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
Heading into the Holidays
Anythink Wright Farms is offering Holiday Portraits taken by Yvonne Min Photography on November 22 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Drop in with your immediate family or friends to have a holiday portrait taken by a professional photographer.
Summit County Library’s Annual Gingerbread House Contest is December 1-13. Create your construction at home and then bring it to any of their three libraries by December 13 for public voting. Winners will be announced on December 22.
High Plains Library District invites you to Holiday Open House: Singing in the Stacks on November 29 at LINC. Turn up the volume at this fun and festive karaoke event.
Jefferson County Public Library is hosting a Winter Holiday Sing-Along on December 2 at Standley Lake Library. Get in the holiday spirit with classic and contemporary holiday tunes, led by the talented musicians of the Denver Ukulele Orchestra.
From the Kitchen
Boulder Public Library welcomes cooking expert Kim Torrone for Thai Cooking on November 29 at Reynolds Library. Attendees will make a delicious Thai dish and learn about Kim’s experience in the United States.
Broomfield Library is offering Cooking & Culture for Kids on December 3 at 4:00 pm. Participants will explore the world through food with new recipes, fun, and friends.
Estes Valley Library is hosting a Thanksgiving Spice Exchange on November 25 at 3:00 pm. Bring your extra herbs and spices to swap with fellow community members. The Library will provide small bags and measuring spoons for easy trading.
Create & Connect
Delta County Libraries’ Teen Zine Team will meet on December 4 at Paonia Library. Teens will create unique publications on the topic of their choice using materials provided by the Library or from home.
Pikes Peak Library District is hosting a Winter Makerspace Open House on November 25 at Fountain Library. Explore what the makerspaces have to offer, and experiment with watercolors, fabric, paint, and other projects to give as a gift or keep for yourself.
Join Garfield County Libraries for The Editing and Publishing World with Kristin Carlson, the fourth in their GarCoWriMo speaker series, on November 25 at the Glenwood Springs Branch. Kristin will share her experience as a writer and editor as well as her knowledge of the publishing world.
Poudre Libraries invites creatives in recovery to their first Open Art Studio at Old Town Library on November 22. Work on a creative project in a welcoming environment hosted by Colorado Artists in Recovery (CAiR).
Alamosa Public Library announces the grand opening of We Are Water, a permanent exhibit that explores the importance of water in the San Luis Valley. Drop by on November 22 from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm to celebrate with family-friendly activities.
Join Lake County Public Library for Ski Waxing Night on December 2 at 6:30 pm. The Library will provide wax and waxing equipment for this DIY event.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Colorado Historic Newspapers
2026 Support for Newspaper Digitization. Applications due February 2, 2026.
Elephind Webinar: Explore the Future of Newspaper Search
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Data-Informed Advocacy for School Libraries
- November 18, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Ignacio Community Library
- November 19, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Stories for All: Reaching Young Children Through Adapted Books and Adapt to Impact
- December 2, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- AI in Action: Foundations for Future-Ready Libraries
- December 3, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Elephind Webinar: Explore the Future of Newspaper Search
- December 4, 2:00 pm (registration required)
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Loveland Public Library
- December 9, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- CSL Continuing Education Calendar
- 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 November 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.
- Colorado State Librarian – Colorado Department of Education. Apply by November 30, 2025.
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Perl Mack
- Head of Acquisitions & Accounting – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Senior Graphic Designer and Marketing Specialist – Arapahoe Libraries
- Branch Maintenance Specialist – Arapahoe Libraries
- Supervisor, Youth Services – Arapahoe Libraries
- Museum Archives Assistant Temporary – City of Loveland
- Library Associate- Adult Services Part Time – City of Louisville
- Librarian – Children and Family Services – Clearview 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, [email protected].
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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