By Carole Howard | OVERVIEW The Columnist and Library Staff
Next week, your library is hosting three very special free events:
• Tomorrow, Friday, July 22, from 2:30-3:45 p.m., experts from the Ocean First Institute, a research lab in Boulder, will present their research on sharks and discuss the importance of conservation of these creatures amazing.
• Next Monday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., professional musician Steve Weeks will perform in a fun children’s concert sponsored by the Pagosa Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club which will include dancing, singing and laughter .
• Next Wednesday, July 27, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., students in grades 6 to 12 are invited to participate in an escape room adventure where you will solve puzzles and find clues to help you find the treasure and save yourself before the bedroom sinks.
Early closing
next Wednesday
On Wednesday, July 27, your library will close at 4 p.m. because the Ruby Sisson Library Foundation is hosting the Chamber of Commerce after-hours gathering this month.
Public health
talks continue
Your library welcomes public health professionals and public health resources from the San Juan Basin for four free in-person sessions on Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. from July 11 to August 1 to talk about a wide variety of topics from important health.
On July 25, Francila Pena will cover cancer prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancer.
The August 1st session will explain health insurance enrollment and how to choose the best plan for you. Spanish interpretation will be available for this session.
More details on the presentations are available in the leaflets that you can get at your library.
PALS Adult Education is Growing
By popular demand, Mark is doubling the number of his free PALS sessions to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to help with high school equivalency, GED, college prep, financial aid , tutoring and more. No registration is required. This service is in high demand and is used by many people, so we are very happy to make it more available.
No Tech Times in July
There will be no Tech Times in July. Tech Time will return at a future date to be announced later.
summer reading
Current program
It’s not too late to sign up at your library or register online for this year’s summer reading program, which is underway with the theme “Oceans of Possibilities”. Get a bingo card as participants get a small prize each time you fill out a bingo sheet.
The summer reading program includes activities for all ages that are fun, free and educational. And, it encourages learning and new opportunities for everyone, from toddlers to seniors.
Watch for details of special summer reading events in this column and future “Library News” columns throughout the summer. And, pick up a copy of the Events Calendar from your library each month to make sure you and your family don’t miss any of the fun. There are three versions: children, teenagers and adults.
Summer Reading Club for Kids Today
At our summer book club today, Thursday, July 21, from 10-11:30 a.m., we’ll be exploring the mysteries of the deep, including mermaids and monsters. Next Thursday, July 28, we will hear from guest expert Mr. Kurz how the weather in the oceans affects us here in the mountains. This free club is open to kids in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Dungeons and Dragons virtually and in person
Today, Thursday, July 21, from 3-5 p.m., it’s our free ongoing Dungeons and Dragons virtual game for teens and young adults, available every other Thursday on Discord. Then join us on Tuesday, July 26 from 4-6 p.m. for our in-person Dungeons and Dragons game. Contact [email protected] to find out how to join either or both games. Free in-person sessions are held at your library on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Interactive ‘Moana’
tomorrow
Tomorrow, Friday, July 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., we will watch the Disney movie “Vaana” while singing, moving and playing with the screen.
LEGO Club on Saturday
Kids ages 6 and up are invited to let their imaginations run wild (LEGOs are provided) on Saturday, July 23 from 11 a.m. to noon for the free LEGO Club. LEGO Challenges are also posted on Facebook if you can’t make it to the library.
Writing Challenge
A new writing challenge for all ages will be posted July 25 on the library’s Facebook page. We hope you will challenge your creativity by participating in this free activity.
Walk of stories
Our very popular StoryWalk has resumed in a new location. We are pleased to partner with the City of Pagosa Springs to bring the StoryWalk to downtown Riverwalk. It starts at the Ross Aragon Community Center and heads north towards the Growing Domes. From July 11-25, you’ll experience “The ABCs of Woodsey,” when you explore the outdoors with Woodsey the Owl, a National Forest Service mascot.
Family story time
Wednesdays from 10am to 11am, join us for stories, games and lots of good reasons to get up and move.
English as a second language courses
Free in-person evening classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-5 p.m. for beginners and 5-7 p.m. for intermediate and advanced students. Help us promote these courses to other members of our community who would be interested and contact us by phone or email if you have any questions.
