Her free personalized tax help sessions were such a success in March that Katherine from VITA Tax Help will return to your library next Friday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to help more patrons with face-to-face sessions.
But, you need to do some homework before you come if you want to take advantage of her generous offer.
Katherine has left tax packets that must be filled out fully before you make your appointment. Then, once you have completed that important step, appointments must be made in advance by calling her at (970) 553-9150.
We are very grateful to Katherine for generously donating her time and sharing her tax experience and expertise with our patrons free of charge.
Save the date for wildfire preparedness
Next Thursday, April 3, at 5:30 p.m. County sheriff and emergency management personnel will be at your library to help you get ready for the wildfire season. They will discuss emergency preparation, fuel mitigation and how their efforts help us all stay alive.
Lifelong Learning moves to afternoons
Mark your calendars for the new spring Lifelong Learning lectures beginning April 16 and running through May 21 — and note that they are now happening on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
The time change was made from evenings because many patrons said they preferred not to have to drive at night to attend.
As always, the informative and interesting talks will cover a wide variety of topics from astronomy to weather, arborglyphs art to estate planning, and more.
Watch for more details in future “Library News” columns and pick up a brochure at your library with details of all the talks.
Online author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks with New York Times bestselling authors continue in April with three more talks for you to watch live on Zoom or via a recording later.
For details and to register go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming .
Wednesday, April 2, at 5 p.m. will showcase “Wordsmith and Wonder” with Jodi Picoult.
Tuesday, April 8 at noon will focus on “Stories, Science and the History of Trees” with the Smithsonian Institute.
Thursday, April 24, at 5 p.m. will feature “The Thrill of Writing Action, Adventure and Suspense” with Gregg Hurwitz.
Dungeons and Dragons
A community-library partnership is expanding the reach of Dungeons and Dragons for middle school students. They are invited to join friends at the Pagosa Community Initiative (PCI) every Thursday in April from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for a free afterschool adventure.
Registration is required. Participants must be in middle school and registered with the PCI afterschool programs.
This Dungeon and Dragons program will continue until the end of the school year.
Friday Flix tomorrow
Enjoy a PG movie chosen by participants plus free popcorn Friday, March 28, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, March 31, 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.
Ageless Grace exercise Monday
In a special community partnership program, Judy, adult services librarian, is leading an Ageless Grace exercise program at the Pagosa Senior Center every Monday in March from 10 to 10:45 a.m.
It is a brain fitness program consisting of 21 simple exercises designed for all ages and abilities, performed while sitting in a chair. The Senior Center location was chosen so participants have more privacy as they exercise.
High school math tutoring
Free high school math tutoring for ages 14 and up takes place Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Registration is required.
Spanish conversation
Practice your Spanish in a free group setting on Tuesday, April 1, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. There is no minimum skill level needed.
Note this group now meets twice a month, on the first and third Tuesdays.
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.
Elementary tutoring sessions — more tutors needed
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.
Special note: This program is so popular that we have need for more tutors. If you have teaching experience in early grades and are interested, please contact Barb Brattin, library director.
Writers Guild
Every Thursday 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. No appointment is necessary.
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.
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.
Two short story collections
“Wednesday’s Child” by Chinese writer Yiyun Li is a collection of 11 short stories about people dealing with death, violence, estrangement, aging and other issues of everyday contemporary life. The pieces originally appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire and other publications over the span of 14 years. The author was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.
“The Best American Short Stories 2024” edited by bestselling author Lauren Groff is a collection of 23 stories written by top U.S. authors, including Jamel Brinkley, Laurie Colwin, Molly Dektar and Daniel Mason. Their varied themes include a man becoming a tourist in his own hometown, an unemployed jeweler sailing on an antique slave ship and a therapist deciding to phone a former patient years after their last session.
DVDs
“The Last Rifleman” stars Pierce Brosnan, who escapes from his care home to return to France with memories of D-Day. “Den of Thieves” is a gritty Los Angeles crime saga. “Outlander” is season seven. “Victoria” is seasons one, two and three.
Mysteries, suspense and thrillers
“Lie for a Million” by Janet Dailey follows the wife in a prestigious Texas family dealing with scandal and multiple crises after her husband was murdered. “Everyone Knows But You” by Thomas E. Ricks features an FBI agent starting a new life in Maine. “The Boxcar Librarian” by Brianna Labuskes, inspired by true events, explores the mystery surrounding a local librarian.
“Ambush” by Colleen Coble is a romantic suspense story in the Sanctuary series. “I Might Be in Trouble” by Daniel Aleman tells of a has-been writer who wakes up to find his date dead in his bed. “Shattering Dawn” by Jayne Ann Krentz is the second novel in the Lost Night Files trilogy.
Other novels
“Until August” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is the famed author’s final novel about a happily married woman who travels every August to take a new lover. “The Paradise Problem” by Christina Lauren features a buttoned-up heir to a fortune and a free-spirited artist who fake their marriage in order to receive a massive inheritance. “The Trial of Anna Thalberg” by Eduardo Sangarcia is a tale of religious persecution and superstition during the Protestant Reformation.
“The Jackal’s Mistress” by Chris Bohjalian is about a Civil War friendship across enemy lines, inspired by a piece of American history. “The First Druids of Shannara: Galaphile” by Terry Brooks explores the origin story of the Druid order. “The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf” by Isa Arsen features two Shakespearean actors in an unconventional marriage who get caught up in a director’s scheme.
Nonfiction
“Peterson Field Guide to Weather” was written by Jay Anderson, Jay M. Pasachoff and John A. Day. “Dare I Say It” by Naomi Watts blends funny and poignant stories with advice on menopause from doctors, hormone experts and nutritionists. “To Save the Man” by John Sayles is the true story of the Wounded Knee Massacre, one of America’s greatest tragedies.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful to Holly Langford for her donation of books to help build our classic books section.
Quotable quote
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” — Fred Rogers (1928-2003), also known as Mister Rogers. He was a Presbyterian minister, TV host, author and composer who was a pioneer in children’s programming, having created, hosted and written the preschool show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” from 1968 to 2001. He also composed the show’s music.
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.
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