Friday Grab Bag, January 31, 2025 – Colorado Virtual Library

An ice climber extends his arms and legs as he ascends a frozen waterfall. — *Ice Climbing. The Estes Park Trail, February 3, 1995*

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

Creative Outlets

A high school music teacher sits at the piano. — *Mr. Taylor happy to be back at his piano in room 401. East High Spotlight, February 1, 1995*

Delta County Libraries invites you to unleash your talent at the Paonia Open Mic on February 7 at 6:00 pm. Performances can be spoken word, musical, or comedy – as long as they are family appropriate and under 6 minutes.

Garfield County Libraries is offering Nature Journaling with Words and Drawings, a monthly class for adults beginning February 7 at Carbondale Library. Creatively document nature with a group of novice and experienced sketch book writers and artists.

Join La Veta Public Library to make Origami with a Valentine’s Day twist. Veronica Marino will lead the program on February 6 at 2:00 pm.

Hearts A-Fire

Poudre Libraries and Front Range Community College invite local poets to enter Howl of the Hearts, a poetry contest open February 7-17. Poets will compete for a chance to win prizes and an opportunity to read their poem on April 10.

Make an unusual gift for that special someone at Alamosa Public Library’s My Creepy Valentine crafting event on February 7 at 5:30 pm.

Create a cute Valentine Gnome at Buena Vista Public Library on February 6 at 1:00 pm. You can change out the hat to give him a festive twist for any holiday.

Engaged Learning

Three young girls touch their hair as part of a play. — *A lesson in French. Golden Transcript, February 4, 1975*

Lyons Community Library reminds you that it’s not too early to think about spring planting! Join them for Seed Saving & Swapping on February 1 at 11:00 am.

Pikes Peak Library District is offering Nonprofit – Introduction to Grant Seeking on February 7 at Library 21c. You’ll learn the basics of grant seeking and tips for using the Colorado Grants Guide.

The Foothills Audubon Bird Club will be at Berthoud Community Library on February 6 to discuss the Colorado Native Pollinating Insect Health Study. The program begins at 6:00 pm.

A large marmot looks directly at the camera. — *The birds and the beasts. The Estes Park Trail, February 5, 1965*

What’s New from the Colorado State Library

Learning Opportunities

All events are online except where a location is noted.

Maryland State Library Cultures Conference 2025
- February 12 – April 9
Introduction to Workplace Conflict Resolution (Colorado Only)
- February 4 & 5, 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
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
Library Technology Accessibility Workshop
- February 18, 8:30 am – 4:15 pm
- University of Denver Anderson Commons
Design Thinking in the Library: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
- February 18, 4:00 – 5:00 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:
- Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library
- Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for February 2025

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.

City Librarian and Executive Director – Denver Public Library
Full Time Customer Service Specialist – Clearview Library District
Innovation Technician Makerspace and Woodshop – High Plains Library District
Innovation Technician Makerspace – High Plains Library District
Library Page – High Plains Library District
Creative Lead – Digital Media – Anythink Support Services (Wright Farms branch)
Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Huron Street
Part-time Adult Library Technician – Louisville Public Library
Executive Director – Ruby Sisson Library Foundation and Friends
Assistant Director – Ruby Sisson Memorial Library
Collection & Technology Services Supervisor – Broomfield Public Library
Adult Library Services Supervisor – Broomfield Public Library
Coordinator, Rover, Mobile Library Services – Arapahoe Library District
Library Specialist – Eloise May – (full-time 40 hours) – Arapahoe Library District

A young boy lines up 4 piggy banks. — *Saving his pennies. The Aurora Advocate, February 4, 1965*

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.