Friends of the Library members are hosting a pop-up book donation event this Saturday, September 13 from 11am – 5pm at Ramon’s Mexican Restaurant, 56 Talisman Drive, at the entrance to the City Market shopping center. Their goal is to collect new or gently used books for future book sales to benefit the library.
Thanks to Ramon’s generosity, the Friends will be setting up tables in front of their space to collect books that will be sold at their book sales in 2026. If they get a good response they plan to set up more donation sites in the future.
This action is necessary because we cannot accept book donations for a year at our building now that we are operating in a much smaller space while construction happens on the first phase of our long-awaited expansion.
Please follow these guidelines for your donations:
Books on time-sensitive topics that can quickly become out of date are wanted only if they have been published within the last five years. These subjects include politics/current events, health and medicine, sports/exercise, business, technology, science, education and travel guides. Not accepted are reference materials, textbooks and non-print material like CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray, VHS or cassette tapes because they do not sell at Friends of the Library sales.
We hope you’ll take this opportunity to bring your new or lightly used books to the Friends this Saturday. Proceeds from their book sales are vital to the ongoing health of your library.
Construction update
Here’s the latest news on your library’s construction project from Barb Brattin, library director:
“If you visited the library last week, you were treated to the ambient noise of large machines breaking up concrete on the south side of the building. A new foundation for the library addition will take shape there over the next few weeks, replacing half the former parking lot.
“Last Wednesday morning the public parking lot on Highway 160 west of the library that we currently use for library parking was filled with LPEA trucks. Expanding the building requires us to expand our electrical infrastructure, so our new transformer was being connected to the grid last week.”
Activities’ locations are changed
Now that we have much less space for our operations and no meeting rooms during construction, several of our regular activities and special events are happening in other locations.
Please check the listings in this column and on your library’s website at https://pagosalibrary.org for location changes throughout the construction. If no other location is mentioned, the activity will stay at your library.
Adult knitting and needlework
Join new and experienced knitters Saturday, September 13 for our free Knitters Circle from 1-3 p.m. at the Natural Grocers back room. It is aimed at anyone over the age of 18 who would like to knit together or get some help if you are stuck on your project. Any type of needleworker is welcome.
Conversational Spanish
The Conversational Spanish group will meet Monday, September15 from 4-5 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church at 225 South Pagosa. This is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish in a free group setting. No minimum skill level needed.
Writers Guild
Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. the Ruby’s Writers Guild welcomes writers looking for support, guidance, resources and camaraderie with other writers at this free gathering at the Senior Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd. Enter through the left side of the building.
Tech Time
Free in-person slots are available from 2-4 p.m. on Thursdays for help with basic questions relating to computers, smartphones and tablets and also assistance in accessing the library’s online resources. No appointment is needed, but please bring your device’s charger and passwords with you.
ESL classes
Free in-person evening classes happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 4-5 p.m. reserved for beginners, 5-6 p.m. for intermediate and 6-7 p.m. for advanced students at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 225 S. Pagosa Street. Please help us pass the word about these classes. During construction they take place
Clases de inglés
Clases gratis de inglés cada martes y jueves. Principiantes de 4-5 p.m., intermedios de 5-6 p.m. y advanzados de 6-7 p.m. Ayudenos a informar a todos quienes necesitan aprender inglés. Durante el plazo de la nueva construcción en la biblioteca, las clases se llevarán a cabo en St. Patrick ‘s Episcopal Church, 225 S. Pagosa Street.
Memoirs and biographies
“I Seek a Kind Person” by Julian Borger is a family memoir about the author’s father, one of thousands of German Jewish children saved by being sent to British families for safekeeping during World War II. “Free Ride” by Noraly Schoenmaker is a memoir of a woman who quit her job to go on a motorcycle trip of self-discovery. We have two books that reveal the life of female wildland firefighters – “Hotshot” by River Selby and “Wildfire Days” by Kelly Ramsey.
Other nonfiction
“Bad Company” by Megan Greenwall is an indictment of the private equity industry told through the stories of four workers whose lives were ruined by takeovers. “Every Living Thing” by Jason Roberts explores the origins of the science now called biology. “The Undiscovered Country” by Paul Andrew Hutton tells of the heroic conquests and dark tragedies that shaped the American West. “They Had Names” by Nathaniel T. Jeanson traces the history of North American Indigenous people. “Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias” is a Mayor Clinic guide.
DVDs
“The Penguin Lessons” is based on the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who goes to work in a school in Argentina. “The Accountant” stars Ben Affleck. “Death Valley” is a crime story. “1923” is season two starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” features a student who won’t let an old murder go.
Large print
“Bridal Shower Murder” by Leslie Meier is a Lucy Stone mystery. “Trail to Brimstone” by Robert Vaughan is a western novella. “The Locked Ward” by Sarah Pekkanen is about an adopted daughter accused to killing the biological daughter. “Jenny Cooper Has a Secret” by Joy Fielding tells of a 92-year-old dementia patient who may be a killer. “The Last Carolina Summer” by Karen White is a mystery.
Mysteries and thrillers
“She Didn’t See It Coming” by Shari Lapena tells of a wife and mother who disappears from a luxury condo. “Salt Bones” by Jennifer Givhan explores the fate of missing Latina and Indigenous girls. “The Outsider” by Stephen King is a horror thriller. “The Codebreaker’s Daughter” by Amy Lynn Green is a story about a mother-daughter codebreaking team. “Murder Takes a Vacation” by Laura Lippman is set on a Parisian river cruise.
Other novels
“The Vulnerables” by Sigrid Nunez explores the life of a Gen Zer and a spirited parrot. “The Robin on the Oak Throne” by K.A. Linde is a paranormal romance fantasy. “Culpability” by Bruce Holsinger is a family drama following an accident involving a self-driving minivan. “Summer Hill Secrets” by Beverly Lewis contains five books from the author’s Pennsylvania Amish series. “The Atlas of Untold Stories” by Sara Brunsvold features a mother and her two daughters embarking on a nine-day road trip to find inspiration from literary greats.
Quotable Quote
“When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world, and it is. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next point after that with intensity, clarity and focus. The truth is, whatever game you play in life, sometimes you’re going to lose a point, a match, a season, a job. It’s a roller coaster with many ups and downs, and it’s natural when you’re down to doubt yourself and to feel sorry for yourself… But negative energy is wasted energy. You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. You accept it, cry it out if you need to, and then force a smile. You move on, be relentless, adapt and grow.” — Roger Federer, retired professional tennis player in his commencement speech at Dartmouth June 9, 2024. He was ranked number one in men’s singles for 310 weeks.
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