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
The Written Word
Denver Public Library is ready to jump into spring with several Book Buzz events scheduled across the metro area. DPL readers’ advisors will share 30 new and forthcoming titles with attendees, who might even get the chance to take home a book!
Louisville Public Library’s Quiet Writing Group is a weekly opportunity to meet other writers and work quietly together in a distraction-free setting. The next meeting is April 13 at 10:00 am.
Basalt Regional Library is throwing a Library Lovers’ Party on April 24. The evening will feature activities for all ages, including crafts, music, door prizes, and a catered dinner.
Alamosa Public Library is celebrating National Poetry Month with a Poetry Reading and Workshop featuring local author Tori Martinez on April 10.
Delta County Libraries welcomes their community to a Poetry Reading and Round Robin with Ben Bentele on April 16 at Crawford Library. Ben will share selections from his newest book “Hayseeds” and lead a round-robin for participants to share their own poems.
Estes Valley Library invites teens to a Pizza and Poetry Slam on April 11. Get inspired by browsing a variety of poetry books, then create your own original poems with an opportunity to share them aloud.
Poetic License is Summit Country Library’s monthly book club and poetry workshop. The meeting on April 18 will explore “Life On Mars” by Tracy K. Smith.
History Comes Alive
On April 11, the Fort Morgan Museum will travel back to 1912 to have Tea on the RMS Titanic. The program will feature a lecture from Phill Kleppen, a member of the Titanic Historical Society, plus a menu of scones, tea sandwiches, and sweet treats.
High Plains Library District welcomes their community to Scanning Photos 101 on April 16 in the Eaton Public Library Memory Lab. Learn how to use their equipment to scan and preserve photographs, film negatives, slides, and more.
Pueblo City-County Library District is hosting Rad Moves & Retro Grooves 80s Teen Hangout on April 14 at the Rawlings Library. Enjoy an evening of retro-inspired games and crafts.
Springing Up
Jefferson County Public Library invites kids to attend Peck, Scratch and Squawk: Everyday Use of Chickens in the Garden, April 15 at the Arvada Balsam Temporary Library. Meet live chickens and learn about their role in farms and gardens and their nutritional and housing needs.
Anythink Brighton’s Budding Gardeners is perfect for children to learn gardening basics and enjoy time outdoors. Dig in with Brianna from Little Pantry Botanicals on April 14 at 6:00 pm.
Westminster Public Library’s 5th Annual Seed Library Opening Day is April 11 at the Irving Street branch. Get ready for planting season with seed packets and expert help.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Book Club Sets
Book Club Author Suggestion: Paula McLain. Several historical fiction novels from author Paula McClain are available as book club sets for libraries to check out.
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- AI in Action: Unlocking AI Literacy Skills for Every Learner
- April 15, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- 2026 Colorado Resource Sharing Conference
- April 23 & 24
- 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 April 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.
- Library Associate- Children’s Services – High Plains Library District
- Workforce Librarian – High Plains Library District
- Programming Coordinator – Lake County Public Library
- Chief Public Services Officer – Denver Public Library
- Full-time 40 hour Human Resources Generalist (Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred) – Anythink Administration
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred) – Anythink Nature Library
- Facilities Generalist I – Douglas County Libraries
Grant Opportunities
Libraries and Local News Initiative from the Urban Libraries Council. This national pilot program connects public libraries with local news organizations to create opportunities for residents to shape the stories and information in their communities. Awards: 6-8 micro-grants of $7,500-$10,000 to library-newsroom teams. Applications accepted April 8 – May 1, 2026.
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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