May brings two very special events to your library that will be of interest to you and your family:
Starting May 27 through June 6, we will be hosting the first-in-the world virtual reality exhibition with five unique films featuring Holocaust survivors walking us through their hometowns, memories and concentration camp experiences as they share their stories of survival.
“The Journey Back” applies cutting-edge technology to engage visitors with the survivors’ incredibly important stories. We are privileged to share it with you, thanks to a generous loan from the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.
The films will begin daily on May 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Then, the afternoon of May 30 brings you the Summer Reading Kickoff Party from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Book lovers of all ages will enjoy food, crafts and fun at this annual event that marks the start of the many highly popular Summer Reading activities that result in prizes for all ages.
Watch for more details with dates and times in future “Library News” columns.
Lifelong Learning Lectures
Your library’s free Spring Lifelong Learning Lectures take place every Wednesday through May 21 — and note that they are now happening in the afternoons, from 1 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, these informative and interesting talks will cover a wide variety of topics with talented and knowledgeable speakers.
May 14 will be a Zoom session by Dayton Romero introducing you to AARP Senior Planet live online classes for seniors on many topics from wellness to finance.
May 21 will highlight the weather expertise of Arleen Prochazka discussing the 2025 monsoon in the Southern San Juans.
Pick up a brochure at your library with more details on all these outstanding talks.
Online author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks with New York Times bestselling authors continue in May with two 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 .
On May 14 at 5 p.m. we’ll interact with Liann Zhang, author of “Julie Chang is Dead,” on writing a brilliant, dark and diabolical thriller.
May 21 at noon will feature Rachelle Bergstein on “The Genius of Judy,” exploring how Judy Blume rewrote childhood for all of us.
Friday Flix tomorrow
Enjoy a PG movie chosen by participants plus free popcorn Friday, May 9, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Bilingual storytime Saturday
Join beloved retired high school Spanish teacher Mable Martinez Barber Saturday, May 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. for Hora de Cuentos, a bilingual storytime. Children will enjoy a story and singing in both English and Spanish as well as a craft and free play together, all aimed at building early literacy skills.
Adult knitting and
needlework
Join new and experienced knitters Saturday, May 10, 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. Any type of needleworker is welcome.
Brain fitness program Monday
In a special community partnership program, Judy, adult services librarian, is leading an Ageless Grace exercise program at the Pagosa Senior Center Mondays 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. Preregistration is required.
Ruby’s Book Club
Ruby’s Book Club will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, to discuss “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario. Copies are available at your library.
This free adult book club is held the second Tuesday of each month, alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Legal clinic
This month’s free legal clinic is by appointment Wednesday, May 14, from 2 to 3:40 p.m. Come to the library to meet privately via Zoom with our volunteer civil attorney.
To schedule an appointment, phone (970) 264-2209. When you call, let us know if you need a translator. Registration opens the first of the month and is required as space is limited.
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.
Elementary tutoring
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.
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 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for a free after-school adventure.
Registration is required. Participants must be in middle school and registered with the PCI after-school programs.
This Dungeon and Dragons program will continue until the end of the school year.
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.
Tech Time schedule change
Free in-person slots are available from 2 to 4 p.m. only on Thursdays beginning this month.
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.
Note: There will be no Tech Time May 29.
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.
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.
Pope Francis memoir
“Hope” is the autobiography by Pope Francis that was intended to appear only after his death. Written over six years, with photos, it is the first autobiography ever written by a pope.
DVDs
“Every Little Thing” tells of the lives of injured hummingbirds in Los Angeles. “Heroes of the Bible” is a five-movie collection including “Samson,” “The Book of Esther,” “The Book of Daniel,” “Apostle Peter and the Last Supper” and “The Book of Ruth.” “Piece by Piece” is a LEGO-animated film about the life of Pharrell Williams. “The Chosen” is season three. “Living” tells of a U.K. civil servant struggling to maintain order while bogged down by paperwork. “Practicing Mindfulness” is a Great Courses lecture collection on meditation. “Rediscovering the Age of Dinosaurs” features a dinosaur paleontologist.
Mysteries and thrillers
“Goddess Complex” by Sanjena Sathian examines millennial adulthood in this psychological thriller. “Silent as the Grave” by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles is a Molly Murphy mystery. “Strangers in Time” by David Baldacci is set in World War II London. “Gifted and Talented” by Olivie Blake is a fantasy featuring three telepathic siblings after their father’s death. “The Maid’s Secret” by Nita Prose begins with the loss of a priceless treasure. “Stone Yard Devotional” by Charlotte Wood follows a burnt-out woman who retreats to a convent.
“Havoc” by Christopher Bollen is a psychological thriller set in a luxury hotel on the Nile. “Murder at the Gulls Nest” by Jess Kidd is the first in a new 1950s Seaside mystery series. “The Perfect Divorce” by Jeneva Rose features a high-powered attorney. “Overkill” by J.A. Jance is an Ali Reynolds mystery. “Nowhere” by Allison Gunn is set in a small fundamentalist town. “What He Left Behind” by Benjamin Bradley is a Det. Grace Bingham mystery.
Other novels
“Sandwich” by Catherine Newman brings unusual events to a family’s annual Cape Cod vacation. “Tilt” by Emma Pattee follows a pregnant woman after the long-predicted massive Pacific Northwest earthquake. “Blood Test” by Charles Baxter is a comedic novel about a divorced midwestern dad. “Flesh” by David Szalay features a teen living in Hungary. “I See You’ve Called In Sick” by John Kenney is about a very unhappy obituary writer.
“Summer Light on Nantucket” by Nancy Thayer is about rekindled relationships. “Audition” by Katie Kitamura begins when two people meet for lunch in a New York restaurant. “The Shining Mountains” by Alix Christie is set in the Rocky Mountain west. “The Quiet Librarian” by Allen Eskens renews a secret from worn-torn Bosnia.
Books on CD
“The Perfect Divorce” by Jeneva Rose is a thriller. “When She Was Gone” by Sara Foster is a psychological thriller. “Into the Gray Zone” by Brad Taylor is a Pike Logan thriller. “Earthbreaker” by Hannah Kaner is the third and final book in the Fallen Gods fantasy series. “Shadow of the Solstice” by Anne Hillerman is a Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito Navajo Nation mystery.
“Overkill” by J.A. Jance is an Ali Reynolds mystery. “The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits” by Jennifer Weiner features two pop music sensations. “Rhino: The Rise of a Warrior” by Nicholas Sansbury Smith is a Hell Divers sci-fi adventure. “Fight or Flight” by Fern Michaels features a recluse author. “Beneath the Surface” by Emily McIntyre is a survivor romance in the Sugarlake series.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful for the generous monetary gift from Lawrence Shideler.
Donations guidelines
The Friends of the Library have 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
“Friendship adds a brighter radiance to prosperity and lessens the burden of adversity by dividing and sharing it.” — Cicero, Roman scholar, lawyer, philosopher, orator and writer who lived during Julius Caeser’s reign.
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.
