By Carole Howard and the Library Staff

It’s an old adage that you can tell the health of a community by how well its citizens take care of their children. We hope it is no surprise to Archuleta County residents that children’s reading and literacy programs are an extremely high priority at the library – and the free summer reading program for our county youngsters is one of our crown jewels in this regard.

The last days of registration are here now for this popular and important reading program, which will run June 19 – July 27. Please come to the library to register. Pre-school through second grade kids meet Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Third through sixth grade meets Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Seventh through 12 th grade meets once a month, on the third Thursday evening at 6 p.m – or possible more often, depending on interest.

Overall theme of this summer’s program is “Get a Clue @ Your Library/Busca una Pista @ Tu Biblioteca.” Parents and adults also can participate as partners or as volunteers. For more details about the program and the themes for each reading session, in English and Spanish, please visit the library’s web site at www.pagosalibrary.org.

Non-fiction: Lee Iacocca and David Ortiz
Lee Iacocca, known as much for his outspoken opinions as his business skills, gives his opinions on the Patriot Act, Congress, corporate leaders, apathetic voters and more in “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?” A new memoir by David Ortiz called “Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits” tells the story of the life of this talented and generous baseball player.

How-to books: Working, aging and living well
“Go, Put Your Strengths to Work”: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance” is the latest by Marcus Buckingham, co-author of “First, Break All the Rules” and “Now, Discover Your Strengths.” “Chasing Life” by CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a guide to functional aging – extending healthy and active lives longer than you may have thought possible. “Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World” by Craig and Marc Kielburger also contains contributions from Richard Gere, Jane Goodall, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Oprah Winfrey.

New fiction by bestselling authors
Anita Shreve’s latest novel is called “Body Surfing” and is set in New England. “Say When” is the latest by Elizabeth Berg, author of 10 bestsellers.

New books in large-print
“The River Knows” is a new romance by Amanda Quick. “The Good Husband of Zebra Drive” is the latest novel by Alexander McCall Smith in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Politics, serious and funny
“Partners in Power: Nixon and Kissinger” by Robert Dallek offers a groundbreaking portrait of two outsized leaders whose unlikely partnership changed the course of history. “Somebody’s Gotta Say It” is the latest by talk radio’s Neal Boortz, this one about politics.

New romance novels
“What Looks Like Crazy” is the debut novel of acclaimed playwright, essayist and columnist Pearl Cleage. “Captive of my Desires” by Johanna Lindsey is the latest novel in her Malory series.

Thanks to our donors
For books and materials, this week we thank Diane Gutman, Eugen Hriscu, Ann Jacobi, Elizabeth Mackey, Paul Matlock, Felicia Meyer, Mark Purvis, Helen Richardson, Anna Royer and Gail Shepherd.

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