Friday Grab Bag, August 9, 2024

The Friday Grab Bag is a weekly series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting happenings in Colorado libraries, and includes news from Colorado State Library.

Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!

Outdoor Interests

The Tween Rock Hounds club at Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library meets every Wednesday to uncover the mysteries of gems, minerals, crystals, and rocks. Join their next meeting on August 14 at 4:30 pm.

Longmont Public Library invites you to discover The Hidden Worlds of the Shortgrass Prairie, August 15 at 6:00 pm. Discover the quiet beauty of the species that inhabit Boulder County’s native ecosystems.

Wilkinson Public Library is hosting several free events from August 14-18 as part of the Telluride Mushroom Festival. Join them for presentations on mushroom hunting, the fungal kingdom, and more.

Party Time

Silverton Public Library is throwing a Back to School Party, August 17 at 3:30 pm. Teachers, students, and all school staff are invited to enjoy an afternoon of ping pong, corn hole, chalk art, and board games.

Nederland Community Library is celebrating the opening of their Reading Garden with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on August 10 at 5:00 pm. Join them for music, games, activities, a book sale, and more.

Join Delta County Libraries for Open Mic night at Delta Library on August 15, 6:00 pm. Participants have 7 minutes each to present original or credited works of poetry, essay, fiction, song, music, comedy, etc.

Bemis Public Library celebrates Western Welcome Week with a concert by the MicroGrass Band, August 15 at 6:00 pm on the library lawn. The Denver-based bluegrass band is known for their traditional Americana blend of soaring harmonies and foot-stomping rhythms.

Community Support

Lyons Community Library’s Men’s Community Potluck and Share is a monthly gathering aimed at fostering community and connections among men in Lyons and the surrounding communities. Bring a dish to share to their next meeting on August 14 at 6:30 pm.

Douglas County Libraries is hosting a Local Author Showcase on August 17 in Parker. Meet local authors, hear about their books, and purchase books for signing.

Basalt Regional Library’s Dementia Education Series is a three-part series focusing on the unique needs of people with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and memory loss. The final program in the series on August 14 will focus on reducing anxiety and agitation in people with Dementia.

Discover new potential employment opportunities at Aurora Public Library’s Career Exploration Workshop, with help from the Arapahoe/Douglas Works team. Adults are invited to attend on August 22, 12:00 pm, at Tallyn’s Reach Library.

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Resource Sharing

• INN-Reach Modernization Project Update for SWIFT Libraries. Transition to Sierra Web will happen on Nov. 11-12

New Podcast

• Check Out Our New Sunshine & Stories Podcast!

Library Research Service

• Welcome to the Tourism Community Library Designation

Book Club Resource

• Enjoy Colorado’s 2024 National Book Festival Selections with Your Book Club!

Colorado State Publications Blog

• The road to safety: Colorado school bus driver training

Learning Opportunities

• Project Outcome 101 Webinar
  • August 12, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• Drop-In Q&A for Check Out Colorado State Parks for Libraries
  • August 13, 10:00 – 11:00 am, online
  • Registration required
• Summer Drop in Chats
  • August 13, 11:00 am, online
  • No registration required
• Digital and Website Accessibility and Public Libraries
  • August 14, 10:00 – 11:30 am, online
  • No registration required
• CSL in Session: Level Up Your Booktalks! New Ways to Engage in School Outreach
  • August 14, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
  • Registration required
• 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Northeast Region)
  • August 15, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Yuma Public Library
  • Registration required
• Adult Services Regional Workshop – Grand Junction
  • August 16, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Mesa County Central Library
  • Registration required
• Drop-In Q&A for Check Out Colorado State Parks for Libraries
  • August 19, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• Summer Drop in Chats
  • August 27, 11:00 am
  • No registration required
• Mental Health and Wellness Panel Series
  • Multiple events from August – December 2024
  • Registration required
• 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.

• Library Director – Cortez Public Library
• Senior Library Associate – Pikes Peak Library District
• Junior Library Associate – Fort Lupton Public Library
• Library Specialist – Koelbel – (part-time 20 hours) – Arapahoe Library District
• Delivery Driver – Books and Materials – Arapahoe Library District
• Libraries Services Specialist, Evening/Weekend – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
• Librarian – Reference Services (Multiple positions) – Denver Public Library

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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, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org.

All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.