With our community’s youngsters back in school, we want to be sure you know that your library has a multitude of resources for students of all ages.
You can find nonfiction books and periodicals on a variety of topics from archaeology to zoology. Importantly, you also can find online resources 24/7 at www.pagosalibrary.org. Select the tab “Online Resources” at the top of the home page. The resources are listed in alphabetical order.
Britannica School is an online resource where students can discover encyclopedia articles, multimedia, primary sources, e-books and other learning resources that support student research and reinforce curriculum standards.
Another useful online resource is Middle Search Plus, where students can access biographies, historical essays, encyclopedias and popular middle-school magazines. Your library card number is needed to access this resource.
If you do not see what you are looking for in the Sisson Library physical collection or online, talk with one of our friendly library staff, who can help you search further.
Book sale Oct. 11
Thanks to your generosity donating like-new books to their book drive on Sept. 13, the Friends of the Library have accumulated enough treasures to host a pop-up book sale on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pagosa Springs Church of Christ, 277 Lewis St.
Friends, teachers, nurses and first responders will benefit from a buy-one-get-one-free offer for up to 10 books.
We hope you’ll take this opportunity to purchase new or lightly used books from the Friends at this event. Proceeds from their book sales are vital to the ongoing health of your library.
Construction news
Here’s the latest news on your library’s construction project from Taylor Worsham, assistant library director:
“After September’s excavation, soil testing and compacting, the construction crew is starting to install rebar for footings and then stem walls. Throughout October the foundation for the library’s expansion area will be laid.
“As we see the space start to take shape, library staff are brainstorming new services and programs we can offer in our expansion area. And even while the library operates with a reduced footprint during construction, we’re always adding new books, offering programs for all ages, and even introduced an exciting new digital resource on Oct. 1.
“Patrons now have access to 19,000 more digital library books, audio books, and magazines through Libby by OverDrive. See details below.”
New digital books service
On Oct. 1, your library joined the Across Colorado Digital Consortium, which offers Overdrive e-books and e-audiobooks through the popular Libby app.
This purchase is funded by the State Grants to Libraries program through the Colorado State Library. While our Cloud Library subscription offers access to 9,615 items in our digital collection, membership in the Across Colorado Digital Consortium offers access to more than 19,000 items, many of them unique.
You, our library users, rank No. 1 among AspenCat libraries in use of CloudLibrary. We’ll subscribe to both CloudLibrary and Overdrive in the coming year while we analyze your use of both services.
As well, we now are receiving a paper copy of The New York Times Sunday edition. The latest edition will stay at the library, but we will circulate past editions.
Activity locations are changed
Now that we have much less space for our operations and no meeting rooms during construction, several of our regular activities and special events will happen in other locations.
Please check the listings in this column and on your library’s website, https://pagosalibrary.org, for location changes throughout the construction. If no other location is mentioned, the activity will stay at your library.
No more book donations, please
Regretfully, Brattin has made the decision to cease accepting book donations for a year beginning immediately.
The reality of operating in a much smaller space while construction happens on the first phase of your library’s long-awaited expansion has made the action a necessity.
Activities calendars
Pick up monthly calendars at the library so you don’t miss any of the free programs, events and activities available to you and your family.
Online author talks
Our free online author talks with New York Times bestselling authors continue in October with four talks for you to watch live on Zoom or via a recording. For details and to register, go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming.
Today, Thursday, Oct. 2, at noon, Smithsonian educators will discuss “Nuestra America: Stories of 30 inspiring Latinas and Latinos Who Have Shaped the U.S.”
Thursday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. will showcase Leigh Bardugo discussing “10 Years of Daring Heists and Loveable Outcasts in YA fantasy.”
Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. will feature Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is also an educational activist, bestselling author and film producer from Pakistan.
On Oct. 29 at noon, we’ll interact with Philippa Gregory, historical fiction author, on “Courtly Intrigue and Whispers as Weapons.”
LEGO play Saturday
Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO build on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours.
Conversational Spanish
Conversational Spanish has been canceled for Monday, Oct. 6, and will resume Oct. 13 from 4 to 5 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church at 225 South Pagosa Blvd.
This is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish in a free group setting. No minimum skill level is needed.
Virtual legal clinic
Participation is by appointment only for this month’s free legal clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 2 to 3:40 p.m. for you to meet with a volunteer civil attorney by phone. To schedule an appointment, phone (970) 264-2209. When you call, let us know if you need a translator. Registration is required because space is limited.
Elementary school
tutoring
Free after-school tutoring for kids in first through third grade takes place on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. as of Oct. 1. Registration is required because of limited space, so call your library now at (970) 264-2209 to enroll your child.
