The hugely popular three-day Friends of the Library book sale happens this weekend at the Community United Methodist Church located downtown at 434 Lewis St.
You can take advantage of great bargains on books of all genres for all ages while helping the Friends raise money for your library’s programs and operations.
Thursday, July 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. is the members-only early shopping opportunity — and if you are not a member, you’re welcome to join at the door. Annual memberships are $15 per person or $25 per family. Lifetime memberships are $150 per person.
Friday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to noon the book sale is open to the public.
Library closure
We will close Aug. 4-9 to keep you safe as construction begins on our expansion project.
At that time, we will be constructing a new entrance and walkway from the new parking lot to the west and also building a temporary wall to separate our inside service area from construction activity.
We will welcome you back to our temporarily much reduced library space on Aug. 11.
No more book donations, please
Regretfully, Director Barb 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.
Library staff are deep into planning to minimize disruption to programs and patrons during construction. Digging up the current parking lot will be the first step, signaling the start of the project on Aug. 4, which is expected to continue through June 2026.
Initial construction involves creating a new entrance to the library on the west side of the building where you’ll enter through the community garden.
The new addition will feature a large program room that can accommodate 100 people or be divided in two for smaller groups, as well as a children’s room and an adjacent children’s garden.
Eagerly awaited improvements like these will happen only with some temporary dislocation to library operations as construction proceeds, according to Brattin.
“But, the good news is that we are staying in the building during construction,” she said.
The circulation desk will remain in place with your dedicated, knowledgeable staff there to help you, but you’ll enter the building by a different route. Parking will move to a new lot west of the library, which you’ll enter off U.S. 160.
You’ll have the same copy, fax and print services available, but fewer computers and no meeting rooms during construction.
Children’s programs will move temporarily to the Turner Reading Room, and the Hershey and Chimney Rock Collections will go into storage to make this happen. Inside bathrooms cannot be accessed, so porta-potties will have to do.
Brattin said that she and her team are looking for space elsewhere in the community to temporarily house programs like after-school tutoring, adult crafts and book clubs.
“We’re determined to keep disruptions to a minimum as construction proceeds over the next two years,” Brattin said. “We’re excited because we know the end result will make the temporary interruptions more than worthwhile as the new building will provide so many of the facilities our patrons have requested for a very long time.”
Brattin pointed out that the expansion is totally paid for by private donations and grants — not taxpayer money — that has raised $4.2 million.
As an example, she cited a $840,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Fundraising continues for upgrades to the existing building.
“All of us on staff are already dreaming of the new and improved programs and services we’ll be able to offer when the construction is complete,” she said.
Special birds event for kids
Today, Thursday, July 17, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Keith Bruno from the Audubon Society’s Community Naturalist Program will share lots of fun facts about local birds, including their camouflage coloring, at a free event for children.
Fun paper arts event tomorrow
Tomorrow, Friday, July 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., our Summer Reading Program presents Paper Arts and Printables, free crafts fun for all ages when we’ll enjoying coloring, calligraphy and paper mache.
Paws to Read tomorrow
Friday, July 18, from 2 to 3 p.m., youngsters are invited to share their favorite books with Maple, a therapy dog who loves stories, at a free Paws to Read session.
LEGO play Saturday
Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO build on Saturday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours.
Pokemon Club Saturday
If you love Pokemon, this club is for you. Bring your cards to a fun free all-ages event on Saturday, July 19, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. when you can play games with others who feel the same way. No experience is required.
Music fun Monday
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 21, for amateur musicians of all abilities to play, sing and jam 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.
Hiatus for bilingual storytimes
Please note that Hora de Cuentos, the bilingual storytime for children, will take a break in July and return in August.
Writers Guild
Every Thursday 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.
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 for these drop-in sessions, but please bring your device’s charger and passwords with you.
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.
Reading rewards
Pick up your free Summer Reading Program bingo sheets every week at the library through Aug. 1. Then, complete activities to earn rewards throughout the summer and a chance to win a grand prize. There will be awards for different age groups: infants and preschool, youth aged 5-11, tweens and teens, and adults.
And, pick up the Summer Reading Program flyer at the library so you don’t miss any of the free programs, events and 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.
How-to and self-help
“The Gut-Brain Paradox” by Dr. Steven R. Gundry uses science and recipes to offer tips on how to heal our microbiomes to take back control of our minds. “The Good Death” by hospice nurse Suzanne B. O’Brien provides practical advice and emotional supports for end-of-life planning. “The ABCs of Reloading/10th edition” by Philip P. Massaro is a guide to making your own ammunition. “Practical Shooting Training” by Ben Stoeger and Joel Park offers dryfire and live fire training drills. “Home Winemaking” by Jack B. Keller, Jr. provides 65 recipes for grapes, fruits and flowers. “The Disaster Ready Home” by Creek Stewart is a step-by-step emergency preparedness manual for sheltering in place.
“The Book of Home How-to” is the updated third edition of the Black and Decker guide. “ASVAB Premium Prep 2025-2026” is a Kaplan guide with study plans, practice tests, videos and quizzes. “Nature’s Medicine Cabinet” by Meagan Visser offers seasonal remedies and recipes for a year of botanical wellness. “Healing the Heart, Soul and Body” by Stephanie Spence provides spiritual guidance from yoga leaders. “The Modern Forager’s Cookbook” provides more than 75 recipes from the farm, forest, field and stream. “The Pocket Guide to Edible Wild Plants” features tips to forage safely and responsibly from the U.S. Department of the Army.
Other nonfiction
“The World Walk” by Tom Turcich documents seven years, 28,000 miles and six continents of a man’s walk around the world with his dog. “The Book of Stones” by Rob Connoley Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian is an expanded guide to crystals, minerals, gemstones and their metaphysical energies. “Hiking Colorado’s Western Slope” is a Falcon Guide featuring 39 of the best trails in the region. “Philosophy of the Future” by Jason Reza Jorjani shares six original concepts at the core of his beliefs.
Novels
“All We Were Promised” by Ashton Lattimore follows three young Black women in pre-Civil War Philadelphia whose lives cross unexpectedly and dangerously.
Books on CD
“The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau” by Kristin Harmel begins with the findings of a long-lost stolen bracelet. “The Death Mask” by Iris Johansen is an Eve Duncan thriller. “The President’s Shadow” by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo features a crusader with next-generation scientific skills. “Don’t Let Him In” by Lisa Jewell focuses on a man with a dark past. “Knave of Diamonds” by Laurie R. King is a suspense story featuring a woman and her uncle Sherlock Holmes. “Line of Demarcation” by Tom Clancy is a Jack Ryan Jr. adventure. “Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie” by James Lee Burke features 14-year-old Bessie Holland as the story’s narrator.
DVDs
“Recipes for Love and Murder” is series two. “The President’s Wife,” set in France, stars Catherine Deneuvre. “Signora Volpe” is series one. “Totem” is a film about a loving Mexican family celebrating a terminally ill father’s birthday. “The Friend” stars Bill Murray and Naomi Watts. “A Minecraft Movie” is a fantasy inspired by the video game. We have series one and two of “My Life is Murder.”
Quotable quote
“[UCLA basketball coach John Wooden] was determined that we become better men first and better basketball players second. He didn’t focus on winning, but he taught us in such a way that winning was a natural by-product of our striving.” — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won a record six NBA Most Valuable Player awards.
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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