Friday Grab Bag, December 6, 2024 – Colorado Virtual Library

A young child skis under hoops. — *Concentration…The Steamboat Today, December 8, 1994*

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

Sounds of the Season

5 girls in nightgowns sing at a holiday concert. — *Songs of the season, Golden Transcript, December 11, 1974*

Garfield County Libraries invites you to a Holiday Sing-Along with the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra on December 14, 10:00 am, at the Silt Branch Library. All ages are welcome to this fun community event.

Gilpin County Public Library welcomes harpist Kathryn Harms for a Holiday Harp Concert on December 17 at 6:30 pm. The festive program will include seasonal and holiday favorites.

Pikes Peak Library District is ringing in the season with a concert by the Forté Handbell Quartet at Library 21C on December 7, 3:30 pm. The group will perform classic holiday favorites, perfect for any family celebration.

Festive Foods

Spend a cozy afternoon with Basalt Regional Library at their Gingerbread House Extravaganza, December 11 at 2:30 pm. This community tradition features seasonal tunes, hot cocoa, and a raffle.

Enjoy a Cozy Cocoa Corner with Aurora Public Library, December 7 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. The afternoon will include a tiny who-feast with warm drinks and sweet snacks.

Join Lone Cone Library for Cookie Decorating (Noel Night), an annual Norwood tradition on December 6 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

Grand County Library District is hosting a Sweet Swap on December 6 at Granby Library. Join them around the fireplace to exchange cookies, recipes, and stories. Prizes will be awarded for Most Creative, Best Presentation, and Most Nostalgic.

Savor a Taste of Christmas with Ignacio Community Library on December 6 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Experience the joy of the light parade, shop with local vendors, and enjoy festive games, food, and music.

The More the Merrier

Two young children mail letters to Santa. — *Letters to Santa, The Estes Park Trail, December 13, 1974*

Don’t be a Grinch! Celebrate a Whoville Holiday with Pine River Library on December 20 at 5:00 pm. Enjoy hot cocoa, s’mores, themed crafts, and stories around the fire pit. Costumes are encouraged.

Celebrate the Most Wonderful Time of the Year with Delta County Libraries. Join them on December 14 for a full day of festive activities, including pictures with Santa, hot chocolate, crafts, and a local author book fair.

Jefferson County Public Library invites you to their Holiday Open House: Festival of Trees on December 13 at Lakewood Library. Enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Rocky Mountain Ukulele Orchestra while you stroll through a festive forest created by Lakewood community members.

A woman snuggles with a lamb around her neck. — *Touch of style, The Steamboat Pilot, December 8, 1994*

Lake County Public Library is keeping a Victorian holiday tradition alive with Ghost Stories in December. Join them on the 12th at 6:30 pm for an evening of spooky tales around the fireplace hosted by the library’s local history team.

Lyons Community Library is hosting a Teen Holiday Hangout on December 13 at 6:00 pm. The evening will include gingerbread house-making, a holiday singalong, and a white elephant gift exchange.

Join West Custer County Library for a Special Camp Happiness on December 7 at 2:00 pm. Enjoy cocoa, crafting, and a holiday movie before the Christmas Parade on Main Street.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Louisville Public Library will host Boulder Open Space for their presentation Birding Boulder County Through the Seasons on December 14 at 2:00 pm. Volunteer naturalists will explain where to find and how to identify the local and migratory birds of Boulder County.

Alamosa Public Library invites you to join their Day of Service on December 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Come make hygiene kits with La Puente staff as part of their Street Outreach program.

Westminster Public Library welcomes professional genealogist Carol Cooke Darrow for Genealogy: Researching U.S. Military Records on December 7 at 1:30 pm. Learn more about your family members by searching military records including pensions, service records, and draft cards.

A snowplow displays the ironic text "Hawaii or Bust" — *Wish You Were Here, Aspen Daily News, December 10, 1994*

What’s New from the Colorado State Library

Learning Opportunities

All events are online except where a location is noted.

Summer Drop in Chats
- December 17, 2024, 11:00 am
- January 14, 2025, 11:00 am
- January 28, 2025, 11:00 am
One Small Step from StoryCorps: Opportunity for Libraries
- December 9, 2024, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Bridging the Divide: A Panel Discussion on Library Workers Loneliness
- December 18, 2024, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
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
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.

Adult Services Manager – Denver Public Library
Chief Operating Officer – Denver Public Library
Librarian – Montbello Branch – Denver Public Library
Digital Navigator Program Administrator – Denver Public Library
Collection Development Manager – Denver Public Library
Senior Librarian – Makerspace & Studio – Pikes Peak Library District
Library Specialist I (part-time, NoBo) – Boulder Public Library District
Library Specialist, Davies Library – Spanish fluency – Arapahoe Library District
Library Specialist, Kelver Library – Spanish fluency – Arapahoe Library District
Library Specialist, Smoky Hill Library – Russian fluency – Arapahoe Library District
Library Specialist, Eloise May Library – Spanish fluency 30 hours – Arapahoe Library District
Library Specialist, Eloise May Library – Spanish fluency 40 hours – Arapahoe Library District
Library Specialist, Koelbel Library – Spanish fluency – Arapahoe Library District

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.