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
Goodbye Summer, Hello School
Clearview Library District is celebrating the end of summer at Heather’s Summer Carnival on August 2 at Windsor Library. All ages are welcome to enjoy the bouncy house, water slide, carnival games, dunk tank, and more.
Estes Valley Library is hosting an End of Summer Pool Party on August 1 at the Estes Valley Community Center. They will be completing the raffle drawing for tween and teen prizes while participants enjoy pizza and beverages — and of course, swimming!
Lafayette Public Library’s Summer Reading Program Finale will be held at Great Outdoors Waterpark on August 1. All kids and teens who earned a sticker for completing four Summer Reading goals can enjoy free entry to the park, along with up to two parents/adult guardians.
Lake County Public Library invites you to Walk with the Library in the Boom Days Parade on August 2. Their float will reflect their Summer Reading Challenge theme of “Color Our World”.
Basalt Regional Library’s Back to School Fair is August 6 on the East Patio. Students can pick up free school supplies and decorate their own pencil pouches or canvas totes for school use, and parents can visit the resource fair to learn about programs from local organizations.
Create and Learn
Delta County Libraries will host R & R: Renew and Recycle at Cedaredge Library on August 8. Gather with fellow creatives to share ideas, tips and inspiration for transforming old furniture and everyday items into fresh, functional, and unique projects.
High Plains Library District’s Spice of the Month is Lemon Pepper. Stop by LINC throughout August to pick up a small packet of the spice, recipe cards, a brief history, and related book recommendations.
Poudre Libraries is hosting VR for Everyone: A Virtual Reality Open House on August 3 at Old Town Library. Learn about the library’s VR sets and explore the many experiences to choose from, ranging from art to outer space.
Join Wilkinson Public Library for Plants and Pastries on August 5, when Melissa will lead participants on a tour of the library’s magnificent plants.
Flora and Fauna
Aurora Public Library invites you to learn Seed Collecting Techniques with Aurora Water on August 2 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. Learn to identify native flora, practice seed harvesting techniques, and discuss ethics and sustainability in wild seed collection.
Boulder Public Library is offering What to Consider Before Becoming a Beekeeper on August 6 at Studio 24. Community beekeeper Tzuria Malpica will discuss what’s really involved in caring for honeybees, including cost, time commitment, pests, and weather.
Pikes Peak Library District invites adults to a Bonsai Workshop on August 1 at Library 21c. Participants will learn the basics of bonsai, including types of trees, techniques, and care, and leave with their very own bonsai tree.
Anythink Wright Farms invites you to Sogetsu Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging Workshop on August 2. Certified Sogetsu Ikebana teacher Kimiko Kuno will lead participants through the key elements of Ikebana—line, color, and mass—and how to apply them.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Book Club Resource
Book Club Author Suggestion: Caitlin Doughty
Digital Colorado
Touring US Collections: Free Access to History
Colorado State Publications Blog
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Balancing the Books: Addressing Economic Insecurity Among Library Workers
- August 6, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Illuminate Colorado – Stewards of Children (Colorado Only)
- August 28, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
- Illuminate Colorado- Lines in the Sand (Colorado Only)
- September 9, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC): Department of Public Safety
- September 15, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
- Unraveling Legacy Toxicity: Navigating Dysfunctional Environments in Leadership
- September 23, 1:00 – 2:00 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 August 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.
- Customer Experience Associate II – Douglas County Libraries
- Library Associate – Catalog – Bemis Public Library
- Part Time Library Associate- Youth Services – Louisville Public Library
- Library Aide – Aurora Public Library
- Patron Experience Librarian – Children – Estes Valley Public Library District
- Library Page – High Plains Library District
- Course Readings Specialist (Library Technician III) – Colorado School of Mines
- Communications Coordinator – Mesa County Libraries
- Youth Services Librarian – Teen Emphasis – Pueblo City-County Library District
- Supervisor, Branch – Koebel – Arapahoe Library District
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Wright Farms
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Huron Street
- Production Graphic Designer – 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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