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
Community Celebrations
Poudre Libraries announced the return of Fort Collins Book Fest from February 7 to 17 with the theme Open Pages Open Minds. The 9th annual event will feature author talks, writing workshops, kid and teen activities, readings, book signings, panel discussions, and other creative activities. All sessions are free to attend and open to the public.
Denver Public Library’s annual Juanita Gray Community Service Awards Ceremony is February 1 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. This celebration of Denver’s Black Leaders is free and open to the public.
Broomfield Library invites you to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Depot, January 18 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Depot Museum. Listen to Dr. King’s speeches, share your own stories, and participate in a community-building craft.
Culinary Crafting
Fort Morgan Library & Museum’s Learn How to Make Your Own Tea program is back by popular demand on January 25 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Use your creativity to mix and blend your own unique teas.
High Plains Library District is recruiting 3rd-5th graders for Cupcake Wars on January 22 at Erie Community Library. Test your skills in this friendly (and delicious) cupcake decorating competition.
Blend up some chocolatey goodness at Mesa County Libraries’ Create Your Own Cocoa Mix for Adults on January 22 at Clifton Branch Library. Learn about the history of hot chocolate around the world while you mix up your custom cocoa combo.
Learn with Experts
Jefferson County Public Library invites you to join nutritional health coach Luke Burns for Let’s Talk Nutrition – Digestion 101 on January 22 at Evergreen Library. Learn how to support your overall health through better digestion.
Forester Jared Fleming will be at La Veta Public Library on January 23 to present Urban Forests – The Right Tree for the Right Place. From elevation and soil type to utility, learn how to maintain old trees and select new trees suitable for La Veta.
As part of their Winter Clinic Series, Lyons Community Library is offering Hiking Preparedness and Avalanche Awareness for teens and adults on January 24 at 6:30 pm. Learn about important gear, tools, and tips to keep you safe during the winter hiking season.
Friendly Competition
Ridgway Public Library’s second annual Adult Reading Bingo Challenge is going on now through March 31. Download your bingo card and complete scoring rows to win prizes.
Clearview Library District’s Chess Club for youth ages 6-18 meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at Severance Library. Have fun while engaging your problem solving skills in this friendly environment.
East Morgan County Library District is throwing a Reading Challenge Party on January 25 at 3:00 pm. Whether you participated in the 2024 Challenge or are interested in the 2025 Challenge, you are welcome to join them for refreshments, crafts, and prize drawings.
Durango Public Library invites kids and tweens to play Live Action Hungry Hungry Hippos on January 24. Wear comfy clothes to participate in this larger-than-life version of the classic game.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Accessibility Corner
Accessibility Quick Tip: Making Video Recordings Usable by All.
2025 Support for Newspaper Digitization
The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection’s New Content Support Program is accepting applications through February 1, 2025. The Support Program is designed to help institutions digitize and provide free online access to their community newspapers through CHNC.
CSL Book Club Sets & Resource Kits
New Resource Kit: Booktasting the 2024 Colorado Book Awards
Book Club Author Suggestion: Ellen Hopkins
Library Research Service
LRS would like your feedback to help ensure that the next iteration of the LRS blog directly addresses the research and data needs and challenges of the library community. Please take this short survey and share it with other interested library staff.
Colorado State Publications Library
Colorado’s Governors: Raymond H. Talbot
Adult Services
Program Spotlight: Akron Library’s Teen Time: Yeet Art Program
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- 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
- Introduction to Workplace Conflict Resolution (Colorado Only)
- February 4 & 5, 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- This session is full. Contact Christine Kreger to be added to the waitlist.
- 2025 CLiC Virtual Winter Workshop
- February 5 & 6, 2025
- Maryland State Library Cultures Conference: Building your network
- February 12, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Cultivating Empathy, Trust, and Optimism: Strategies for Motivating Demotivated Library Teams
- February 13, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Strategies for Success for Neurodiverse librarians
- February 18, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Booktalk Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town (Colorado Library Staff Only)
- February 19, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
- Talking Teen Services: Working with Teen Volunteers Panel
- February 25, 11:00 am – 12:15 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 Assistant (Outreach and Events) – City of Aurora, Library & Cultural Services
- Librarian – City of Aurora, Library & Cultural Services
- Marketing & Communications Assistant – Clearview Library District
- Library Outreach Specialist – Denver Public Library
- Reference Library Supervisor – Denver Public Library
- Public History and Engagement Library Supervisor – Denver Public Library
- Communications and Outreach Fellowship, National Forest Service Library – USDA Forest Service
- Chief Libraries & Inclusion Officer – Jefferson County Public Library
- Business Services Planner – Douglas County Libraries
- Teen Librarian – Boulder Public Library District
- Director of the Auraria Library – University of Colorado – Denver
- Collections Student Assistant – University of Colorado – Denver
- Manager, Facilities – Arapahoe Libraries
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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