What a joy to see so many happy faces walking through our new entrance this past week! We are so happy you love the new wing of the library, and I know you are excited to see the entire new library come to life this September.
Remember, our grand opening of the finished library is Saturday, September 12.
While we’re waiting, there’s so much to do at the library all summer!
Our Read Wild! Summer Reading Program continues through August, which means you have a lot more time to go on adventures with us and win prizes. The program is for all ages, so be sure to sign up at our website pagosalibrary.org/summer and start logging all your reading stats. We’re heading for the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park on July 8 from 2-4pm to check out all the animals that live in the wild lands outside Pagosa Springs and learn from the guides at the park what they eat, how they live, and maybe even get close enough to help feed them.
There’s still time to register online to score a free ticket. Don’t be left behind!
Tweens are invited to a Secret Snack program in the library on June 30th from 4-5pm where they can try out snacks and guess which is which. Teens and adults will enjoy our card crafting program at 1:30pm on July 1st. We’ll try out our skills to make some pretty greeting cards from things we have laying around at home. Do you have an idea about a craft program we can host? Reach out to Judy at judy@pagosalibrary.org.
So come on in and grab some new books, stay and play a while, and enjoy the summer with us.
Welcome back!
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Prepares Your Little One for Success
Want to give your little one this best possible start to a successful life? 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early childhood initiative that helps inspire a love for reading and literature while also helping our youngest readers get exposure to print and phonetics while earning prizes along the way! The goal is not to read 1,000 different books before KG, but to simply read 1,000 times before they begin their journey to expand their knowledge. If your little one has a favorite book that they want you to reread to them immediately after finishing it the first time, then that counts as another book read. Every 100 books is a milestone where our young patrons can receive a small prize or an experience at the library. At the end of their journey, they will receive a grand prize as well as an invite to a celebration at the library with all of those who have finished their 1,000 books before kindergarten. Sign-up is free and easy. Get enrolled today by visiting the library.
Group Meeting Room Available
While we’re waiting for the full library to be completed, we have carved out a meeting room space for small groups of 6-8 people to use by reservation. Give us a call at 970-264-2209 to reserve your spot today.
Adopt-a-Tree Program
We have a few trees left to name in our outdoor community garden. Why not dedicate a tree to someone you love in exchange for a $500 donation? Individuals, families, clubs, businesses and organizations are welcome to participate. Interested? Here’s how to get started. Write a check to Ruby Sisson Library or donate online at https://www.pagosalibrary.org. Fill out a donation form telling us what you want your garden stake to say in 6 words or less. Forms are available on our website or in paper form at the library. Thanks for helping us create a beautiful new outdoor space in our community!
2026 Colorado Parks Passes for Checkout
The weather is perfect to get outside! Colorado state parks require a paid pass to enter, but you can borrow one from the library for a few days at no cost to you. Passes come with a backpack filled with nature guides, binoculars, and fun activities. Reserve yours today.
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.
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.
Our New Books Collections are Brimming with Interesting Titles
For a full list of new titles and to reserve your copy, go to www.pagosalibrary.org and choose Search the Catalog at the top of the screen. Don’t forget, if there is a waiting list for the book, it may be available now in eBook or eAudiobook on CloudLibrary or Libby.
During our transition period, most books are in storage, but the new books are available to browse, and you can reserve any title in the catalog and have them brought in from other libraries. All the children’s collection is available in our bright new shiny children’s room.
Need help? Just ask! We love talking about books.
New in Large Print
“Playing a Lone Hand,” by John Nesbitt, is a collection of six Western fiction stories. In White City, a stranger comes to a tent city looking for a kidnapped girl. In Buckskin Trail, a cowhand helps a widow find her late husband’s killer. In Blood at the Ranch, a young man confronts trouble when his father brings a stepmother and stepbrother to the ranch. In Pearl of Great Price, a detective looks for a girl who has been kidnapped. In Of Emerald Hue, the same detective looks for a teenage girl who may have been kidnapped. In Leaving the Lariat Trail, a man has to defend himself against former associates when he decides he doesn’t want to be part of their crooked enterprise anymore.
“Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Literally Inspired a Vision for a Better America.” More than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. How did it happen, and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more through new and exclusive interviews, as well as deep insight and entertaining pop culture analysis. Lovingly told and deeply researched, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what’s important in life: friends, waffles, and work.
Louise Penny is back with “The Last Mandarin,” a novel featuring Vivien, a Chinese dissident, now human rights advocate., summoned to the White House to decode Chinese intentions during a security crisis.
“A Dark and Deadly Journey,” from novelist Julia Kelly, features protagonist secret agent Evelyne Redfern on a mission to recover a missing British Intelligence officer in Portugal during World War II.
New Fiction
Bestselling author Elizabeth Berg returns with “Life: A Love Story,” a letter from a 92-year-old to her childhood friend describing the items she is leaving in her will.
“Bloom,” by Robbie Couch, described as “a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.”
“When the Wolves are Silent,” from author C.S. Harris takes us to 1816 London where a brutal string of ritualistic murders are terrorizing the city already shaken by political and economic turmoil.
New in Nonfiction
In “Choose Your Age: Unlocking the Cellular Science of Longevity,” French medical expert Jean-Marc Lemaitre reveals the factors influencing your biological clock.
“What Can I Bring?” from Taste of Home magazine provides 360+ recipes for parties, picnics, and potlucks.
“Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Exploration,” from historian Elliott West is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the winner of 2024 Bancroft Prize in American History.
Barbara Brattin is honored to lead the Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library through this exciting time in its history. When she's not at the library, she's hiking with her Anatolian Shepherd Gigi and Rez dog Vic, traveling the world, visiting her grandchildren, or... you guessed it... reading !