Author Sherry Anderson once said, “Volunteers don’t get paid – not because they are worthless but because they are priceless.” Everyone on your library staff agrees. Our volunteers are everyday heroes who make a lasting impact on the service we provide you, your family and friends at your library. In fact, in 2022 our volunteers contributed 1,575 hours valued at $49,628, a huge amount of money, especially for a small library like ours.
National Volunteer Week is April 16-22 this year, and Meg Wempe, library director, and her team want to take this opportunity to say a special thanks to all of our volunteers. They help with so many important tasks including shelving, program prep, garden maintenance and more, and we are grateful for their skills and energy.
Please know that we appreciate you tremendously. As William James said, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
Lifelong Learning Tonight
Our new free spring Lifelong Learning lectures at 6pm in April and May are underway now. Tonight, Thursday, April 20, we welcome Bill Hudson discussing Northwest Coast Native American art.
April 27 showcases Jenifer Doane talking about the amazing honeybees and other native Colorado bees.
Library early closure
Your library will close at 5 p.m. next Monday, April 24 and on the fourth Monday of each month for a staff meeting.
Yoga storytime tomorrow
Children ages one-five are invited to Y is for Yoga Storytime tomorrow, Friday, April 21, from 10-10:30 a.m. when we’ll stretch while practicing early literary skills.
Books and art tomorrow
Kids Create is a mixed media art class based on a picture book tomorrow, Friday, April 21, from 2-3 p.m. for ages 6-11.
Earth Day Saturday
Join us to celebrate Earth Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 22, when you can learn ways to invest in our planet at our Earth Day display and pick up your Earth Day make-and-take kit.
New beginner computer class
Join us from 1-2 p.m. for a new free beginner computer class Mondays and Wednesdays aimed at adults who want to learn practical skills related to PC use, emails, and creating new documents and folders. Registration is required.
Find new books kids will like
On Tuesday, April 25 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. children ages 6-11 can learn about the library’s newest children’s and juvenile books. We’ll have a drawing for free books.
Knowledge Bowl
Our free middle school Knowledge Bowl takes place next Thursday, April 27 from 4-5 p.m. for tweens and teens in grades four–eight, or ages 11-14. Participants form teams of up to six people to compete against each other by answering questions that cover a range of topics from math to spelling to pop culture.
Family storytime
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join us for free in-person children’s stories, games and plenty of reasons to get up and move.
ESL classes
Free in-person evening classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays with 4-5 p.m. reserved for beginners and 5-7 p.m. for both intermediate and advanced students. Please help us spread the word about these classes to others in our community who would be interested, and contact us by phone or email if you have any questions.
Las clases de ESL
Las clases nocturnas gratuitas en persona se llevan a cabo los martes y jueves de 4 a 7 p.m. Los estudiantes principiantes asisten de 4 a 5 p.m., estudiantes intermedios de 5-6 p.m. y estudiantes avanzados de 7-8 p.m. Por favor, ayúdenos a correr la voz sobre estas clases a otras personas en nuestra comunidad que estén interesadas, y contáctenos por teléfono o correo electrónico si tiene alguna pregunta.
Large print
“In a House of Lies” by Ian Rankin features Scottish former detective John Rebus. “Hands Down” by Felix Francis is a Dick Francis mystery. “Never Never” by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher tells of a teen couple whose memories of their friendship and love have vanished. “The Angel Maker” by Alex North focuses on a woman after violence changed the fate of her family.
Mysteries, thrillers and suspense
“Shutter” by Ramona Emerson features a forensic photographer who works for the Albuquerque police force. “Black Wolf” by Kathleen Kent is about a female agent in Soviet Belarus on her first undercover mission with the CIA. “Bright and Deadly Things” by Lexi Elliott tells of a woman in danger while mourning her husband in a rustic chalet in the French Alps.
Other novels
“The Last Chairlift,” set in Aspen and New England, is John Irving’s first novel in seven years and, he says, his last long novel. “The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell, set in Renaissance Italy, features the third daughter of the wealthy banking head and arts patron Grand Duke de’Medici. “Stella Maris” by Pulitzer Prize winner Cormac McCarthy, set in a psychiatric facility, is the second in the author’s two-volume Passenger series.
Nonfiction
“Parables from Nature, with Notes on the Natural History” by Margaret Gatty contains culturally important works in the public domain. “Gnar Country” by Steven Kotler chronicles the author’s experiments to push his 53-year-old body to its limit. “A Fever in the Heartland” by Pulitzer Prize winner Timothy Agan tells of a seemingly powerless woman who brought the Klu Kluc Klan to its knees.
Academy Award DVDs
“The Whale” won best actor for Brendan Fraser, “Women Talking” won best adapted screenplay and “Puss in Boots The Last Wish” was nominated for best animated feature at the 2023 Academy Awards. “Frida” won five Academy Awards in 2003 including best actress for Salma Hayek. The mostly silent film “Artist” won five Academy Awards including best picture in 2012.
Donations
We are grateful to Sarah Robbins for her generous monetary contribution and to Carole Howard for her 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. The Friends take fiction published in 2013 or newer and nonfiction that is 2018 or newer. Limited workroom space means we can only accept one or two small boxes at a time.
Quotable Quote
“Past studies have shown that gardening can help improve the mental health of people who have existing mental conditions or challenges. Our study shows that healthy people can also experience a boost in mental wellbeing through gardening, even when they are beginners.” – Charles Guy, professor emeritus in the University of Florida environmental horticulture department.
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.