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
Gather ‘Round
Garfield County Libraries invites you to Learn About the Colorado Talking Book Library on January 30 at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. CTBL’s Lorrie Spoering will introduce the service and what it offers to those who can’t read standard print.
Englewood Public Library is hosting the Winter Olympics just for children on January 29. Bundle up for the coolest celebration of the year filled with fun and frosty activities.
High Plains Library District announces several upcoming events at Carbon Valley Regional Library: Pollinator-Friendly Gardening: Create a Year-Round Sanctuary on January 24; Teen Pancake Movie Night featuring The Princess Bride on January 27; and Watercolor Hearts & Handmade Valentine Cards on February 1.
Jefferson County Public Library welcomes you to their Community Book Swap on January 24 at Conifer Library. Uncover hidden gems and new favorites, and don’t forget to enter the raffle for a book-themed prize.
Durango Public Library’s Colorado Costume Dance Party is an opportunity for kids and tots to dress up as their favorite Colorado critter, mountain explorer, skier, or hometown hero. Join the dance celebration on January 24.
Spring Seeds
Delta County Libraries is throwing a Seed Packaging Party on January 26. Join fellow gardeners and seed savers in preparing packets for the Seed Library.
Lyon Community Library’s Seed Swap, Save, & Sort is January 24 in the Community Room. Bring your extra or saved seeds to exchange with neighbors, learn simple seed-saving techniques, and help replenish the community seed library for spring.
Pueblo City-County Library District welcomes Pueblo County Master Gardeners for a Seed Starting Workshop on January 23 at the Rawling Branch. You’ll learn what and when to plant, and take home some goodies to get you started.
Create and Make
At Pikes Peak Library District’s Soup Blend Workshop you’ll use your culinary imagination to create a unique soup blend to enjoy at home. Register to participate on January 28 at Sand Creek Library.
Eagle Valley Library District invites adults to a Beginner Quilting Class on January 27 at Avon Public Library. Join Marie Torry from Patterns of Joy Sewing for a beginner-friendly quilting workshop where participants will make quilted throw pillows.
Alamosa Public Library will offer Installing Your Own Photovoltaic System with Ben Weeks for adults on January 31. Learn about safety, best practices, state inspections, and the steps you need to take to get your system installed and working.
Estes Valley Library invites you to Celebrate Colorado History with Mini-Weaving on January 26. Participants will use simple weaving techniques to create a one-of-a-kind textile piece inspired by Colorado’s rich weaving heritage.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Digital Colorado
CVL Collections: 2025 Year in Review. Learn more about CVL Collections, a program that helps organizations in Colorado and Wyoming share their unique historic collections online.
Resource Sharing
57th Annual Colorado Resource Sharing Conference Registration is Open. This virtual conference on April 23 & 24 will include program topics such as processing workflows, software migrations, cataloging for shared catalogs, data rescue, statistics, AI, and more.
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- The Reading Culture Advantage: Assessing Opportunity for Change and Impact
- January 28, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- The Reading Culture Advantage: Partnering with Families & Caregivers
- February 10, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- The Reading Culture Advantage: Cracking the Code on Reader Engagement
- February 26, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- New Year, New Learning
- Libraries Learn
- Maine State Library’s Continuing Education Calendar (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for January 2026.
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.
- Archives and Special Collections Librarian – Colorado Mesa University
- Senior Language Library Specialist, Spanish – Arapahoe Library District
- Librarian Technician III – Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Huron Street
Grant Opportunities
IMLS Opens FY26 Grant Funding Cycle, Encourages Library and Museum Applications. Visit Grant Programs for the listing of grants, descriptions, and deadlines.
SIPA Micro-Grant application opens on March 1, 2026. The Micro-Grant program ($250 to $10,000) is designed to connect Colorado residents to government by putting more information and services online.
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.
- Friday Grab Bag, May 29, 2026 - May 29, 2026
- Friday Grab Bag, May 22, 2026 - May 22, 2026
- Friday Grab Bag, May 8, 2026 - May 8, 2026