Katherine from VITA Tax Help will return to your library one more time next Monday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help patrons who are filing returns late. But, you need to do some homework before you take advantage of her generous offer to provide face-to-face help.
Katherine has left tax packets that must be filled out fully before you make your appointment. Then, once you have completed that required step, appointments must be made in advance by calling her at (970) 553-9150.
We are very grateful to Katherine for donating her time and sharing her tax experience and expertise with our patrons free of charge.
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 7 with Peggy Bergon will go back into history when Hispanic sheepherders expressed their loneliness and artistic talents with arborglyphs carved on aspen trees.
• 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 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, May 7, at noon will showcase “Thriving with Anxiety” with Dr. David Rosmarin.
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.
Teen/tween takeover
tomorrow
We are setting aside the large meeting room and some of the computers for tweens and teens to use and spend time with friends Friday, May 2, from 2 to 3 p.m.
LEGO play Saturday
Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO Club on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours to free build.
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.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, May 5, 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. Preregistration is required.
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.
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.
Short story collections
“The Problem You Have” by Robert Garner McBrearty contains stories about a diverse group of characters encountering turning points in their lives, some with dark themes and all with compassion and humor. They include a minor criminal seeking warmth on a frigid night, an over-the-hill pitcher refusing to leave the mound and a young couple meeting a couple they never want to become.
How-to and self-help
“Parent Yourself First” by marriage and family therapist Bryana Kappadakunnel offers advice on how to address common woes like tantrums. “Knitted Animal Friends” and “Knitted Animal Toys” by Louise Crowther contain patterns for animal dolls, clothes and accessories. “Advanced Home Wiring” is the updated sixth edition of this Black and Decker guide. “The Science of Cleaning” by Dr. Dario Bressanini is a guide to cleaning everything in your home in a sustainable way. “Parents in Recovery” by Sarah Allen Benton is a personal guide to coping wisely.
“Working Mother” by Rachel Morris offers simple coaching strategies for success at work and home. “Ultimate Guide to Plumbing” is the updated sixth edition of this Creative Homeowner guide. “Love the Foods That Love the Planet” by Cathy Katin-Grazzini features low-carbon recipes from around the world. “Selling Your House” and “Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits” are Nolo guides.
Other nonfiction
“Pay the People!” by John Driscoll, Morris Pearl and a group calling themselves The Patriotic Millionaires documents why fair pay is good for business and great for America. “Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,” “Australia” and “The Netherlands” are Insight travel guides. “Carbon: The Book of Life” by Paul Hawken explores the most versatile element on the planet. “Cadillac Desert” by Marc Reisner is a history of the American West and its disappearing water. “What Rivers Know: Listening to the Voice of Global Waterways” by Basia Irland explores what rivers would say about climate change and interactions with humans if they could talk.
DVDs
“Mufasa” is the Disney movie about the rise of the Lion King. “Tulsa King” starring Sylvester Stallone is season two. “Your Honor” starring Bryan Cranston are season one and two on two discs. “Dog Man” is a Dreamworks animation film. “Ex-husbands” is a comedy drama. “Prey” is an action thriller set in the Comanche Nation. “Regular Show” is the complete animated series. “The Night Agent” is season one. “Great Migrations: A People on the Move” hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. looks at the powerful influence of Black migration on America. “The Room Next Door” stars Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. “One of Them Days” is a comedy about two friends racing to avoid eviction. “Whitstable Pearl” is the mystery series set in seaside England.
Mysteries and thrillers
“Girl Anonymous” by Christina Dodd is a dark romantic thriller “Nobody’s Fool” by Harlan Coben features Det. Sami Kierce, now a PI. “The Wharton Plot” by Mariah Fredericks is based on a true story about Edith Wharton. “Murder Road” by Simone St. James begins when a young couple picks up a hitchhiker.
“Rosarita” by Anita Desai is a mystery about a mother’s past set in San Miguel, Mexico. “House of Bone and Rain” by Cabino Iglesias follows three young men intent on vengeance after one of their mothers is murdered. “The Forger’s Requiem” by Bradford Morrow brings readers inside the world of expert forgery involving Mary Shelley’s letters. “Haunting of Room 904” by Erika Wurth features a paranormal investigator.
Other novels
“Everybody Says It’s Everything” by Xhenet Aliu features adopted twins separated by divergent interests as teens. “The Filling Station” by Vanessa Miller follows two sisters coping with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that destroyed Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street. “Too Soon” by Betty Shamieh tells of a woman, her mother and grandmother fleeing war-torn Jaffa, chasing the American dream and daring to stage a show in Palestine.
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
“Do anything you can to keep on an even keel with your family and friends, no matter what happens in your life. That’s all we have. Don’t hide things. You’ve got to get up every day thinking about how you’re going to make it easier for the people that you’re working with or that you love. ... Because it’s infectious; everybody starts feeling good.” — Danny DeVito, actor, producer and director who became famous for his role in the TV sitcom “Taxi,” winning an Emmy and Golden Globe for his performance.
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.
