By Carole Howard and the Library Staff

April 13-19 is National Library Week, a chance for library lovers to stop for a few minutes to reflect on how dull life would be if we did not have access to the wonderful books, magazines, videos, music and databases available free for our use from our library – not to mention the free classes, lectures and research materials that stimulate our minds and enrich our lives. Here’s what three famous people said about libraries:

• American writer Mark Twain: “A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event or an affection; for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them.”
• Kentucky politician Wendell Ford: “If information is the currency of democracy, libraries are its bank.”
• Lady Bird Johnson: “Perhaps no place is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.”

Libraries go back to the days of ancient Egypt. Classical Greece was famous for private and personal libraries as far back as the 5 th century B.C. In China, one of the curators of the Han Dynasty imperial library is believed to have been the first to establish a library classification system and the first book notation system around 100 B.C. In the West, the first public libraries were established under the Roman Empire, as each succeeding emperor strove to open one or many to outshine his predecessor. The modern free, open-access library system began in England when a law in 1850 allowed all cities with populations exceeding 10,000 to levy taxes for the support of public libraries.

Week of the Young Child

Coincidentally, April 13-19 also is the Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Its purpose is to focus public attention on the needs of youngsters and their families, recognizing that the early childhood years lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. Here in Pagosa, several organizations including the library, Head Start, San Juan Basin Health and Seeds of Learning have banded together to host events during this special week. At the library we will have two Story Time sessions on Wednesday, at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m., with kids from Seeds and Head Start as our special guests. The library also will have a booth with fun games for youngsters at the Kids’ Fair 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Elementary School.

Free Lifelong Learning lecture

The fourth spring Lifelong Learning lecture takes place this Saturday, April 12 at 3 p.m. when Drs. Chuck and Cheryl Carson speak on “Left Brain or Right Brain: Science or Pop Science” at the library. For the complete lineup of the free spring series lectures arranged by program organizer Biz Greene, please visit the Lifelong Learning page on the library web site at www.pagosalibrary.org.

New series for teens

We have the first two books in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver featuring 12-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion – “Wolf Brother” and its sequel “Spirit Walker.” These books are written for students in the seventh grade and older.

Large print books

“The Willing Heart: Faith and Love Hold Generations Together” is book four in the New Mexico Sunrise series by Tracie Peterson. “White Chocolate Moments” by Lori Wick is the story of a young woman who loses her parents in a car accident. “Waiting for Morning” by Karen Kingsbury tells of a woman’s response to a devastating car accident that wipes out her family.

Christian books

“The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore” is the latest book by spiritual leader Deepak Chopra. “God’s Problem: How the Bible fails to answer our most important question – why we suffer” is a book by Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman that examines the biblical responses to suffering. “The Gift” by T. David Bunn is a new novel by the author of “The Quilt.”

Adult science fiction

“The Shadow of Saganami” is the first book of the new Saganami Island series by David Weber. We also have books 10 and 11 of this popular sci-fi author’s Honor Harrington series. “Jumper: Griffin’s Story by Steven Gould, based on the film “Jumper,” is about a little boy with teleportation powers.

Adult novels

“Someday” by Karen Kingsbury is the latest in the Baxter Family Drama – Sunrise Series #3.

Mysteries and thrillers

“Lady Killer” by best-selling thriller author Lisa Scottoline tells of a young woman’s search for her missing rival from high school. “An Incomplete Revenge” by Jacqueline Winspear is another in the mystery series featuring psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs, this one set in a small rural community in Kent.

Thanks to our donors

For books and materials this week we thank Cathy Baer, Kim Braselman, David Durkee, Karen Gavic, Kathy Hamilton, Teresa Lydick, Michelle Mesker, Lisa Peterson, Shirley Snider, Kitty Storm, and Jim and Margaret Wilson.

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