By Taylor Worsham
Question: What’s better than holiday time to read?
How about winning prizes for reading?
Ruby Sisson Library is launching a fun new ‘Winter Reading Challenge’ contest that earns you badges and tickets to enter for a grand prize at every age level. Use our new Beanstack app or Beanstack on the web to track your reading, write book reviews, participate in library reading challenges, and get rewards.
How does tracking work?
Beanstack acts like a FitBit in that you can log your reading by books, minutes, pages, and days. You can also track activities within challenges. Beanstack motivates consistent reading habits with Streaks and Achievements. Each consecutive day logged adds a day to your reading streak. When you hit major reading milestones, like logging your first book or maintaining a lengthy reading streak, Beanstack will reward you with an Achievement.
How does the challenge work?
Ruby Sisson Memorial Library will host challenges to engage readers of all ages. See our current challenges on our Beanstack website: pagosalibrary.beanstack.com. Digital badges are rewarded for completing challenges and help to further motivate your reading. Physical prizes can also be earned for some challenges.
Ruby Sisson Library will be hosting the Winter Reading Challenge starting next Monday, December 15 through January 15, 2026. We hope to meet our community goal to collectively read 25,000 minutes, so we’re encouraging readers of all ages to cozy up with a good book, log what you read, and earn rewards along the way.
How do I sign up?
Now that you know how Beanstack works, it’s time to sign up! Follow the steps below to get started today:
On the web
- Go to our Beanstack website: pagosalibrary.beanstack.com
- Click on “Register an Individual or Family”
- Fill in your info. Beanstack allows families to be linked together, so all family members can be accessed with one login.
On the app
- Go to your device’s app store and search “Beanstack Tracker”
- Search for “Upper San Juan Library District”
- Click on your library
- Follow the steps to register an individual or family
At your library
- Visit us any time during open hours to receive registration help from library staff
- Log your progress with a librarian any time you visit the library
So let’s read, Pagosa! We know you can beat the 25,000 minute goal we’ve set.
Ready, set, go!
Construction update
Roof framing is complete, right on schedule with a temporary membrane to keep the snow and rain at bay. We have plumbing and electrical and HVAC installations are underway. We’re ahead of schedule! Follow us on Facebook for periodic pictures of progress.
Your donations go a long way toward making this new library exceptional. Please donate to the library this holiday season and make a long lasting positive impact on generations to come.
Meet us Out in the Community
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 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.
Activities calendars
Pick up monthly calendars at the library or check the website at https://www.pagosalibrary.org/events-calendar so you don’t miss any of the free programs, events and activities available to you and your family.
Online author talks
Our free online author talks with New York Times bestselling authors continue in January for you to watch live on Zoom or via a recording later in the year. For details and to register go to https://libraryc.org/pagosalibrary/upcoming. January’s lineup is superb with David Brooks discussing his recent book How to Know a Person on January 13th and Liz Moore presenting on her bestseller The God of the Woods on January 28.
Conversational Spanish
The Conversational Spanish group will meet one more time this month on December 29 from 4-5pm at St. Patrick’s Church on South Pagosa. This is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish in a free , friendly group setting. No minimum skill level needed.
Family storytime
Wednesdays from 10-11am join a free educational hour of reading, singing and free play to build early literacy skills.
Elementary school tutoring
Free after-school tutoring is taking a winter break the month of December. Tutoring is for grades one-three takes place on Wednesdays from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Registration is required because of limited space so call your library now at 970-264-2209 to enroll your child. Sign up now to join us in January. This invaluable tutoring involves one-on-one and small group help for math, literacy, writing and spelling. Note that because of construction at the library these sessions will take place at the Elementary School.
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. During construction the group will meet 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. Taylor 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, but please bring your device’s charger and passwords with you.
ESL classes
Free in-person evening classes happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4-5pm for students of all levels at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 225 S. Pagosa Street. Please help us pass the word about these classes.
Clases de inglés
Clases gratis de inglés cada martes y Jueves de 4-5 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.
Pagosa Adult Learning Services (PALS)
Join Mark or Sally for free individualized 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. No appointment necessary.
New and Notable
Elmore Leonard Picket Line; Louise Penny The Black Wolf; Nelson DeMille The Tin Men; Patricia Cornwell Sharp Force; Phillipa Gregory Boleyn Traitor; Mitch Albom Twice; Richard Osman The Impossible Fortune.
Taylor Worsham is Assistant Director at Ruby Sisson Memorial Library.