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
Great Pumpkins
Delta County Libraries invites teens to a Pumpkin Carving Party on October 26 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Enjoy a festive afternoon of carving and painting while you enjoy snacks and treats.
Security Public Library’s Twisted Stitches group is making Loom Knit Pumpkins on October 26 at 2:00 pm. These decorations are perfect for fall. No experience needed!
Garfield County Libraries invites families to The Great Pumpkin Craft on October 28 at 11:30 am at Parachute Branch Library. Get into the Halloween spirit with pumpkin painting and carving.
Howdy, Halloween!
Estes Valley Library is a Halloween Trick or Treat destination in downtown Estes Park. They will be handing out sweet treats, spooky toys, and even some books from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on October 31.
Halloween is for dogs, too! High Plains Library District invites you to bring your pup in a costume to “Howl”-O-Ween Doggy, a professional photo opportunity on October 26 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at Fort Lupton Public School & Library.
Show off your costume at Lake County Public Library’s Halloween Party on October 28 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Bring a dish to share at the potluck, and enjoy crafts, games, and festive treats.
Silverton Public Library’s 3rd Annual Halloween Costume Party is October 26 at 5:30 pm. Join them for an evening of crafts, treats, games, and community fun. Prizes will be awarded for best adult and kids’ costumes.
Longmont Public Library is hosting a tweens-only Halloween Party on October 31 at 4:00 pm. Get together with friends to enjoy spooky music, play Halloween themed games, make a simple craft, and more.
Join Poudre Libraries for some Halloween shenanigans as they explore Spooky Creations with DALL-E 3 on October 29, 6:00 pm, at Old Town Library. You’ll learn how to use AI to generate images to use for Halloween decorations.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Pikes Peak Library District invites you to Spooky Stacks 2024, an exploration of chilling tales of famous deaths from the Pikes Peak Region. You’ll wander the dimly lit stacks and encounter lingering spirits with haunting stories. Tours will be held at 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30 pm on October 28 at Penrose Library.
Pueblo City-County Library District is holding a Silk Screening Workshop on October 30 at Rawlings. With help of instructor Alyssa Vargas Lopez you’ll screen print a design on a tote bag or other fabric item.
Denver Public Library invites you to their Central Library Grand Reopening Celebration on November 3, starting with a ribbon cutting at 10:00 am in the new Park View event space. The celebration will continue all day with festivities and entertainment for the whole family.
Join Durango Public Library at a reception to honor their 2024 Library Community Champion, Durango Botanic Gardens on October 30 at 3:00 pm. Durango Botanic Gardens is being recognized for its commitment to the library grounds and the many educational tours and programs it offers throughout the year.
Accessibility Corner
News, tips, and resources to support technology accessibility
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Resource Sharing
Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection
Colorado State Publications Library
CSL Kits
Program Spotlight
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Summer Drop in Chats
- November 5, 11:00 am
- November 19, 11:00 am
- December 3, 11:00 am
- December 17, 11:00 am
- Everyday Evaluations
- Part II – Collection. October 29, 11:00 am
- Part III – Analysis and Visualization. November 12, 11:00 am
- Virtual Partner Forum: Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
- November 12, 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
- 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Southeast Region)
- November 14, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta
- PHPR Collaborative and Libraries – Like French Fries and Frosty’s (Strange? You mean GREAT!)
- November 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- CSL in Session: How Wide is Your Window: A Thoughtful Approach to EDI Family Programming
- November 19, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Leading from Within: Cultivating Managerial Self-Care for Resilient Organizations
- November 20, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
- Adult Services Regional Workshop – Greeley
- November 22, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Ageless Grace in Libraries Community of Practice: Fall 2024
- December 9, 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Virtual Partner Forum: Next 50 Foundation
- December 10, 11:00 – 11:30 am
- Bridging the Divide: A Panel Discussion on Library Workers Loneliness
- December 18, 1:00 – 2:00 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.
- Public Library Senior Consultant – Colorado State Library. Application deadline is Oct. 25.
- Library Associate – Adult Services – Englewood Public Library
- Librarian – Teen & Workforce Development – High Plains Library District
- Librarian – Substitute – High Plains Library District
- Library Associate – Virtual Services – Substitute – High Plains Library District
- Learning Development & Design Librarian – University of Colorado Boulder 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.
- Friday Grab Bag, October 25, 2024 - October 25, 2024
- Friday Grab Bag, October 18, 2024 - October 18, 2024
- Friday Grab Bag, October 11, 2024 - October 11, 2024