Today, Thursday, April 3, at 5:30 p.m., county sheriff and emergency management personnel will be at your library to help you get ready for the wildfire season.
During this free talk they will discuss emergency preparation, fuel mitigation and how their efforts help us all stay alive.
More elementary tutors needed
We are in need of more tutors for our free elementary tutoring sessions for children ages 6-11 on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. to help them build essential skills in core subjects.
This program has become so popular that we are looking for more tutors to participate. If you have teaching experience in early grades and are interested, please contact Barb Brattin, library director.
Free tax help
Katherine from VITA Tax Help will return to your library next Monday, April 7, from 9 to 5:30 p.m. to help more patrons with face-to-face sessions. But, you need to do some homework before you come if you want to take advantage of her generous offer.
Katherine has left tax packets that must be filled out fully before you make your appointment. Then, once you have completed that important step, appointments must be made in advance by calling her at (970) 553-9150.
We are very grateful to Katherine for generously donating her time and sharing her tax experience and expertise with our patrons free of charge.
Lifelong Learning moves to afternoons
Mark your calendars for the new spring Lifelong Learning lectures beginning April 16 and running through May 21 — and note that they are now happening on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m. 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, the informative and interesting talks will cover a wide variety of topics from astronomy to weather, arborglyphs art to estate planning, and more.
Watch for more details in future “Library News” columns and pick up a brochure at your library with details of all the talks.
Online author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks with New York Times bestselling authors continue in April 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 .
Tuesday, April 8, at noon will focus on “Stories, Science and the History of Trees” with the Smithsonian Institute.
Thursday, April 24, at 5 p.m. will feature “The Thrill of Writing Action, Adventure and Suspense” with Gregg Hurwitz.
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 in April from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for a free afterschool adventure.
Registration is required. Participants must be in middle school and registered with the PCI afterschool programs.
This Dungeon and Dragons program will continue until the end of the school year.
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, April 4, from 2 to 4 p.m.
LEGO Club Saturday
Kids aged 6-11 are invited to the free LEGO Club on Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to noon. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours to free build.
Ageless Grace exercise Monday
In a special community partnership program, Judy, adult services librarian, is leading an Ageless Grace exercise program at the Pagosa Senior Center every Monday in April 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, April 7, 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. Registration is required.
Ruby’s Book Club
Ruby’s Book Club will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, to discuss “James: A Novel” by Percival Everett. Copies are available at your library.
This 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, April 9, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
“Who Is Government?” edited by Michael Lewis is a collection of profiles of highly competent but unrecognized people working for the federal government. “Guide to Better Sleep” is a Mayo Clinic book. “The Next Conversation” by Jefferson Fisher offers a framework for arguing less and improving your conversations. “Cabin” by Patrick Hutchison is a memoir of life in an off-the-grid Pacific Northwest cabin. “Growing a Sensational Garden in the Southern Rocky Mountains” by Nan Fischer is a monthly guide for Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. “Antisemitism in America: A Warning” is written by Sen. Chuck Schumer, the highest elected Jewish official in U.S. history. “Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson explores laws and institutions that are not working in a time of scarcity in our country.
“The Complete Native American Healing Herbs Encyclopedia” by Hialeah Garcia Navarro explains ancient remedies from Native American apothecary. “Yoga and Osteoporosis” by Dr. Loren Fishman and Carol Ardman is a revised and updated guide. “Bodyweight Workouts for Beginners” by Sean Bartram provides 60 gym-free exercises and 30 workout routines. “Canva for Dummies” by Jesse Stay uses templates to help you create flyers, posters and social media posts. “Reversing Alzheimer’s” by Dr. Heather Sandison and Kate Hanley distills research into actionable steps to help you improve cognition and protect brain health.
Short stories
“The Best Short Stories 2024: The O. Henry Prize Winners” edited by Amor Towles contains 20 stories by an international array of talented writers from Michele Mari and Colin Barrett to Allegra Goodman and Jess Walter.
DVDs
“A Quiet Place” is a thriller set in New York City the day the world went silent. “The Madame Blanc Mysteries” is series two. We have both season one and season two of “The White Lotus.”
Novels
“Another Man in the Street” by Caryl Phillips follows two immigrants in London in the 1960s. “The Road to the Country” by Chigozie Obioma tells of a university student in Lagos living amid the chaos of civil war. “Remember When” by Mary Balogh is a Ravenswood romance. “The River Has Roots” by Amal El-Mohtar is a fairy tale fantasy about two sisters. “Colored Television” by Danzy Senna is a dark comedy about a writer trying to make it in Hollywood.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful to Andrew Davis and Kimberly Rochester for their generous monetary donations.
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
“When my dad’s eyesight was failing, one of the great regrets of his life was that he couldn’t read anymore, because he loved his books. So I would read the Psalms to him every morning on the phone. He’d go, ‘Slow down, slow down,’ because he really wanted to take in every word.” — Rosanne Cash, oldest daughter of Johnny Cash and his first wife. Her musical career began when she joined her father on a tour in 1973. A highly successful singer-songwriter herself, her music draws from folk, pop, rock, country and blues.
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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