Tomorrow, Friday, January 5 from 2-4pm, teens are invited to a special crystal energy session where you will learn about the chakras and the crystals that relate to each of them, and how to feel energy beyond the physical. This is a one-time special event that will be led by Amma Lee, a practicing chakra clearing/crystal healer.
Shakespeare fans of all ages will be pleased to know that the Shakespeare Read-Aloud Club is returning this month, with “As You Like It” on the agenda. Join us every Monday in January from 3:30 – 5pm except for January 15 because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Call Jenny at 240-426-7887 for more information.
Early library closure
Your library will close early on Monday, January 8 for a staff meeting at 5 p.m. This is our regular staff meeting schedule – on the second Monday of the month.
Special event for Friends
Friends of the Library will gather Wednesday, January 10 at 5pm at the library to enjoy pizza and sodas while getting to know other Friends. You will learn about our plans for 2024 and how you can get involved. Please RSVP to cindi@pagosalibrary.org by January 8.
Online author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks continue with three more opportunities for you to interact with New York Times bestselling authors and ask questions this month. For details and to register go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming. Wednesday, January 10 at 6pm features “Embrace Love in the New Year: A Heartfelt Conversation with Rebecca Serle.” Thursday, January 23 at noon showcases a conversation with Rajiv Nagaich, author of “Your Retirement.” Tuesday, January 30 at noon we will talk with Dr. Robert Lustig, author of “The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition and Modern Medicine.”
Music fun
Pagosa Unplugged is free from 4- 5pm Monday, January 8 for amateur musicians who would like a safe, supportive, non-bar setting to play, sing or both with other people. For program information contact Susan at 970-946-3396.
Adult book club Tuesday
Ruby’s Book Club meets from 2-3 p.m. next Tuesday, January 9 to discuss “Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Discovery” by Stephen E. Ambrose. Copies are available at your library. This free book club is held the second Tuesday of each month, alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles, with snacks provided. Snacks provided. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Therapy dog visit
Next Wednesday, January 10 from 11 – 11:45 a.m. you are invited to come to the library for a free visit with a certified therapy dog. Visits are limited to 10-15 minutes – just the right amount of time to pet the dog, read to the dog or just say “Hi.” This is an all-ages activity.
Elementary tutoring sessions
Children ages six-11 are welcome at these free sessions on Wednesdays from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. where they will build essential skills in core subjects. Pre-registration is required.
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join us for 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.
Requests for Tech Time participants
Free in-person slots are available from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 2-4 p.m. Thursdays. Judy helps you with basic questions relating to computers, smartphones and tablets and also provide assistance in accessing any of the library’s online resources. No appointment is needed for these drop-in sessions, but it is important that you bring both your device’s charger and also your device passwords with you.
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 4-digit PIN. Library staff are happy to help you set up your device if you need assistance.
Nonfiction – self-help and how to
“God Never Gives Up on You” by Max Lucado describes how Jacob’s story teaches us about grace, mercy and God’s love. “Natasha’s Kitchen” by Natasha Kravchuk includes more than 100 easy family-friendly recipes. “More is More” by Molly Baz uses 100 recipes to teach different techniques and flavor combinations. “Tonight We Pray For The Momma” by the mother-daughter team Becky Thompson and Susan K. Pitts contains inspirational prayers, devotional stories and biblical wisdom relating to motherhood.
Nonfiction – memoirs and biographies
“Oath and Honor” by former Republican Congress member Liz Cheney outlines her experiences during January 6 and on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. “World Within a Song” by singer-songwriter Jeff Tweedy explores 50 songs that affected his life. “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival” by Omid Scobie looks at life inside the royal family after Queen Elizabeth’s death.
Other nonfiction
“Blood Memory” by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns tells the tragic story of the American buffalo finally saved from extinction. “Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism” by Rachel Maddow documents the rise of a strain of authoritarianism at the beginning of World War II. “Killing the Witches” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard revisits the events of 1692 and 1693 in Salem, Mass.
Poetry anthology
“Playing with Phosphenes” by Sabine Ruth Houe contains both short and long poems celebrating the power and splendor of poetry and verse by taking readers on an exploratory journey inward.
DVDs
“The Chosen” is season two. “A Christmas Story Christmas” is a family show. “Three Men and a Baby” is a Hallmark holiday movie. “I Can” is an inspirational story of a young handicapped girl.
Mysteries, thrillers and suspense
“Edge of Dusk,” “Break of Day” and “Dark of Night” by Colleen Coble are Christian romantic suspense stories. “The Mystery Guest” by Nita Prose begins when a guest dies at a fancy hotel.
Other novels
“A Nearby Country Called Love” by Salar Abdoh is set in Tehran. “We Must Not Think of Ourselves” by Lauren Grodstein is a romance set in the Warsaw ghetto.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful to Patrick Shettle for his generous monetary 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 recently announced new guidelines for what they will accept as 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 to 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
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist and poet.
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.