It’s finally ready, Pagosa! Phase One of our building expansion is officially complete and we are inviting you to come share in our joy.
A bright new children’s room with colorful floors, just brimming with discovery.
A public meeting room half filled with boxes of books, but stocked with tables and chairs for small gatherings.
Clean new floors, walls of new books, and restoration of print and faxing services.
Our reworked parking lot returns to an entrance and exit off 8th Street which should delight you west-siders in particular and make it much easier for those who are a little less sure on their feet to walk from their car into the library. We can see the end in sight, and we invite you back this week to see all we have built for you so far.
What an enormous amount of physical and mental work to prepare the building for the last two months of construction! As usual, we didn’t have to do it alone. Thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to box up hundreds of boxes of books, DVDs, and audiobooks. Loud rounds of applause to Judy and Taylor and Carmelita and Saira, to Mabel and Mark, Jennifer and Sherry, Deb and Lauren, who cheerfully organized and cleaned and strategized how to fit every piece together to deliver a comfortable temporary space while the remainder of the construction is completed.
To the crew at FCI and their interns who reminded me how effortlessly strong I was at 20, to those who brought boxes, to those who brought yummy treats, to all the local businesses who smiled and said they would call us when they had more empty boxes to share, to our neighbors on 8th street who have listened to construction noise for 10 months running! To the Library Board who believed in this project and the Library Foundation and Steering Committee members who raised the money to make it happen and to all of you who contributed your time and money along the way, THANK YOU!
Come see us and share the joy of a beautiful new library! We can’t wait to see you again.
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 Going Strong
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
With our construction continuing through August, several of our regular activities and special events are still 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.
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 !