entitled “Essential Road Bike Maintenance Handbook” by Todd Downs and a toolbox filled with the essential tools needed for basic bicycle repairs. The handbook covers topics such as frame, pedals, brakes and more.
Save the date for noxious weeds talk
Please mark your calendars for a free adult event next Thursday, July 25, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. when Ethan Proud, Archuleta County land and weed supervisor, will discuss land stewardship, invasive plants and our responsibilities in Colorado.
Virtual author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks are taking a special turn for the month of July as they feature people and books aimed at children, tweens and teens.
These sessions offer unique opportunities to interact with New York Times bestselling authors and ask questions. Please see below for details and the ages each talk is aimed at. For more details and to register, go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming.
On Tuesday, July 23, at noon, bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo will talk about the learning power of poetry to those in ninth to 12 grades.
Tuesday, July 30, at noon, Dan Santat will explain how to tell your own story in a graphic novel to fifth- through eighth-graders.
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.
Teen/tween murder mystery tomorrow
Teens and tweens are invited to follow clues to solve the murder at a free session tomorrow, Friday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required.
Paws to Read tomorrow
Friday, July 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.
Friday Flix tomorrow
Enjoy a free PG movie and popcorn Friday, July 19, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
LEGO Club Saturday
Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO Club on Saturday, July 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 free club is for you. Bring your cards on Saturday, July 20, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Dungeons and Dragons
Next Tuesday, July 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., join our Dungeons and Dragons game free for teens, tweens and young adults. Preregistration is required because space is limited. Contact Josie@pagosalibrary.org to join.
Therapy dog visit
Next Wednesday, July 24, from 11 to 11:45 a.m., all ages are invited to a free visit with a certified therapy dog. The visits will be limited to 10-15 minutes — just the right amount of time to pet the dog, read to the dog or just say “Hi.”
Teen Camp Half-blood Wednesday
Wednesdays in July 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.”
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.
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.
Nonfiction
“Quilling Patterns for Beginners” by Brenda Sanders is a guide to quickly learning paper-quilling techniques. “The Impactful Vegan” by Robert Creeke offers tips to save the biggest difference for animal safety and planet health. “The Blind Woodsman” by John and Anni Furniss is a memoir of a renowned woodworker who dealt with drug addiction, anxiety, financial issues and blindness. “How to Crochet” by Sara Delaney is a guide to basic stitches and techniques.
Thrillers, suspense and mysteries
“King of New York” by Kathy Iandoli is a thriller about a son who reluctantly inherits his father’s role as a Mafia don. “The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley is set at a deluxe resort where all is not well with the locals. “Sentinel” by Mark Greaney features two State Department staff and their family posted to West Africa.
Books on CD
“Aeon Burn” by Matthew Mather is book two of the Aeon sci-fi suspense series. Stuart Woods’ “Smolder” by Brett Battles is a Stone Barrington adventure. “The Rom-Commers” by Katherine Center is a romance involving two writers. “The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley is a new murder mystery set in an elegant English hotel. “Shadow Heart” by Meg Gardiner features two serial killers. “Familiaris” by David Wroblewski is the origin story of the Sawtelle family saga.
“Always Remember” by Mary Balogh is a Ravenswood Regency romance. “The Ball at Versailles,” “Never Too Late” and Resurrection” are three novels by Danielle Steel. “Tom Clancy Act of Defiance” is a Jack Ryan adventure. “Red Sky Mourning” by Jack Carr combines a rogue Chinese submarine, AI and politics.
DVDs
“Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy of Love Canal” is a PBS American Experience documentary. “Origin” explores the global phenomenon of caste. “Nowhere Special” follows a seriously ill father trying to find a home for his son.
Donation guidelines
Our thanks to Joanne Ferko 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
“Share all of the life lessons and wisdom that you have. It’s so powerful. You’ve been there, you’ve seen it before. Tell them that you don’t want emotions to overtake the fundamentals to execute the task. ... Athletes need to learn to be more on an even keel, not have the highest highs or also the lowest lows in the trenches of competition.” — LaTanya Sheffield, U.S. Olympic women’s head track and field coach for the Paris Olympics; hurdler at San Diego State University and at the 1988 Olympics; and coach at Long Beach State University.
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.
