By Carole Howard | PREVIEW Columnist, and the library staff
If your life is unusually busy at this time of year with travels, visitors and so many fun summer activities, you may want to take advantage of the library’s program that allows you to freeze — or suspend — your holds at any time.
The best part is you do not lose your place in line. When your hold is thawed, or released, you go right back in to the same place in your hold line; you do not go to the end of the line.
To freeze your holds online, first log into your account. On the left side of the page, click on “Titles on Hold.” A list of all items you have on hold will appear. If they are not currently in transit, you can freeze the hold until you are ready to receive your hold again. To freeze your hold, click on the button that says “Freeze Hold.” The freeze will begin immediately.
Don’t hesitate to ask anyone on staff to help if you need assistance.
Summer Reading
Program events
If you are participating in our free Summer Reading Program, be sure to save the date of July 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. for the all-ages ending celebratory party and prize presentations.
There’s still lots of 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.
Save the date for
book sale
The Friends of the Library’s highly popular annual summer book sale will take place next Friday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friends members will have early access to the sale both days, so you may want to take this opportunity to join the Friends before the sale or at the door.
Between now and then the library is not accepting any more donations of books, DVDs and other materials because the Friends have all they need for the sale.
Online author talks
There will be three talks in July in our free online virtual series featuring New York Times bestselling authors with an opportunity to ask questions.
This Saturday, July 15, at noon will showcase “Daredevil and She-Hulk” by graphic novelist Charles Soule.
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 cider and a cheese tasting.
Summer Reading
Club today
Our free weekly Summer Reading Club for those 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.
Wings of Fire
party tomorrow
If you are a Wings of Fire fan, you’ll want to join us tomorrow, Friday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a free celebration with trivia, art projects, food and more.
Friday Flix
Enjoy a free PG-rated movie and free popcorn tomorrow, Friday, July 14, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Tween/teen taskmaster tomorrow
Tweens and teens are invited to test your problem-solving skills with a variety of challenges at a free event tomorrow, Friday, July 14, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Mini Monets tomorrow
Friday, July 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., ages 1-5 are invited to use art — and sometimes to get messy — to build early literacy skills at this free activity.
Legal clinic tomorrow
This month’s legal clinic on civil issues is by appointment tomorrow, Friday, July 14, from 2 to 3 p.m. Come to the library to meet privately via Zoom with our volunteer attorney.
To schedule an appointment, at the beginning of the month send an email titled “Sign-up for Free Legal Clinic” with your first name and phone number, to ruby@pagosalibrary.org, phone (970) 264-2209 or stop by the library.
Pokemon Club
on Saturday
If you love Pokemon, this club is for you. Bring your cards to a fun free event for ages 6-11 on Saturday, July 16, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. where you can play games with others who feel the same way. No experience is required.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 17, for amateur musicians who would like a safe, supportive, non-bar setting to play, sing or both with other people.
Anyone under age 18 is welcome with a signed parental permission, available at your library. For program information contact Susan at (970) 946-3396 (not the library).
Adult DIY
At the free adult DIY next Tuesday, July 18, from 1 to 3 p.m., you will choose from different cabin-style bird houses and then paint it. All materials provided.
Spanish conversation
Practice your Spanish in a free group setting on Tuesday, July 18, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No minimum skill level is needed.
Dungeons and Dragons
Next Tuesday, July 18, 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.
Therapy dog visit
Next Wednesday, July 19, from 11 to 11:45 a.m., you are invited to come to the library for a free visit with a certified therapy dog. Visits are limited to 10-15 minutes — just the right amount of time to pet the dog, read to the dog or just say “Hi.” This is an all-ages activity.
STEAM program
Camp Connect is a free STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) program for fifth- through eighth-graders next Wednesday, July 19, from noon to 2 p.m. Registration is required.
Wacky Wednesdays
Ages 6-11 are invited to get silly and play next Wednesday, July 19, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and every Wednesday in July, when each week will be a different activity.
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. Effective immediately, 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.
Please bring your
device’s charger
to 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 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.
Chimney Rock book
“In the Shadow of the Rocks” by Florence C. Lister is a new edition with a history of archaeological research and new interpretations of the role of Chimney Rock communities in regional prehistory. You can find it in the Chimney Rock section of your library’s collection.
Large print
“Identity” by Nora Roberts begins with a murder of a young woman by a con artist. “Near Miss” by Stuart Woods and Brett Battles is a Stone Barrington adventure. “The Celebrants” by Steven Rowley focuses on a reunion of five college friends with one hiding a major secret. “Bad Summer People” by Emma Rosenblum showcases infidelity, backstabbing and intrigue on exclusive Fire Island. “Central Park West” by James Comey is a mystery by the former FBI director. “Clive Cussler Fire Strike” by Mike Maden is an Oregon Files adventure. “A Heart Full of Headstones” by Ian Rankin is an Inspector Rebus mystery. “Tom Clancy Flash Point” by Don Bentley is a Jack Ryan Jr. adventure. “The Little Italian Hotel” by Phaedra Patrick features a new divorcee.
Books on CD
“Supermajority” by Michael Waldman explores the ramifications of significant decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years. “Robert B. Parker’s Bad Influence” by Alison Gaylin is a Boston PI Sunny Randall mystery.
Novels
“A Right Worthy Woman” by Ruth P. Watson is based on the true story of the first Black woman to establish and preside over a U.S. bank. “Reproduction” by Louisa Hall explores motherhood, female friendship and artistic ambition. “Hotel Laguna” by Nicola Harrison follows the life of a Rosie the Riveter woman after the war.
DVDs
“Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” tells the story of an Army sergeant saving the life of an Afghan interpreter and his family. “The Great British Baking Show” is season one.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful for the generous monetary donation from Rob Pew.
Important alert
about donations
Please note that the Friends of the Library book sale will take place July 21-22. Between now and then, the library is not accepting any more donations of books, DVDs and other materials because the Friends have all they need for the sale.
Quotable quote
“We are busier than any other generation we have seen in the last 300-400 years. And we think because we are busy we are effective. But I want you to challenge your schedule and ask you to ask yourself, ‘Are you really being effective or is your life cluttered with all kinds of stuff that demands you and drains you and taxes you and stops you from being your highest and best self?’” — T. D. Jakes, American bishop, author and filmmaker.
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.
