Photo: Jackson Mountain Ramblers
Your library foundation is one of the Pagosa nonprofits benefiting from the Pagosa Springs Golf Club’s 19th Hole music concerts this summer.
Ours is today, Thursday, June 6 from 5:30 – 7:30pm when the Jackson Mountain Ramblers will perform. Tickets are $10. We hope to see you there.
Then tomorrow, Friday, June 7, there will be two free talks of special interest:
From 11am – noon, teens are invited to learn what you would need if you found yourself alone in the wilderness. Each month in this series we will focus on different skills such as creating a survival guide using household items or finding edible plants to make food or tea.
From 2 – 3:30pm, all ages are invited to learn about the animals and plants who live in our Pagosa wetlands. Josh Pike will provide a virtual tour to allow you to explore ecology and history. He is a member of the Pagosa Wetlands Partners and has been leading naturalist tours for several years.
Early library closure
Your library will close early on Monday, June 10 for a staff meeting at 5pm. This is our regular staff meeting schedule – on the second Monday of the month.
Summer Reading Program underway
“Adventure Begins at your Library!” is the theme of this year’s free all-ages Summer Reading Program underway now. You can 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.
Dungeons & Dragons
Today, Thursday, June 6, and next Tuesday, June 11 from 4 – 5:30pm, join our Dungeons & Dragons game free for teens and young adults. Pre-registration is required because space is limited. Contact Josie@pagosalibrary.org to join.
Chess Club Saturday
Learn how to play chess with free quick lessons and game time to practice your skills on Saturday, June 8 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. All ages and abilities are welcome.
Jane Austin 250th birthday
Monday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon through July 1, local fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the 250th birthday of this beloved English author, whose works include “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Emma,” in a special free five-week all-ages series hosted by Jenny. Each week features a different topic, including the author’s life as a woman in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Regency-era English history, fashion, food and dance. The series highlight will be a tea party and English country dancing. Call Jenny at 240-426-7887 for more information.
Adult book club next Tuesday
Ruby’s Book Club meets from 2-3pm on Tuesday, June 11 to discuss “Fountains of Silence” by Ruta Sepetys. Copies are available at your library. This book club is held the second Tuesday of each month, alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles. Anyone is welcome to attend. Snacks provided.
Teen Camp Half-blood on Wednesday
Wednesdays in June (except for June 19) from 1 – 2:30pm is Camp Half-blood for teens. It is based on the very popular Percy Jackson novels and will allow young 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.”
Summer Reading for kids
Thursdays in June from 10 – 11:30 a.m. will be a special time for kids to explore insects, plants, fossils and animals, sometimes with special guests.
Virtual author talks
Our highly popular free online author talks continue in June with two more opportunities for you to interact live with New York Times bestselling authors and ask questions, or watch later. For details and to register go to HYPERLINK “https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming”https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming. Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m. we’ll interact with Frieda McFadden, known as the Queen of Twists, discussing psychological thrillers. Thursday, June 20 at noon features Tiffany Jewell looking at systemic racism in the American education system.
Family storytimes
Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. join a free educational hour of reading, singing and free play to build early literacy skills.
Elementary tutoring
Free tutoring for children ages six-11 will resume in October.
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.
Large print
“Lone Oaks Crossing” by Janet Daily is book eight in the New Americana series. “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” by Janet Skeslien Charles features a librarian who disappeared after creating children’s libraries in France in World War I. “Toxic Prey” by John Sandford is a Lucas and Letty Davenport mystery. “Summers at The Saint” by Mary Kay Andrews is set in a formerly famous hotel. “Extinction” by Douglas Preston is a mystery set at a wilderness resort in the Colorado Rockies. “Clive Cussler The Heist” by Jack Du Brul is an Isaac Bell adventure.
Books on CD
“Mind Games” by Nora Roberts is a suspense story.
Mysteries, suspense and thrillers
“The Instruments of Darkness” by John Connolly is part of the Charlie Parker PI series. “Think Twice” by Harlan Coben features a suspected murderer who was thought to be dead. “Tom Clancy Act of Defiance” by Andrews and Wilson is a Jack Ryan adventure.
Nonfiction
“The Age of Grievance” by Frank Bruni examines how grievance dominates our culture and politics on the left and right. “Light Eaters” by Zoe Schlanger looks at the hidden world of plant intelligence. “All That Happiness Is” by Adam Gopnik explores alternatives to striving too hard for achievement. “No Going Back” by Kristi Noem is a look at today’s politics by the governor of South Dakota and former congresswoman.
Quotable Quote
“When using a public campground, place a tuba on your picnic table. This will guarantee the campsites on either side of you will stay vacant.” – From a Jokes & Puzzles booklet.
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.