We hope you’ll join us to say a fond farewell to departing library director Meg Wempe on Wednesday, April 24 from 2-4pm. Snacks, activities and well wishes will be available.
Meg is leaving the library to become an RN specializing in elderly care and hospice at Pagosa’s Pine Ridge assisted living facility. She sees similarities between being a librarian and being a nurse, because both involve helping people.
She leaves an impressive legacy from her 11 years at our Sisson Library. Meg was hired as adult services librarian in 2013 and promoted to director in 2016. She launched our adult book club and DIY series, broadened our computer offerings, brought our community’s ESL programs into the library, and worked to create a foundation to fundraise for the library’s impressive expansion plans.
“It has been a joy to work with our skilled staff, supportive board and involved patrons,” she said. “Pagosa is a very special place.”
A huge fan of our community, Meg says another plus about her Pine Ridge job is that it means she and husband Mark don’t have to move for her to achieve her nursing dream. Both are avid outdoors people, with a special love of powder skiing at Wolf Creek. She also is pleased to be able to remain a member of Pagosa’s Rotary Club.
Lifelong Learning Lectures
The free spring Lifelong Learning Lecture series takes place Thursday evenings starting today, April 18, and runs through May 23 from 6-7:15pm with several informative presentations, including:
April 18 features Robin Young, the CSU Extension Office director, on “Water, Our Most Precious Resource” discussing what we can do as individuals and a community to preserve what we have.
April 25 showcases Amy Nitchman from Archuleta County Public Health talking about air quality in Colorado and ways to keep yourself informed of high pollution days during wildfire season.
May 2 is “Knowing Our Ancient Puebloan Neighbors,” a presentation by Denise Fisk and Joanne Lucariello from the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association.
May 9 features Dallas Weaver, a local shoe and hiking store owner, telling us about his experience hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro from trailhead to the summit.
The lectures are free and no registration required. For more details, pick up the LLL brochure at your library.
Special Writers Guild event today
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. Today, April 18, is a special longer event from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. with blind reviews of submissions for the Writers Guild anthology collection that will be donated to the library. For more information please contact Judy at the library at 970-264-2209.
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join a free educational hour of reading, singing and free play to build early literacy skills.
AARP senior program tomorrow
Seniors aged 60 and above are invited to a free live online Senior Planet AARP program on the first and third Fridays of the month, including 19, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Judy will connect the group via the video conferencing platform Zoom so that you can join other seniors across the country in discussing aging issues such as loneliness, isolation, making new friends and learning in new hobbies. She also will show you how to use Zoom free from your home to participate in topics like finance, wellness, fitness, computers and technology on other times and dates if you are interested.
LEGO Club Saturday
Kids aged six-11 are invited to the free LEGO Club on Saturday, April 20 from 11 a.m. – noon. Bring your own LEGOs or use ours.
Shakespeare read-aloud
Shakespeare fans of all ages are invited to join in reading aloud “Twelfth Night” on Monday, April 22 and 29 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Call Jenny at 240-426-7887 for more information.
Teen/tween art camp
Each month we explore a different style or medium at this free event. In April it’s watercolor art. Join us Mondays, April 22 and 29 from 4-5 p.m. Registration required.
Tech Time
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 provides assistance in accessing any of 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.
Large print
“Bad Hombres” by William W. and J.A. Johnstone is a Slash and Pecos western. “The Cow Hunter’s Lament and Other Stories” by Larry D. Sweazy is a collection of 11 western short stories. “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon” by Michael Lewis is a biography of cryptocurrency’s Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted of fraud. “The Guest” by B.A. Paris begins when a close friend moves uninvited into a couple’s home.
Nonfiction
“Ghost Town Living” by Brent Underwood tells of the author’s move to an abandoned town high above Death Valley where he learned a wealth of new self-sufficiency and problem-solving skills to survive. “Indulge” by Food Network’s Valerie Bertinelli is a new cookbook with recipes the author cooks for friends and family and essays about how to savor moments big and small.
Books on CD
“What Happened to Nina?” by Dervla McTiernan tells of two families at odds after a woman disappears. “The Princess of Las Vegas” by Chris Bohjalian is a thriller about a woman inspired by Princess Diana. “The Wild Side” by Fern Michaels features an undercover woman investigator. “City in Ruins” by Don Winslow is book three of the Danny Ryan thriller series.
Mysteries, thrillers and suspense
“The Truth about the Devlins” by Lisa Scottoline is a murder mystery about a family of lawyers. “To Slip the Bonds of Earth” by Amanda Flower features the Wright brothers’ sister solving a mystery that might imprison her famous siblings.
Other novels
“Never Too Late” by Danielle Steel features a widow starting a new life in New York. “Upcountry” by Chin-Sun Lee begins when a couple relocates from New York City to the Catskills. “Blackouts” about two gay men exchanging life stories won the 2023 by National Book Award for author Justin Torres. “Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya is a coming-of-age story set in New Mexico during World War II.
Thanks to our donors
We are grateful to Susan and Terry Arrington for their generous donation. 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 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
Response to the author’s question whether lack of privacy is the worst thing about a small town: “And also the best,” replied one woman. “I love going to the post office in the morning and knowing everybody. The only time we honk a horn is to wave at a friend.” – William Least Heat-Moon in his book, “Prairy Earth.” He is an American travel writer and professor of history of English, Irish and Osage ancestry.
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.