Ten days to go until we open our doors to a brand new, beautiful library!
The Ruby M. Sisson Library will be closed September 4-11, to prepare for our Grand Opening. We are spending a week moving everything from storage back into the old section of the building. Our Grand Opening happens on Saturday, September 12 from 9am to 3pm with a full slate of ceremonies, programs, tours, and activities. Here’s the program lineup:
9am Remarks and Ceremonial Blessing by members of the Southern Ute tribe. Charles Martinez will follow the ceremony with a flute performance.
9:30am Raising of the Flag and the national anthem performed by Sara Hurley.
9:45am Ribbon Cutting
10am Tree Dedication. If you purchased a tree, you will have a tree marker available to place at the tree of your choosing.
10:15am Children’s Garden Trough Planting. Join community experts to learn how to layer a grow trough and help plant the four garden troughs.
11am Storytime with Smokey the Bear Join us in the children’s room for a special Storytime with Smokey and his friend, Ranger Josh Peck.
1pm Jesse the Juggler will wow you with a dynamic performance.
1:30pm Balloon Animals! Take home an artistic keepsake.
2pm Musical performances by local bands in the community garden.
New Craft and Hobby Database Marks Makerspace Opening
To celebrate the opening of our new makerspace, we are launching a new database called Craft and Hobby. Packed with videos for all ages teaching skills like sewing, woodworking, gardening, and outdoor photography, Craft and Hobby is available free with your library card online from home or on the go. We are planning lots of hands-on activities in the new makerspace and will be using Craft and Hobby to provide instruction for participants. Take a look at their extensive catalog of instructional video at https://www.pagosalibrary.org/how-to
Radon Detectors Available for Checkout
The Colorado State library recently partnered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to provide a limited number of radon detectors to libraries for circulation. Ruby Sisson Library has two units available to check out with a library card for a three-week loan. Instructions are included in the kit. Reserve one through the library catalog or ask at the front desk.
Hoopla E-Book Collection Replaces CloudLibrary
On August 18th, our library consortium adopted Hoopla, an e-Book and e-Audiobook platform that replaces CloudLibrary. Our entire CloudLibrary collection has migrated to this new Hoopla platform, so if you were on a waitlist for a book in CloudLibrary, try a search for it in Hoopla.
To get started, download the Hoopla app, and register as a Ruby Sisson patron with your library card number. If you are already a Hoopla user with another library, you can add the Ruby Sisson collection by choosing “settings” on the bottom app menu, then “Library Settings.” If you need a little extra help, stop by and we’ll work with you. For extended help, our tech time drop-ins are every Thursday from 2-4pm.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Prepares Your Little One for Success
As the beginning of another school year looms on the horizon, you might be thinking about your own small child’s first day of kindergarten. Will she be prepared?
The library has a free, fun program to give your child the head start she needs. 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 by visiting the library.
2026 Colorado Parks Passes for Checkout
Have you visited a Colorado state park this year? 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. Note: Colorado State Park passes are not valid for Chimney Rock National Monument.
Tech Time
Free in-person slots are available from 2-4pm 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 Hoopla or Libby.
During our transition period, most books are in storage, but the new books are available to browse, as well as items recently returned, and you can reserve items 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
“Death Times Seven,” is the seventh and final historical mystery novel in “Queen of Historical Crime” Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, published posthumously on April 14, 2026.
Author Christine Kuehn delivers “Family of Spies,” a World War II story of Nazi espionage, betrayal, and the secret history behind Pearl Harbor.
“The Parisian Heist,” from bestselling author Jo Piazza, is a thriller set in the world of fine art, where fortunes are built on secrets and ambitions.
New Fiction
New Zealander poet Louise Wallace delivers her first work of fiction, “Ash,” a slim novel with a powerful protagonist on the verge of unprecedented change when an environmental disaster upends her already precarious life.
“Men Like Us,” from writer Carson Markland is a fictionalized account of Bobby Kennedy’s political ambitions and his special relationship with sister-in-law Jackie Kennedy.
Author Beatriz Williams weaves a story of a 300-year-old treasure hunt, family drama, and a second chance at love and forgiveness on Winthrop Island in “When You Loved Me.”
For the Changemakers
“Your Desired Future: The 5 Essential Steps That Take You Where You Want to Go.” Psychologist and leadership expert Dr. Henry Cloud provides solid advice for saving a relationship, improving your health, building your business, or strengthening teams.
“On Courage: How to be a Dissident in an Age of Fear.” Investigative journalist Julia Angwin teams up with policy advisor Ami Fields-Meyer to interview thousands of successful changemakers for advice on how to fight for what you believe and win.
“From Presence to Power: How to Take on the Fights That Matter – and Win.” Campaign organizer Rashad Robinson shares his strategies for building a more equitable world.
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 !