Library hours
Most of our programs are in person and curbside service continues. Additionally, our hours are back to pre-COVID levels — and even more on weekdays:
• On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, your library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• On Tuesdays and Thursdays, your library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• On Saturdays, your library is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Downloadable books
CloudLibrary offers a wide variety of downloadable eBooks and audiobooks for all ages. Accessing your library’s free digital collection has never been easier. Just download the cloudLibrary app, answer a few simple questions, select AspenCat Union Catalog for your library name, then enter your library card number and four-digit PIN. You are now ready to browse, borrow, and read eBooks and audiobooks using cloudLibrary. Library staff will be happy to help you set up your device if you need help.
DVD
“Native Peoples of North America” is a Smithsonian documentary. “Life in the World’s Oceans” is a Smithsonian documentary. “Determined: Curing Alzheimer’s Disease” is a PBS documentary. “The Bad Guys” is a DreamWorks Animation action comedy based on the Scholastic book series. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” is the latest film featuring the Crowley family and their crew.
Large print
Leslie Meier’s “Easter Bonnet Murder” is a Lucy Stone mystery. Tarryn Fisher’s “An Honest Lie” tells the story of a woman who goes missing during a girls’ weekend in Las Vegas.
Books on CD
“Snowstorm in August” by Marshall Karp tells the story of a team of retired cops who pursue the most powerful drug lord on the planet in New York. Tom Perrotta’s “Tracy Flick Can’t Win” looks back on the life of Tracy, now in her 40s and vice principal at a public high school. “The Omega Factor” by Steve Berry is a mystery about the mysterious secrets of the Ghent Altarpiece. Elin Hilderbrand’s “The Hotel Nantucket” is about a summer of scandal at a historic hotel. Fiona Barton’s “Local Gone Missing” is set in a seaside town where old and newcomers are at odds. “A Face to Die For” by Iris Johansen is an Eve Duncan mystery. “Red on the River” by Christine Feehan is a romantic thriller.
nonfiction
“His Name Is George Floyd” by Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa is a portrait of the life and times of a black man whose murder sparked the largest protest movement in state history. -United. “Battle for the American Mind” by Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin explores the struggle to control the education of children in America. “How to Keep House While Drowning” by JC Davis is a guide to using creative shortcuts to transform your home from messy to functional. “Essential Home Skills” by Chris Peterson is a Black and Decker guide to common household headaches for new homeowners.
Mysteries and thrillers
Fiona Barton’s “Local Gone Missing” is set in a seaside town where old and newcomers are at odds. Adrian McKinty’s ‘The Island’ follows a woman and her two hapless stepchildren in grave danger on a remote Australian island. “The Local” by Joey Hartstone is a legal thriller set in Texas. Lauren Belfer’s “Ashton Hall” begins when a skeleton is found in a historic mansion in England. James Byrne’s “The Gate Keeper” is about a plot involving the kidnapping of the daughter of a multinational CEO.
Other Novels
“Boom Town” is a story of Lake Wobegon by Garrison Keillor. Pulitzer Prize-winning Geraldine Brooks’ “Horse,” based on a true story, tells the story of an art historian and a Smithsonian scientist bonded by their shared interest in a racehorse. Linda Holmes’ “Flying Solo” follows a woman who returns home after her annulled marriage. “The Hotel Nantucket” by Elin Hilderbrand is a tale of a summer of scandal at a legendary hotel. Alison Fairbrother’s “The Catch” focuses on the aftermath of a will in which a father leaves a prized possession to someone whose family has never heard of. Werner Herzog’s “The Twilight World” imagines the life of Hiroo Onoda, the soldier who defended an island in the Philippines for decades after World War II.
Donations
We are grateful to Leslie Wustrack for her generous cash donation.
With the Friends of the Library sale just completed, we and the Friends are taking a break from donating materials until August.
Quoteable quote
“Marriage is a 50-year conversation. Marry someone you want to talk to for the rest of your life. — David Brooks, a Canadian-born conservative political and cultural journalist who writes op-eds for The New York Times and comments on NPR and the PBS NewsHour.
Website
For more information about library books, services, and programs — and to reserve books, e-books, CDs, and DVDs from the comfort of your home — please visit our website at: pagosalibrary.org.
