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
Make Your Mark
High Plains Library District, in partnership with Poudre Valley Veterans Fly Fishing Group, welcomes you to Program Reel Skills: Fly-tying with the Experts on May 27 at LINC. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a complete beginner, this hands-on workshop will teach you essential fly-tying terms, techniques, and best practices.
Westminster Public Library invites teens and adults to Make Your Own Kentucky Derby Fascinator on May 3 at 1:30 pm. Craft a unique fascinator hat for watch parties, selfies, and other spring events.
Explore the future of creativity with Estes Park Library at Beam Me Up on May 1 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. The Technology Arts Librarian will be giving live demonstrations of the Library’s brand-new Fusion Edge Laser in the makerspace.
Sip and Celebrate
Aurora Public Library is hosting Family Tea Time on April 26 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. Come celebrate National Afternoon Tea Month with a variety of teas, tea dueling, crafts, and a spoonful of science.
Lafayette Public Library’s annual International Tea is April 27 at 2:00 pm. Children will enjoy sweet sips and tasty treats from around the world, followed by a musical serenade from Uruguayan singer/guitarist Elisa Garcia.
Garfield County Libraries is celebrating Free Comic Book Day on May 3 with their 4th annual Comics Festival at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. Come take part in fandom activities like games, crafts, tech, and cosplay. There will even be a visit from the Star Wars 501st Legion.
Earth and Sky
Delta County Libraries invites families to Fossil Quest: Unearth the Past! on April 26 at Delta Library. Using Colorado State Library’s Fossils Kit, participants will explore realistic fossil casts, from dinosaur bones to ancient plant leaves, and even get up close with 3D-printed models of a fox skull and shark tooth.
Poudre Libraries welcomes CSU Extension Master Gardener Deb Courtner for Gorgeous Groundcovers for Preventing Weeds on May 2 at Council Tree Library. Learn how to select beautiful low-maintenance, water-wise groundcovers for discouraging weed germination.
Lyons Community Library invites you to Astronomy: Exploring Other Worlds Slideshow Program, an interactive presentation on May 1. Learn the latest discoveries about the stars, moons, and planets in our galaxy.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Resource Sharing
Updating the Colorado Interlibrary Loan Best Practices. Your feedback is welcome!
Cataloging Fundamentals
Colorado State Publications Blog
Identifying common aspen ailments
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Medicare 101 with Benefits in Action
- April 30, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- 2025 CLiC & Connect: In Person Rural Meetup – Durango
- April 30, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- $30 registration
- 2025 CLiC & Connect: In Person Rural Meetup – Glenwood Springs
- May 6, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- $30 registration
- Turn the Page to Health: Diabetes Education Opportunities for All Coloradans
- May 8, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- CLEL BELLS: What are they and how do I use them?
- May 8, 1:00 – 1:45 pm
- Social Security 101 with Benefits in Action
- May 12, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
- 2025 CLiC & Connect: In Person Rural Meetup – Fort Morgan
- May 15, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- $30 registration
- Academic Librarian Conference and Networking Day
- May 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- University of Denver, Anderson Academic Commons
- $30-$40 registration
- Really Useful Library Evaluation
- May 21 & 22, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Adams State University, Nielsen Library (Alamosa)
- Adult Services Regional Workshop – Durango
- May 28, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Durango Public Library
- 2025 Colorado OER Conference
- May 30, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- University of Northern Colorado in Greeley
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library
- Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for April 2025.
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 – Southern Teller County Public Library District
- Library Director, Combination Public and K -12 School Library – Cripple Creek-Victor SD R-1
- Patron Experience Associate (Part-Time) – Library to You – Jefferson County Public Library
- Bilingual Patron Experience Associate (English/Spanish) – Arvada Library – Jefferson County Public Library
- Patron Experience Associate (Part Time) – Edgewater Library – Jefferson County Public Library
- Cataloging Associate (Part-Time) – Jefferson County Public Library
- Library Clerk (Part-Time) – Aurora Public Library
- Library Assistant – Aurora Public Library
- Library Manager 2 – Pikes Peak Library District
- Business Support Specialist – Bemis Public Library
- Student Success Librarian – Public Services – Western Colorado University
- Librarian (Full-Time, Meadows Branch) – Boulder Public Library District
- Youth Services Assistant – Clearview 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, hitchner_a@cde.state.co.us.
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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