This invaluable tutoring involves one-on-one and small-group help for math, literacy, writing and spelling. Note that because of construction at the library these sessions will take place at the elementary school.
Family storytime
Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., join 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 support, guidance, resources and camaraderie with other writers at this free gathering.
During construction the group will meet at the Pagosa Senior Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd. Enter through the left side of the building.
Tech Time
Free in-person slots are available from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Taylor helps with basic questions relating to computers, smartphones and tablets and also provides assistance in accessing the library’s online resources. No appointment is needed, but please bring your device’s charger and passwords with you.
English as a second
Free in-person evening classes happen 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 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 225 S. Pagosa Blvd.. Please help us pass the word about these classes.
Pagosa Adult Learning Services (PALS)
Join Mark or Sally for free individualized 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.
Note there will be no PALS sessions Oct. 7 or 9.
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.
How-to and self-help
“Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats” by Paul Stamets is a guide to psychoactive fungi. “Eavesdropping on Animals” by George Bumann helps you decode secret conversations of wild animals. “Mammals of Colorado” by Stan Tekiela is a field guide. “Yosemite National Park” about the best day hikes is an American Hiking Society guide.
“Farm Raised Kids” by Katie Kulla offers parenting strategies for balancing family life while running a small farm or homestead. “A Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy and Brush Pen Lettering” by Maki Shimano helps you create beautiful invitations, cards, journals and more. “It Doesn’t Have to Hurt” by Dr. Sanjay Gupta describes science-based techniques to deal with chronic pain.
Other nonfiction
“The Place of Tides” by James Rebanks explores the life and skills of a woman on a remote Norwegian island who collects eiderdown from birds. “Thinking Like a Wolf” by Rick McIntyre explains how two major wolf dynasties in “Yellowstone” are thriving. “To The Success of Our Hopeless Cause” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Benjamin Nathans is a history of the dissidents who brought down the Soviet Union. “Without Exception” by Pam Houston illuminates the history of abortion in the U.S. “Codex Taawa” by Gerald Dawavendewa is a trip though the cosmos from the Hopi point of view.
“Leases and Rental Agreements” is a Nolo guide. “The Fate of the Day” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Atkinson is book two of the Revolution trilogy. “Guinness World Records 2026” describes current record breakers and how you can join them. “The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition” edited by Grant Hardy uses editorial aids and footnotes to guide readers through the complicated text. “Ghosts of Hiroshima” by Charles Pellegrino, based on interviews with 200 survivors and their families, is slated to become a James Cameron film.
DVDs
“La Civil” is a narco-western set in northern New Mexico. “Elio” is a Disney Pixar family animated film. “Jurassic World Rebirth” is the latest in the Jurassic Park dinosaur series. “Ballerina” is a John Wick Russian assassin story.
Mysteries and thrillers
“The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pekkanen follows two sisters, one accused of the crime of the decade. “These Blue Mountains” by Sarah Loudin Thomas tells of a woman tracing her fiancé who, she thought, died in a U.S. German enemy alien camp. “Jenny Cooper Has a Secret” by Joy Fielding is a psychological thriller set in a nursing home. “Kill Your Darlings” by Peter Swanson is told backward through time as a long-married couple deal with a secret that kept them bound together.”
Other novels
“1984” is the 75th anniversary edition of George Orwell’s classic. “Love Forms” by Pulitzer Prize winner Claire Adam follows a woman trying to track down a baby she gave up for adoption 40 years ago. “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang is a dark academia fantasy. “Flashlight” by Susan Choi follows a mother and daughter facing personal tragedy amid invisible currents of history.
Quotable quote
“I’m sure in your experiences — in school … in applying to college … in picking your major … in deciding what you want to do with life — people have told you to make sure you have something to ‘fall back on.’ But I’ve never understood that concept, having something to fall back on. Fall forward. Here’s what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out 2,500 times in his career, the most in the history of baseball. But you don’t hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.
“Fall forward. ... You’ve got to take risks. And I’m sure you’ve probably heard that before. But I want to talk about why it’s so important. ... You will fail at some point in your life. Accept it. You will lose. You will embarrass yourself. You will suck at something. There is no doubt about it.
“That’s probably not a traditional message for a graduation ceremony. But, hey, I’m telling you — embrace it. Because it’s inevitable. ... The point is, every graduate here today has the training and the talent to succeed. But do you have guts to fail? … And I can’t think of a better message as we send you off today. To not only take risks, but to be open to life.” — Denzel Washington commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania on May 16. He is an award-winning American actor, producer and director known for his dramatic roles. He won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and a Tony Award, and has been nominated for multiple Emmys and a Grammy.
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.
