Library News

Library plans fraud protection talk, puzzle swap

Posted

Advice on how you can protect yourself from fraud will be offered by Deidre, Bank of the San Juans manager, at a free session at your library next Tuesday, Feb. 25, from noon to 1:15 p.m. 

Among the topics she will discuss are signs of a scam, ways to avoid scammers, how to report fraud and what to do if your identity is compromised. 

Puzzle swap tomorrow

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 21, puzzle fans are invited to come trade, take or donate puzzles to enhance your puzzle fun.

Craftapalooza tomorrow

All ages are invited to create a variety of crafts tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 21, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at this free session for all ages and abilities.

Adult knitting Saturday

Join new and experienced knitters Saturday, Feb. 22, for our free Knitters Circle from 1 to 3 p.m. It is aimed at anyone over the age of 18 who would like to knit together or get some help if you are stuck on your project. 

Music fun Monday

Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 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.

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.

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

Children ages 6 to 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.

Ruby’s 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.

How-to and self-help

“The Disengaged Teen” by journalist Jenny Anderson and education specialist Rebecca Winthrop offers advice to help apathetic teens learn better, feel better and live better. “Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child” by psychologist John Gottman is a guide to teaching children to understand and regulate their emotional world. “The Artist’s Way Toolkit” by Julia Cameron is an interactive, practical guide with a 12-week checklist. “The ADHD Focus Friend” by Grace Koelma is a planning productivity workbook that provides science-backed tests and insights. “Science of Yoga” is a DK guide to understanding the anatomy and physiology to perfect your practice.

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.

Other nonfiction

“100 Nights of a Lifetime” by Stephanie Vermillion is an illustrated National Geographic guide to the world’s ultimate adventures after dark. “How Birds Fly” by Peter Cavanagh uses photography, graphics and prose to explore avian movement. “Why Taiwan Matters” by Kerry Brown explores the importance of this island to America’s national security. “An African History of Africa” by Zeinab Badawi is a sweeping narrative of the continent’s extraordinary legacy from the African perspective. “Dark Brilliance” by Paul Strathern is a history of the Age of Reason from Descartes to Peter the Great. “American Oasis” by Kyle Peoletta is a geographic and historical account of the cities and deserts of the Southwest. “What Truth Sounds Like” by Michael Eric Dyson documents the thinking of Black leaders in contact with Robert Kennedy in 1963 to reflect on and change policy.

Large print

“The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency” by David M. Rubenstein blends history and anecdotes to chronicle arguably the single most important position in the world. “Fort Buzzard” by William W. and J.A. Johnstone is a Preacher and Jamie MacCallister western. “The Trackwalker” by Robert Vaughan is a Faraday western. “The JFK Conspiracy” by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch reveals the secret plot to kill President John F. Kennedy and why it failed.

Mysteries, suspense and thrillers

“The Big Empty” by Robert Craig is an Elvis Cole and Joe Pike mystery. “Cloaked in Beauty” by Karen Witemeyer follows a Pinkerton agent and his recluse client returning to Houston to claim a birthright. “The Stolen Queen” by Fiona Davis is a mystery set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The Oligarch’s Daughter” by Joseph Finder is a spy novel. “Good Dirt” by Charmaine Wilkerson revolves around an unsolved crime ­— a child’s death — and a shattered heirloom.

Other novels

“The Autumn of Ruth Winters” by Marshall Fine features a retired reclusive woman when three massive events change her life. “The Sojourn” by Andrew Krivak, a National Book Award finalist, takes a 19th century Colorado mining town man to rural Austria-Hungary at the start of World Way I. Another Krivak novel called “The Bear” is set in an Edenic future. “We Do Not Part” by Nobel Prize Winner Han Kang illuminates a powerful friendship and a forgotten chapter in Korean history.

Thanks to your donors

We are grateful to Ray and Karen Diffee for creating such beautiful bookmarks for us to give away to our library visitors.

New donations guidelines

The Friends of the Library have announced new guidelines for donations to the library. 

Books on time-sensitive topics that can quickly become out of date are wanted only if they have been published within the last five years. These subjects include politics/current events, health and medicine, sports/exercise, business, technology, science, education, and travel guides. Not accepted are reference materials, textbooks and nonprint material like CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, VHS or cassette tapes because they do not sell at Friends of the Library sales.

When the library is open, high-quality used book donations are gratefully accepted at the front desk — not down the outside returns slot at the library or the drop box at City Market, please.

No more than two boxes at a time because of space constraints and all books should be in excellent condition, please.

Quotable quote

“Everybody wants to get an A on the math test, but not everybody wants to do the homework. Scottie is willing to do the homework day in and day out, not to skip any steps, to get fully prepared. It makes taking the test a lot more fun.” — Ted Scott, caddie for Scottie Scheffler, professional golfer on the PGA tour who has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 124 weeks.

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.