We can feel the excitement building as so many of you ask about opening day of our completed new library. Change is coming quickly, and we are working hard this week to shift everything from the old side of the building to the new side of the building.
On Monday morning, June 22, we will reopen for service in the new section of the library. You will be able to park in the original, repaved parking lot off 8th Street and walk through our new front doors. Our new bright children’s room will be open, but not the children’s garden, as the fence between the garden and the parking lot is yet to arrive — and safety is our priority!
You will have access to a meeting room, so call us to make a reservation (970-264-2209). We will limit the reservations to groups only at this time to make the best use of the space. We will have many new books for you to enjoy and a good selection of materials to browse for the next few months. And, of course, the children’s collection will be fully available. You will be able to place holds on our new collections, and request titles from other libraries. All digital products remain fully available 24/7.
We’ll be temporarily moving our blue book drop to the new side of the building until we decide where else in the community to place it. You can return items at the front of the building through a front wall chute to the right of the main doors all hours of the day. The book drop at City Market will also remain available.
The old section of the library is scheduled to be ready September 4. Once again, we will need to do some moving of collections from storage to the shelves and place the furniture in its new position. So, we will close for a week to get everything in order.
If everything goes as planned, we will have a big Opening Day Celebration on September 12.
A new library has been a long time coming! We thank you all for your tremendous support and patience while we make this transition. Contributions are still needed. Donate online at pagosalibrary.org, by mail to P.O. Box 849, Pagosa, or drop a few coins in the jar at the service desk.
Ruby Sisson would be so proud!
Adopt-a-Tree Program
We have 26 new trees planned for our outdoor community garden and you could put your name on one of them 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!
Summer Reading Program Underway – Register Now
Between June 1 and August 30, summer readers can track their reading on the Beanstack app, complete BINGO activity challenges, and attend free events at the library and across the community. With our ongoing construction project and reduced programming space, we’ll be hosting some events at places like Yamaguchi Park, the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park, Wolfwood Refuge, and more. These field trips are for all ages and any entry admission will be covered by the library. We’ll have a whole lineup of “Read Wild!” themed events in addition to our standing offerings for children, teens, and adults. You can visit pagosalibrary.org/summer for more details.
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.
New Cookbooks
TV personality and master chef Jamie Oliver is back with, “Grill: Easy Grilling, Big Flavor.”
Jose Andres is founder of the nonprofit World Central Kitchen which organizes teams of chefs to deliver healthy, quality cooking in war and disaster zones. His new cookbook, “Spain My Way: Eat, Drink, and Cook Like a Spaniard,” is a return to his roots.
New in History
“The Last of the Old Breed: An Oral History of the Final Marines from World War II,” from historian Scott Davis.
“Sparta: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Superpower,” weaves ancient history with archeology to deliver a complex history of one of Greece’s most iconic city-states.
“The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise,” provides readers with an unvarnished profile of the iconic architect whose ego and charm led to scandal and tragedy.
Eclectic Finds
Explorer and thought leader Wade Davis returns with “Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays.”
“American Whiskey Master Class: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Bourbon, Rye, and other American Whiskeys.”
On the Trail
“Foraging the Rocky Mountains: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in the Rockies.”
“Best Dog Hikes Colorado.”
New Fiction Books
“Land,” a novel from Irish writer Maggie O’Farrell, described by writer Daniel Mason as “a breathtaking hymn to the sanctity of natural spaces.”
“Children of the Wild,” a novel of love, loyalty and heroism set in the mountains of Virginia during World War I from writer Kevin Powers.
“The Break-Up Retreat” a “chilling” novel from Camilla Sten, is set in a retreat deep in the woods of Sweden where women are promised to heal from the heartbreak of a failed relationship. Sometimes people are never heard from again.
New in Large Print
“When the Cranes Fly South,” an international bestseller by Swedish novelist Lisa Ridzen, about aging and the process of saying goodbye.
“Last Night in Brooklyn” by Xochitl Gonzales, follows 26-year-old Alicia Canales who dares to imagine for herself the fearlessness she discovers in the house parties of her neighborhood.
“Comancheria,” Book #1 in the Hollow Frontier western series by Reavis Wortham, follows Texas Ranger Buck Dallas on a haunting mission to rescue a missing girl.
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 !