Starting today, Thursday, July 11, and running through the weekend is the Friends of the Library annual book sale at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis Street. Early bird sales and a potluck for Friends members only is tonight, Thursday evening from 5:30 – 7:30pm. The general public is welcome Friday from 9 – 3pm. and Saturday from 9am – noon.
You’ll find a wide variety of new and gently used fiction and nonfiction titles from children’s books to cookbooks and many more at excellent prices.
This event also offers an excellent opportunity for you to become a Friend of the Library. Annual membership is $15 for individuals and $25 per family. A lifetime membership is $150. To become a member, email cindi@pagosalibrary.org, go to www.pagosalibrary.org or sign up at your library. You can also become a member at the door of the event.
This book sale is a wonderful opportunity for you to buy books for yourself, your family and for gifts at amazingly low prices while helping your library continue to thrive. The sale raises funds for much needed library projects, programs and services.
Special housing voucher program
Next Tuesday, July 16 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Housing Solutions of the Southwest will be here to help you to complete an application for eligibility in their programs. Applying does not guarantee a voucher. Applicants must be at or below the extremely low-income guidelines set for the county by HUD (the federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development). If you have questions, contact Housing Solutions of the Southwest at (970) 259-1086 or email them at housing@swsolutions.com.
Summer Reading Program underway
“Adventure Begins at your Library!” is the theme of this year’s free all-ages Summer Reading Program underway now. Choose your own adventure from the Smokey Bear reading challenge celebrating Smokey’s 80th birthday, a travel journal challenge where you document your experiences as you try new things and visit new places in the area, and a Camp Ruby Sisson bingo challenge that brings back our much-loved bingo sheets.
Prizes are available for all ages for each week of Summer Reading activities completed, and those results also put your name into a raffle for the grand prize at the concluding party on August 9, Smokey’s birthday. Sign up now in person or online and watch for details in this Library News column of all the fun free Summer Reading events coming your way.
Hiking safety event next Thursday
On July 18 from 6 – 7:15 p.m. members of our local San Juan Outdoor Club will offer guidelines and helpful tips for hiking safety in our wilderness. As well, members of the Upper San Juan Search and Rescue organization and the Sheriff’s Department Emergency Management team will be present to answer questions about their work and their role in assisting persons lost in the mountains.
Fairy Tale Theatre tomorrow
All ages are invited to a Fairy Tale Theatre from 2 – 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, July 12, when you can read and act out your favorite characters. Aesop’s Fables and Fairytales will be our source for fun stories we will enjoy together.
Spanish conversation
Practice your Spanish in a free group setting on Tuesday, July 16 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. No minimum skill level needed. This group meets twice a month, on the first and third Tuesdays.
Teen Camp Half-blood on Wednesday
Wednesdays in July from 1 – 2:30 p.m. is our free Camp Half-blood for teens. It is based on the very popular Percy Jackson novels and will allow fans to participate in Escape Room- style activities centered around Greek myths, just like Percy Jackson. Each week teens will be presented with puzzles and STEM challenges like “Create a device that will locate and capture the bugs that escaped from Pandora’s box” or “Arachne left webs to help you find a way through a secret passage in the labyrinth.”
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join a free educational hour of reading, singing and free play to build early literacy skills.
Writers Guild
Thursdays from 9-11 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 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 2-4 p.m. Thursdays. Judy 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.
Pagosa Adult Learning Services (PALS)
Join Mark or Sally for free PALS sessions Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 – 8 p.m. to help with high school equivalency, GED, college prep, financial aid, tutoring and more. PALS stands for Pagosa Adult Learning Services.
Local authors
“Chaco Culture at Chimney Rock” by Dr. Susan Fischer and Howard Rowe is a guide to our almost-local national monument that is an archeological site covering seven square miles. It showcases 200 ancient homes and ceremonial buildings celebrating life of the Ancient Puebloans more than a thousand years ago. Fischer, a resident of Pagosa, is a retired professor at the University of Texas and a current interpretive tour guide at Chimney Rock. Rowe, a resident of Bayfield, is an avid photographer and interactive video maker and an active volunteer at Chimney Rock.
Nonfiction
“Chamber Divers” by Rachel Lance is the previously classified story of researchers who invented cutting-edge underwater reconnaissance tools that helped lead the Allies to D-Day victory. “The Complete Book of Boondock RVing” by Bill and Jan Moeller is a guide to camping off the beaten path, without hookups, and avoiding crowded RV parks. “Van Life” by Sarah Leamy tells of a woman and her two pups and a cat exploring the west and meeting people as they go.
Books on CD
“The Unvanquished” by Patrick K. O’Donnell explores the irregular guerilla warfare that altered the course of the Civil War and inspired the origins of America’s modern special ops forces. “Clete” by James Lee Burke is the latest in the Dave Robicheaux series, this one dealing with drug smugglers. “Shanghai” by Joseph Kanon is a thriller set in pre-World War II Shanghai.
Large print
“We’ve Got Issues” by Phillip C. McGraw offers advice and tools to fight back against the forces of division in the U.S. “What Would Reagan Do?” by Chris Christie and Ellis Henican looks at how Reagan’s political instincts and relationships across party lines can restore American leadership. “The Man from Waco” by William W. and J.A. Johnstone is book one in a new western series.
Thanks to our donors
Our thanks to Gloria Flynn for materials donations. When we are open, material donations are accepted for the Friends of the Library at the front desk – not down the outside returns slot at the library or the dropbox at City Market, please. Guidelines for donations: Yes to popular fiction books published in 2013 or later, nonfiction books published 2018 or later, and children’s and young adult books – all in excellent condition, please. No need for CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray, VHS or cassette tapes, textbooks, outdated travel books or reference books because they do not sell. No more than two boxes at a time because of space constraints.
Quotable Quote
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson, American professional boxer.
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.
The Ruby Sisson Memorial Library has been located at 811 San Juan Street (corner of S. 8th and Hwy 160) since 1989. The library is overseen by the Upper San Juan Library District, a tax-funded special district in Archuleta County.