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 as well as images from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!
Library Events & Programs
On the Kooky Side
Aurora Public Library welcomes adults to Bizarre History Trivia at Mission Viejo Library on May 23. Answer questions about the strangest and most fantastic events in history, with medals awarded for each category.
Pitkin County Library’s Tricera-Table-Top Gaming is an evening of dinosaur-themed board and card games. Join them for this all-ages event on May 23.
Gather your friends for Westminster Public Library’s That’s Awkward, an afternoon of silly and inelegant photography on May 30 at College Hill. You’ll share a laugh and some snacks while making fun memories.
Network and Learn
Garfield County Libraries is hosting Business After Hours at the Library for local professionals on May 27 at the New Castle Branch. Join fellow Chamber members for networking, a tour of the Workshop makerspace, and a free professional headshot.
High Plains Library District welcomes Blooming Health Farms for Chickening 101: Backyard Chickens on May 23 at the LINC Event Center. Participants will learn the basics of chicken care, housing, feeding, egg production, local regulations, and common beginner mistakes.
Mesa County Libraries welcomes you to The Art of Getting Unstuck with Artist in Residence Ian Janco on May 26 at the Central Library. Artists of all types will learn practical tools and fresh perspectives to power through creative ruts.
Join Park County Public Libraries for a CPW Wildlife Officer Talk on May 30 at Bailey Public Library. This all-ages presentation will feature a live K9 odor detection demo.
Community Fun
Delta County Libraries is hosting Community Sing!, a weekly series led by retired music teacher Mark Bishop at Crawford Library. Participate in this community tradition that will culminate in a fall performance.
Eagle Valley Library District’s Plant and Seed Exchange is May 23 at Gypsum Public Library. Bring your plants, cuttings, or seeds to exchange or donate.
Jefferson County Public Library welcomes the Denver Taiko Drummers on May 24 at Columbine Library. Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with their dynamic cultural performance.
Lyons Community Library’s Tween Book-to-Movie Club continues on May 26 with Dog Man by Dav Pilkey. Read the book, watch the movie, then compare!
Colorado Talking Book Library welcomes their patrons to a summer of reading, beginning with their Summer Reading Kickoff on June 5 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The
CTBL Virtual Book Club- All That Is Secret (Online) is June 29 at 5:00 pm. Patrons may also be interested in the NLS/Braille Institute 2026 Summer Reading Program Kickoff on June 15.
America 250 – Colorado 150 Celebrations
Is your library planning any 250-150 events? The Colorado State Library would love to feature them in the Friday Grab Bag. Email Amy Hitchner with an event link or the details.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Adult Services
Hidden Gems: Tales & Travel. Learn about Tales & Travel Memory Programs and their potential to enhance the services that libraries offer to adult learners.
Resource Sharing
Colorado Libraries with Makerspaces. View an interactive map of Colorado libraries that advertise makerspace or 3D printing services on their websites.
Library Research Service
Tales from a Model Makerspace. A Colorado library’s Idea Lab teaches lifelong lessons.
Colorado State Publications Blog
West Salt Creek Landslide. Each May marks the anniversary of Colorado’s largest landslide, which occurred on May 25, 2014 in Mesa County.
Accessibility
Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Colorado leads the nation with the most accessible government websites, but there is still room for improvement in several key areas.
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- HESTL EdCON
- June 9 at the DCSD Campus in Lone Tree
- 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 May 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.
- Early Literacy Program Specialist – Buena Vista Public Library
- Librarian- Substitute – High Plains Library District
- Library Associate- Substitute – High Plains Library District
- Part-Time 25 hour Studio Host (Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred) – Anythink Libraries
- Adult Programming Coordinator – Basalt Regional Library
- Assistant Librarian Adult Services 20 Hours – Loveland Public Library
- Branch Supervisor, Castlewood Library – Arapahoe Library District
- Reference Librarian, Davies Library – Arapahoe 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.
- Friday Grab Bag, June 26, 2026 - June 26, 2026
- Friday Grab Bag, June 12, 2026 - June 12, 2026
- Friday Grab Bag, June 5, 2026 - June 5, 2026