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
Share the Love
Basalt Regional Library invites families to a Sweet Stories Social on February 11. Celebrate the season of sweetness with an afternoon full of creativity, music, and book-loving fun for all ages.
Aurora Public Library is hosting Watercolor Valentines, a crafting event on February 10 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. All ages can drop by to create a beautiful hand-painted card for someone special.
Show off your sweet side at Jefferson County Public Library’s Conversation Hearts Jewelry crafting event on February 8 at Express Library West Arvada. Create your own rings and earrings with funky and colorful candy hearts.
Clear Creek County Library District invites kids and teens to play Valentine’s Bingo on February 13 at John Tomay Memorial Library. Come enjoy an afternoon of snacks, prizes, and fun.
Garfield County Public Library’s Annual Community Valentine Card-Making Event is February 7 at New Castle Library. Bring your creativity; the Library will provide all the supplies.
Delta County Libraries welcomes teens to a Valentine’s Cookie Decorating Workshop on February 11 at Cedaredge Library. Expert cookie decorator Karla Whitsitt will demonstrate fun techniques to help teens express their creative side.
Lake County Public Library’s Hearts & Crafts Valentine Drop-in on February 13 is an opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day with three activities: a LEGO STEM build, a snack craft, and a paper headband craft to take home.
Grand County Library District invites you to do some Valentine’s Day crafting at Love Links: Bead Bracelet Bar on February 14 at Juniper Library. Drop in to create a special beaded bracelet for a friend or loved one.
Bemis Public Library is hosting a Valentine-themed Beginners Embroidery Club on February 13. This class for kids is being offered in the morning and afternoon.
Make a unique Valentine’s Day Crochet Key Chain at Security Public Library on February 14. Bethany from Twisted Stitches will lead this intermediate-level class.
Buzz-Worthy
High Plains Library District invites you to Bee Love at Carbon Valley Regional Library on February 7 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Learn about the vital role pollinators play in the ecosystem, discover ways to show them love, and help them thrive.
Boulder Public Library is hosting Pollinator-friendly Valentines with the BeeChicas on February 11 at the Main Library. Learn about the unique history of Valentine’s Day and beekeeping.
Denver Public Library continues to celebrate Winter of Reading in February with two Book Buzz events that will whet your whistle as well as build up your TBR pile! Buzzers will be at Fiction Beer Company on February 17 at Schoolyard Beer Garden on February 23—and they will have books to give away, too!
Lone Cone Library is offering a two-part Financial Literacy Class presented by Karla Cline from NuVista Credit Union in Montrose. Learn about Credit Management on February 12 and Scams on March 12.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection
Hot off the presses: 2025 Historic Newspapers Fast Facts! CHNC grew by over 2.4 million pages last year. See the visualization of its amazing growth.
Adult Services
Hidden Gem: The Next50 Foundation. Learn how libraries can partner with the Next50 Foundation to make aging more affordable.
Continuing Education
Summer Reading: Creative Planning for Success. Read a roundup of ideas, resources, and links library staff shared while gearing up for Summer Reading 2026.
Sunny Stories About Beginning Again. The latest Sunshine & Stories podcast features an interview with Sharon Morris discussing “beginner’s mindset” and how core library values are learned and sometimes conflict.
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- The Reading Culture Advantage: Partnering with Families & Caregivers
- February 10, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Tax Credits and Resources with Get Ahead Colorado
- February 23, 12:00 – 12:45 pm
- The Reading Culture Advantage: Cracking the Code on Reader Engagement
- February 26, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- 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 February 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.
- Communications Manager – Grand County Library District
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Bilingual Outreach Librarian – Jefferson County Public Library
- Library Specialist, Spanish Speaker, Part-time – Arapahoe Library District
IMLS 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.
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