The Friday Grab Bag is a weekly series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting happenings in Colorado libraries, and includes news from the Colorado State Library. Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!
Library Events & Programs
Learning with Experts
Broomfield Library’s Literary Harvest Author Series features authors from the local literary community. Join the next event on October 17 at 6:30, when Dr. Samir Chopra will discuss his book, Anxiety: A Philosophical Guide, followed by a Q&A.
Park County Public Libraries welcomes Jim Myers, owner of the Sasquatch Outpost, for Bigfoot at the Library on October 19, 2:00 pm, at Bailey Library. Dive into the mystery of Bigfoot as Jim shares his fascinating insights and experiences about the legendary creature.
Salida Regional Library invites you to How to use the Salida Archive with Joy Jackson, October 17 at 2:00 pm. Learn the ins and outs of using the digital archive to find images, maps, newspapers, surveys, obituaries, and more.
Mix and Mingle
Lone Cone Library is hosting a fantasy themed D&D Potluck Party on November 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm to celebrate the success of the program over the last 3 years. Costumes are encouraged! They will have miniature painting, board games, and stories from their young adventurers. The library is also seeking new adult members and Dungeon Masters to expand their D&D program.
Basalt Regional Library is accepting donations through October 18 for Swap It Like It’s Hot, their annual clothing swap and fall community event being held on October 19 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The first 40 people to donate will receive early bird access to shop from 9:00 to 10:00 am. The Lion’s Club will provide coffee and breakfast before the event.
Join Garfield County Libraries in supporting local talent at their Fall Teen Art Fair on October 19 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. Teen artists can request a free booth by filling out the online form.
Delta County Libraries is hosting an Open Mic on October 17 at 6:00 pm. The evening will begin with local author Shawnee Barnes reading from her true crime novel, Through the Keyhole. Afterwards, other attendees can read or perform their work.
Creepy Crawlies
Tweens and teens can show off their knowledge of horror movies, scary books, frightening songs, and more at Montrose Regional Library’s Spooky Teenish Trivia, October 16 at 7:15 pm. Suggestions for trivia categories are welcome!
Estes Valley Library invites tweens and teens to Murder at the Pizzeria – A Murder Mystery Game on October 16 at 5:30 pm. Your character will use a script as you try to unravel a mysterious murder in a pizza parlor.
Buena Vista Public Library’s Game Night on October 25 is “Haunted Library” themed. Come join them for an evening of creepy, crawly games to keep you up at night.
The Telluride Horror Show will be screening free Vintage Horror Movies from October 11-13 at Wilkinson Public Library. Come see these classic horror movies on glorious 16MM film—no festival pass needed.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
CVL Vox
Colorado State Publications Library
Library Research Service
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Summer Drop in Chats
- October 22, 11:00 am
- November 5, 11:00 am
- November 19, 11:00 am
- Everyday Evaluations (3-part series)
- Part I – Ethics. October 15, 11:00 am
- Part II – Collection. October 29, 11:00 am
- Part III – Analysis and Visualization. November 12, 11:00 am
- Balancing Act: Navigating Mental Health as Parental Caregivers in the Library Profession
- October 16, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Adult Services Regional Workshop – Lamar
- October 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Lamar Public Library
- The Importance of Monsters: How Engaging in the Horror Genre Sparks Adolescent Bravery
- October 21, 11:00 am
- The Best Professional Learning You’ve Ever Led!
- October 22, 4:00 pm
- De-escalation Skills Workshop – Colorado Only
- October 24, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- This course is full – email Christine Kreger to be added to the waitlist
- Virtual Partner Forum: Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
- November 12, 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
- 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Southeast Region)
- November 14, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta
- PHPR Collaborative and Libraries – Like French Fries and Frosty’s (Strange? You mean GREAT!)
- November 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities by browsing the Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library or the Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time).
Library Jobline
Are you considering a job change this year? Check out Library Jobline for hot new library employment opportunities, like this selection from around Colorado.
- Public Library Senior Consultant – Colorado State Library
- Bilingual Patron Experience Associate (Part-Time) – Edgewater Library – Jefferson County Public Library
- Bilingual Patron Experience Associate – Library to You – Jefferson County Public Library
- Adult Librarian – Jefferson County Public Library
- Benefitted Library Page – Jefferson County Public Library
- Teaching and Learning Student Assistant – University of Colorado Denver, Auraria Library
- Head of Student Success – Colorado State University Library
- Research and Instruction Librarian – Regis University
- Library I, Teen Programming – Broomfield Library
This post is part of the Spotlight on Sharing initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of Colorado library programs and resource sharing. Do you have a story from your library to share? Email Amy Hitchner, hitchner_a@cde.state.co.us.
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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