If your toddlers are bored with their toys and want something different to play with, here’s good news: We have developed a collection of toys for children aged 3-6 that are available for free checkout — and they’re geared to learning as well as fun.
Examples include multicolored magnetized blocks and tiles in a variety of shapes like squares, triangles and pie shapes that toddlers can use to build whatever their creativity and interests desire. Other toys are gears, a loom kit and a flower garden building set — and more are on the way.
While the kids play, parents and caregivers can take advantage of guides to help make the toys tools to develop skills including spatial thinking, color perception, fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination.
All sets can be checked out for three weeks. We hope you enjoy this latest addition to our children’s services designed to support your child’s earliest development.
Save the date for Friends book sale
Please mark your calendar for next Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the Friends of the Library will host a popup book sale in the large meeting room of your library. Also, please see the new donations guidelines below if you are intending to donate books to the Friends.
Live and online author talks
Today, Thursday, Jan. 23, from 1 to 2 p.m., we will host local author Patty Latham at a free session where she will discuss her three popular published books, all set in Pagosa, that feature veterinarian Josie Tate.
Preceding that live talk is a free online author talk at noon in our New York Times bestselling authors series showcasing Amanda Montell, author of “The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality.” For details and to register, go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming .
Potholder party tomorrow
Join us Friday, Jan. 24, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., when all ages are invited to make those potholders you made as a kid and create new ones. All materials are supplied at this free event.
Adult knitting Saturday
Join new and experienced knitters Saturday, Jan. 25, 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.
Shakespeare read-aloud
Shakespeare fans of all ages are invited to join in reading aloud “The Comedy of Errors” that began Monday, Jan. 13, and will run through Feb. 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the free Shakespeare Read Aloud Club. This is an all-ages program. Call Jenny at (240) 426-7887 for more information.
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.
Online author talk
Our highly popular free online author talks continue next Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. when Seth Fishman will discuss “An Inside Look at Working with a Literary Agent.” For details and to register, go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming.
Dungeons and Dragons
Next Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., join our Dungeons and Dragons game free for teens and young adults. Preregistration is required because space is limited. Contact Josie@pagosalibrary.org to join.
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.
Writers Guild
Every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m., the 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.
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.
Nonfiction ‘For Dummies’ books
We have five new “For Dummies” guides covering artificial intelligence, probability, statistics, trigonometry and iPhone for seniors.
Other nonfiction
“The Cancer Journey” by Dr. Chadi Nabhan is a Johns Hopkins Press book dealing with diagnosis, treatment, recovery and prevention. “Essential Wilderness Navigation” is a guide to finding your way with or without a map, compass or GPS. “Preserving with a Purpose” by Sarah Thrush is a canning and preserving book with 125 recipes. “Instant Pot, Air Fryer and Slow Cooker Cookbook” is a Taste of Home book with more than 130 recipes. “Watercolor in Nature” by Rosalie Haizlett teaches how to paint woodland wildlife and botanicals with 20 beginner-friendly projects. “Knitting Design” by Sharon Turner shows how to fashion your own knits from a master pattern. “Knitting Socks” by Ann Budd contains 16 patterns. “More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts” by Joelle Hoverson has 30 ideas for elegant gifts for all levels of knitters.
Large print westerns
“Some Die Young” by William W. and J.A. Johnstone is book two in the Man from Waco series. “Riders of the Skull” by John D. Nesbitt is a murder mystery. “On the Royle Range,” also by William W. and J.A. Johnstone, is book three in the Forever Texas series.
Other large print
“The Serviceberry” by Indigenous scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer considers how our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition and the hoarding of resources. “Close to Death” by Anthony Horowitz is a Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery. “We Three Queens” by Rhys Bowen is a Royal Spyness mystery. “The Baxters Devotional” by Karen Kingsbury offers 30 timeless truths from the author’s popular fictional family.
Books on CD
“An Honored Vow” by Melissa Blair is the final book in the Halfling Saga romantasy series. “How To Sleep at Night” by Elizabeth Harris revolves around a family after a member decides to run for Congress as a Republican. “Immortal” by Sue Lynn Tan is a romantic fantasy about a young ruler fighting to protect her kingdom.
Mysteries, suspense and thrillers
“Triangle” by Danielle Steel features an art gallery owner in Paris. “The Mistletoe Mystery” by Nita Prose is a Molly Gray mystery involving a Secret Santa gift exchange. “Bellevue” by Robin Cook is a medical thriller. “Golden Hour” by Brett Battles features Stuart Woods’ characters Teddy Fay and Stone Barrington.
Other novels
“Lazarus Man” by Richard Price follows the lives of residents after their tenement collapses in East Harlem. “The Book Swap” by Tessa Bickers tells of a pen pal relationship written in the margins of books. “Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books” by Kirsten Miller reveals the clever way a busybody censor of books is foiled. “The Husbands” by Holly Gramazio is a humorous look at swapping husbands. “The Mystery of Time” by Kaliane Bradley features a civil servant working on a top secret project. “Trial by Fire” by Danielle Steel focuses on a Parisian woman trapped in a Napa Valley wildfire. “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston highlights a nice Southern girl with a perfect life who doesn’t exist.
New donations guidelines
Please note these new donation guidelines established by the Friends of the Library for their book sales that help supplement the library collections and fund other requests that benefit your library.
When we are 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.
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.
No more than two boxes at a time because of space constraints and ensure all books in excellent condition, please.
This week we want to thank our many anonymous donors for their generous donations, especially those who responded to the 2025 goal of Barb Brattin, our library director, to improve and expand our nonfiction collection. Please see the Jan. 9 “Library News” column for more details.
Quotable quote
“Trust is like the air we breathe — when it’s present, nobody really notices; when it’s absent, everybody notices.” — Warren Buffett, American investor and philanthropist who is chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and one of the best known investors in the world.
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.
