Friday Grab Bag, April 19, 2024

The Friday Grab Bag is a weekly series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting happenings in Colorado libraries, and includes news from Colorado State Library.

Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!

Earth Day, Hooray!

Garfield County Libraries invites you to celebrate Earth Day and World Book Day by becoming a Book Medic, April 20 at Silt Branch Library. Learn how to give your beloved books some extra TLC and protect your personal library for years to come.

Jefferson County Public Library’s next Teen After Hours event is Earth Day Upcycling on April 19 at Arvada Library. Get crafty and create something new with reused materials.

Bemis Public Library’s Bookmobile will be at the Littleton Earth Day Community Event, hosted by Juniperseed Mercantile on April 21 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. While you’re there, check out the live music, vegan food truck, sustainable vendors, a hard-to-recycle items round-up, activities for kids, and more!

Join the Lyons Community Library, in partnership with the Sustainable Futures Commission and the Lyons Ecology Advisory Board, for an Earth Day Film Series. They are screening Honeyland, followed by a Q&A with local beekeeper Ben Rodman, on April 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Upcycle Your Old T-Shirts with Poudre Libraries on April 20 at Council Tree Library. Bring in your un-wearable t-shirts and repurpose them into market bags, dog toys, t-shirt “yarn,” headbands, and more! This drop-in program is for ages 12+.

Summit County Library invites you to Celebrate Earth Day with Morla the Turtle, the library’s first wildlife ambassador, on April 22 at the North Branch. Learn about Morla’s Colorado habitat, play some games, and enjoy a craft.

Kids ages 5-12 can help Westminster Public Library celebrate Earth Day by crafting Seed Bombs on April 20 at College Hill Library. Plant them at home to spread the beauty of flowers in your own backyard.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Show off your art knowledge at Aurora Public Library’s Famous Painting Trivia contest, April 20 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. The winner will receive an art lover’s prize.

Calling all Swifties! Broomfield Library is hosting a Taylor Swift Pop Up Listening Party on April 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Listen to her newest album while you make friendship bracelets and create blackout poetry.

Teens: join Lafayette Public Library for the seventh annual Teen Job Fair on April 20 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Meet with representatives from the City of Lafayette and other local area businesses to find your next (or first) job.

Basalt Regional Library invites everyone to their Library Lovers’ Party on April 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. They are celebrating their community with live music, food, and activities for adults and children.

Accessibility Corner

News, tips, and resources to support technology accessibility

• Using Emojis in Social Media – Good or Bad for Accessibility. Considerations when using emojis and other visual symbols in accessible content.
• Emojipedia. Learn what specific emojis mean (and don’t mean) so you can choose the most appropriate one for your communication.

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Digital Collections Stewardship

• Apply now through May 15 for Digital Collections Stewardship, a free collaborative learning opportunity

Book Club Resource

• Book Club Author Suggestion: Cormac McCarthy

Public Libraries

• Happy National High Five Day!

Learning Opportunities

• 36th Annual Colorado Teen Literature Conference
  • April 20 at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood
  • Registration will close when full
• Colorado OER Conference
  • May 17 at the Auraria Campus in Denver
  • Registration is free; travel scholarships are available
• CAL Makerspace Interest Group Workshop
  • May 20, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at LINC Library Innovation Center in Greeley
  • Registration $55 – $80
• Community Conversations for Election 2024
  • May 21, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• How to Operationalize the New Colorado Public Library Standards
  • May 22, 9:30 – 11:30 am, online
  • Registration required
• De-escalation Skills Workshop (Colorado Only)
  • May 29, 12:00 – 2:00 pm, online
  • Registration is full – email Christine Kreger to get on the waitlist
• HESTL EdCON (statewide K-12 library conference)
  • June 6 in Lone Tree
• Find even more learning opportunities by browsing the Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library or the Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time).

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 Director (Deadline Extended) – Lone Cone Library District
• Library Director – Vail Public Library
• Digital Marketing and Graphic Designer Specialist – Boulder Public Library District
• Library Specialist I (part-time, NoBo) – Boulder Public Library District
• Library Specialist I (full-time, NoBo) – Boulder Public Library District
• Library Specialist (Full-time) – Boulder Public Library District
• Library Specialist I – Boulder Public Library District
• Materials Handler (part-time) – Boulder Public Library District
• Part-time 25 hour Studio Host (Spanish speaking candidates desired) – Anythink Libraries
• Library Assistant Manager – Eaton Public Library
• Librarian – Adult Services – Eaton Public Library
• Librarian/Assistant Branch Manager – Pueblo City-County Library District
• Branch Supervisor, Sheridan Library – Arapahoe Libraries
• Sr. Library Specialist – Eloise May Library – Arapahoe Libraries
• Sr. Library Specialist(s) – Castlewood Library – Arapahoe Library District
• District Librarian (Elementary) – Part Time – Weld RE-4 School District
• District Librarian (Elementary) – Full Time – Weld RE-4 School District
• Library Page – High Plains Library District
• Library Associate – High Plains Library District
• Librarian I – Teen Services – Eagle Valley Library District
• Librarian I- Reference & Adult Programming – Eagle Valley Library District
• Executive Administrative Assistant – Basalt Regional Library
• Research & Instruction Librarian – Fort Lewis College

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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, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org.

All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.