Tomorrow afternoon, Friday, May 30, we are hosting the Summer Reading Kickoff Party from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Book lovers of all ages will enjoy free food, crafts and fun at this annual event that marks the start of the many highly popular Summer Reading activities that result in many enjoyable experiences and prizes for all ages.
Watch for details with dates and times of Summer Reading events and activities in future “Library News” columns throughout the summer. And, 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.
Virtual reality Holocaust films
Today through Friday, June 6, we are hosting a first-in-the world virtual reality exhibition with five unique films featuring Holocaust survivors walking us through their 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 via virtual reality headsets.
We are privileged to share it with you free of charge, thanks to a generous loan from the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.
The films will show daily. They average 17 minutes in length, and you can watch one movie or up to all five for a total of 83.5 minutes. Each showing is limited to 10 people because that’s how many headsets we have.
“We will have staff and volunteers to help you set up the headsets,” said Judy Brennan, adult services librarian. “As well, we encourage you to be prepared for an emotional response to these films and make self-care a priority before and after viewing.
“You also will want to consider what age is appropriate for children to attend.”
Please pick up a handout with all the dates and times at your library, or find them on our website.
Online author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks with New York Times bestselling authors continue in June 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.
On Wednesday, June 4, at noon, will feature “Extinctopedia–A Discovery of What We Have Lost, What is at Risk, and What To Do About it with Smithsonian Scientists.”
On Tuesday, June 10, at noon we’ll interact with Lisa Jewell on “Exploring Unexpected Twists and Turns.”
June 24 at 2 p.m. will feature Katherine Applegate on “Living the Otter Life,” a children’s book in verse for those in the third through sixth grades.
Save Fridays for Summer Reading crafts
Starting Friday, June 6, we will have free crafts for all ages from 1 to 2:30 p.m. every Friday.
June 6 will be drawing and painting, June 13 will be fiber arts, June 20 will be photography, and June 27 will be 3-D art and décor.
Date changes for
conversational Spanish
Conversational Spanish happens today, May 29, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Then, starting in June, the group will move its days and gather on the second and fourth Mondays of the month from 4 to 5 p.m.
This is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish in a free group setting. No minimum skill level is needed.
Brain fitness program Monday
In a community partnership program, Judy is leading a free 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, June 2, for amateur musicians who would like a safe, supportive, non-bar setting to play, sing or both with other people.
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
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
Free in-person slots are available from 2 to 4 p.m. on 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.
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.
Mysteries and thrillers
“The Staircase in the Woods” by Chuck Wendig is a horror story about five high school friends on a camping trip. “Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton” by Jane Smiley features an abolitionist woman posing as a boy searching for killers in slave territory. “The Amateur” by Robert Littell is a spy classic featuring a back-office CIA cryptographer.
Other novels
“The Friend” by Sigrid Nunez unites a woman and a dog when she unexpectantly becomes responsible for a great Dane. “The Amalfi Curse” by Sarah Penner is a story of witchcraft and sunken treasure. “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry features two writers competing for the opportunity to write the biography of a reclusive woman. “The Anthropologists” by Avsegul Savas follows a couple house hunting and building a new life away from their country of origin.
Nonfiction
“Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness” by David Attenborough and Colin Butfield includes photos and illustrations as it explores our last great wilderness that is both fragile and resilient. “The Electric State” by Simon Stalenhag is an illustrated dystopian sci-fi story using paragraphs linked to large artworks to tell about a teenage girl and her robot searching for her long-lost brother. “The Jemez Mountains” by Thomas W. Swetnam recounts the history of these New Mexico mountains in words and photos. “Burn Book” by Kara Swisher is an expose of the tech industry and its founders. We have two LSAT preparation guides, one by the Princeton Review and the other by Kaplan.
“How to Stand Up to a Dictator” by CNN reporter Maria Ressa tells of her work in the Philippines. “America, America” by Greg Grandin is a new five-century history of North and South America. “Careless People” by Sarah Wunn-Williams is an insider’s look at Facebook’s leaders and policies by one of its senior executives. “No New Things” by Ashlee Piper is a witty, no-nonsense, 30-day guide to cutting back on shopping while eliminating clutter and saving money. “The Body Keeps Score” by trauma expert Dr. Besse Van Der Kolk explains scientific advancements and innovative treatments to help trauma victims heal.
Large print
“Tooth and Claw” by Craig Johnson is a Longmire adventure set in Alaska. “Booked for Murder” by P.J. Nelson is book one of the Old Juniper Bookstore mystery series. “The Bandit and Other Best Western Stories” by Loren D. Estleman is a collection of short western stories. “The Truth: The Future of America First” by Vivek Ramaswamy is authored by this 2023 Republican presidential candidate. “Reckoning Day” by Robert Vaughn features a bounty hunter in the Southwest.
DVDs
“The War of the Rohirrim” is a “Lord of the Rings” film. “Museum Alive” is a tour of London’s Natural History Museum with David Attenborough. “The Madame Blanc Mysteries” is season three. “Paddington in Peru” and “Paddington 2” are family films featuring the famous English bear. We have seasons three and four of “Grace and Frankie,” and seasons one, two and three of “Call the Midwife.”
Thanks to your donors
We are grateful to the Randy Kroemer family for their generous donation of books.
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
“I surround myself with people who are happy and positive and smart and funny.” — Ina Garten, author of 13 bestselling cookbooks that have sold 14 million copies worldwide and host of the Food Network TV program “Barefoot Contessa.” Among her most famous dishes are perfect roast chicken, weeknight bolognese, French apple tart and a simplified version of beef bourguignon. Her culinary career began with her gourmet food store, also called Barefoot Contessa, in the Hamptons on Long Island, N.Y.
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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