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
Winter Warm-Up
Englewood Public Library is offering a series of fun, festive, and engaging activities as part of their Children Winter Break Program from December 23 through January 3. Events include holiday movies, winter crafts, and fort building.
Enjoy a cup of Holiday Tea with High Plains Library District on December 21 at Grover Library. Make your own tea blend and learn some history about teatime traditions at this cozy event.
Embrace the shortest day of the year at Basalt Regional Library’s Winter Solstice Celebration on December 20 at 5:30 pm. You’ll enjoy hot beverages, food, crafts, storytelling, and s’mores around the fire pit behind the library lawn.
Poudre Libraries is holding a Winter Festival for Teens on December 28 at Council Tree Library. Kick off a year of new friends and new experiences with an indoor “snowball” fight, an ugly sweater contest, a Nailed It style cookie decorating challenge, plenty of tasty refreshments, and much more.
Warm up with Berthoud Community Library District at their Reading is a Gift gathering on December 21 at 2:00 pm. The event will feature a hot cocoa bar and a free book for every kid and teen.
Happy Noon Year!
Longmont Public Library’s Noon Year’s Party is for kids in grades K-5 on December 31 at 11:00 am. The event will feature traditions, games, and activities from around the world.
Aurora Public Library is celebrating Noon Year’s Eve on December 28 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Tallyn’s Reach Library. Get a head start on the New Year with a glass of bubbly, a magic show, fun crafts, and an epic countdown.
Jefferson County Public Library invites young children and their families to a Noon Year’s Eve Celebration on December 31, 11:00 am at Evergreen Library. Ring in the New Year early with dancing, songs, crafts, and a special countdown to noon!
Pick ‘n’ Mix
The Mile High Yo Yo Club will meet at Broomfield Library on December 28 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. This vibrant community of enthusiasts is open to all ages and abilities.
Estes Valley Library’s Book VS Movie Club will discuss A Christmas Carol on December 28 at 1:00 pm. Participants will read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and watch The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Mesa County Libraries invites aspiring musicians and avid listeners to Behind the Mix: Deconstructing Songs to Inspire Creativity on December 21 at 970West Studio. Using Logic Pro’s Stem Splitter, you’ll break down popular tracks and reveal the hidden layers behind the music.
Wilkinson Public Library is hosting Drop-in Ping Pong on December 23, 30, and 31 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The table will be set up and available to players of all ages and abilities.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
I <3 (heart) Colorado Libraries!
Share your love for Colorado libraries with free downloadable sticker images
CVL Vox: Short Stories from Colorado Authors
‘Remember the Milky Way’ by Elisa Kuriyagawa
‘Desert Spirits’ by Claire Ibarra
Library Research Service
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Summer Drop in Chats
- January 14, 2025, 11:00 am
- January 28, 2025, 11:00 am
- The Power of Mental Health First Aid
- January 9, 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Colorado Family Affordability Tax Credit Info Session
- January 9, 2025, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- RA for All: Flip the Script and Think Like a Reader (Colorado Library Staff Only)
- January 15, 2025, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
- Building Equity-Based Summers Cohort – Colorado Only
- January 16 – May 1, 2025
- Working in the “Gray Area:” Determining Healthy Boundaries When the Best Choice Isn’t Clear – Colorado Only
- January 21 – January 30, 2025
- Adventures in Library Partnerships
- January 29, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Brain Health – What Everyone Should Know
- January 30, 2025, 12:00 – 1:30 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.
- Library Associate – Fort Lupton Library
- Education Librarian – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Manager, Child & Family Library Services – Arapahoe Library District
- Library Specialist, Lead – Mobile Library Services – Arapahoe Library District
- Full-time 40 hour Youth Services Guide (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Huron Street
- Full-time 40 hour Building Doctor – Anythink Support Services (Northglenn)
- Bilingual Patron Experience Associate – Arvada Library – Jefferson County Public Library
- Bilingual Patron Experience Associate (Part Time) – Edgewater Library – Jefferson County Public Library
- Bilingual Patron Experience Associate (Part-Time) – Lakewood Library – Jefferson County Public 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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