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
Celebration Time
Join Pine River Library and the Pine River Garden Club as they Celebrate the Harvest on September 22 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This fall festival will include garden tours, live music, green chile roasting, Veggie Olympics, a community potluck, and contests for best salsa, ugliest vegetable, and more!
Clear Creek County Library District is celebrating the 100th anniversary of John Tomay Memorial Library this month. Join them for a centennial jubilee at the Hamill House Museum in Georgetown on September 26 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) Colorado returns to the Boulder Public Library on September 14 and 15. This free event brings together local and international authors and speakers for a vibrant exchange of ideas.
Community Engagement
Arapahoe Libraries invites you to In Conversation with Mychal Threets, Librarian and Social Media Sensation, a virtual visit on October 22 at 6:00 pm. Threets, the recipient of the American Library Association’s I Love My Librarian award, will speak about how he fell in love with libraries, why he advocates for readers of all ages, and the importance of talking about mental health. Anyone is welcome to register and join.
Let’s Roll! is Denver Public Library’s bike club for adults 50+. Join their next casual ride through Inspiration Point Park on September 14. Riders will meet at Woodbury Branch Library at 10:00 am.
Join the Town of Vail and Vail Public Library for a free showing of Inside Out 2, September 22 at 5:00 pm. Bring your blanket to the Vail Library Lawn and enjoy popcorn while you watch the flick with family and friends.
Ignacio Community Library and Ignacio High School Science invite you to International Observe the Moon Night on September 14, 7:30 pm, at Shoshone Park. The evening will include public telescope viewings, engaging informational activities, and crafts.
High Plains Library District welcomes all ages to YES!fest 2024, the Youth Engineering and Science Festival for the whole family on September 14 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at LINC. Visit booths and exhibitors from across many science and engineering fields, and learn about meaningful potential career options. No registration is required for this free event.
Front Range Community College is hosting an Author Talk with Jamie LaRue on September 25 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Westminster Public Library. Join him for a discussion on censorship and defending the right to read. Download the flyer (pdf).
Make & Create
Basalt Regional Library’s Intro to Costume Making for Teens is a three-part workshop series on September 17, 24, and October 1. Teens will plan, design, and create a unique costume using repurposed and sustainable materials.
Wilkinson Public Library is offering The Art of the Short Story: Reading and Writing Short Fiction, a six-week course from September 18 to October 23. Instructor David Lavender will lead registered participants through discussions, writing exercises, and feedback in a supportive workshop environment.
Estes Valley Library is partnering with local sign makers to sponsor an Arbor Day Poster Contest for kids and teens. The winner will receive a cash prize and a personal tutoring session on digital editing. Join the poster making session on September 14 at 2:00 pm.
Mesa County Libraries is hosting a Comic Con Juried Art Show Reception at Central Library on September 14 at 3:00 pm. The winning pieces will be announced, and Artist in Residence Katie Sheader will be on hand to help attendees with a special craft.
Ouray Library District is offering Printmaking 101 on September 19 at 5:30 pm. Contact the library for additional details.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Historic Newspapers
Book Club Resource
Colorado State Publications Library
CSL News
Learning Opportunities
- Summer Drop in Chats
- September 24, 11:00 am
- October 8, 11:00 am
- October 22, 11:00 am
- No registration required
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: It Is For You!
- September 19, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Registration required
- Influence and Persuasion in Libraries: Revamping Traditional Marketing Strategies with Social Psychology Research
- September 19 & 20, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, University of Denver
- Register for one of the two days
- CSL in Session: Seeing the Unseen; Raising the Visibility of Equity Work
- September 25, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Registration required
- CLELCON 2024
- October 3 & 4, online
- Registration $35; scholarships available
- Virtual E-Resources Conference Series from CLiC
- October 8, 9:00 am – 12:45 pm
- Registration required
- Balancing Act: Navigating Mental Health as Parental Caregivers in the Library Profession
- October 16, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Registration required
- Adult Services Regional Workshop – Lamar
- October 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, in person
- Registration (free) required
- De-escalation Skills Workshop – Colorado Only
- October 24, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- This course is full – email Christine Kreger to be added to the waitlist
- 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 Operations Supervisor – Jefferson County Public Library
- Part-time 20 hour Wrangler (Spanish speaking candidates desired) – Anythink Wright Farms
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates highly preferred) – Anythink Bennett
- Communications Coordinator – Mesa County Libraries
- Customer Experience Librarian – Douglas County Libraries
- Director of Customer Experience – Douglas County Libraries
- Library Director – East Cheyenne County Library District
- Librarian I – Meadows Library – Boulder Public 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.
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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