Next Friday, June 21 we will be hosting two special events:
• Eighth-graders and above are invited to solve a murder mystery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. where everyone is a suspect and you need to decide who the real murderer is.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
• Young readers aged 6-10 are invited to a Fairy Tale Theatre from 2 to 3:30 p.m., when you can read and act out your favorite characters. “Aesop’s Fables and Fairytales” will be our source for fun stories we will enjoy together.
Early library closure
Your library will be closed next Wednesday, June 19, for the Juneteenth holiday that commemorates the end of slavery.
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.
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.
LEGOs Friday and Saturday
Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO Club on Saturday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to noon. As well, tomorrow, Friday, June 14, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. is a free LEGO time to explore your imagination and building skills. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours.
All-ages gaming tomorrow
Join us Friday, June 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. for a free all-ages gaming session playing Xbox.
Pokemon Club on Saturday
If you’re aged 6-11 and love Pokemon, this free club is for you. Bring your cards on Saturday, June 15, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
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.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, June 17, for amateur musicians who would like a safe, supportive, non-bar setting to play, sing or both with other people. For information, contact Susan at (970) 946-3396.
Spanish conversation
Practice your Spanish in a free group setting on Tuesday, June 18, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. There is no minimum skill level needed.
This group meets twice a month, on the first and third Tuesdays.
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.”
Dungeons and Dragons
Next Thursday, June 20, 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.
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.
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
“The Sweet Blue Distance” by Sara Donati features a midwife in New Mexico Territory. “Dry Road to Nowhere” by William W. and J.A. Johnstone is a western set in Wyoming and “The Man From Waco” by the same authors is another western about an innocent man who was jailed. “Phantom Orbit” by David Ignatius is a thriller centered on space exploration. “This Strange Eventful History” by Claire Messud is a family saga told over seven decades. “Reborn as a Demonic Tree” by Xkarnation is a fantasy.
DVDs
“Anatomy of a Fall” was nominated for five Academy Awards and won for best original screenplay. “Bob Marley One Love” is a documentary about this music icon. “Arthur The King” is the true story of a man’s bond with a scrappy street dog.
Mysteries, thrillers and suspense
“First Frost” by Craig Johnson is a Walt Longmire adventure. “The Last Murder at the End of the World” by Stuart Turton is a sci-fi story that begins with a murder on an idyllic island. “The Devil’s Fortress” by Dale Brown is a Nick Flynn adventure.
Other novels
“Southern Man” by Greg Iles tells of the rise of an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election dubbed the “TikTok candidate.” “Look on the Bright Side” by Kristan Higgins is a funny romantic story. “Leaning on Air” by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a romance about a reunion based on birdwatching.
Donation guidelines
We are grateful to Linda Sue King and Marilyn Falvey for their generous monetary 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.
Quotable quote
“When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.” — Louis Nizer (1902-1994), American lawyer, author, artist and lecturer.
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.
