Friday Grab Bag, April 28, 2023

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!

May the Fourth Be With You

Aurora Public Library invites tweens and teens to May the 4th Trivia at Tallyn’s Reach Library, where they can celebrate Star Wars Day, learn about TAG, and sip on some Boba (Fett) Tea. Register online.

Pueblo City-County Library District is celebrating Star Wars Day with screen printing, movie viewing, and trivia with themed prizes on May 1 at Giodone Library. Bring a t-shirt for the screen printing. Registration is required.

On May 6, Broomfield Library is offering May the Force (of Static Electricity) Be With You!, a Star Wars themed science exploration for kids ages 5-10. The program will be offered at 10:00 and 11:30 am. View the events calendar.

Let your nerd flag fly at Estes Valley Library’s May the 4th be with you Fandom Program. Enjoy an evening of Star Wars (and other fandom) themed activities and photos at this all-ages event. Learn more.

Penrose Community Library District is celebrating Star Wars Day on May 4 with games, crafts, and snacks. Learn more.

High Plains Library District’s May the 4th Star Wars Day at Centennial Park Library features photo ops with a life-sized droid, tech demonstrations, games, crafts, and more! Costumes are encouraged. Learn more.

At Bemis Public Library’s next Teen Takeover on May 3, they will be making Star Wars Perler Art. Create a themed beaded design or bring a project of your own to work on. Learn more.

Celebration Time

Garfield County Libraries and its partners invite you to celebrate Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 6 by attending the 2nd Annual Comics Festival at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. Come take part in this free event featuring games, crafts, art, superhero story time, cosplay, and more. View the full schedule.

Gunnison County Libraries is throwing a Spring Celebration Family Garden Party on April 29 at Gunnison Library. Get excited for gardening season by painting a flower pot, planting a succulent to take home, and making a tasty dirt pudding cup. Event details.

Jefferson County Public Library is hosting an after-hours Anime Prom and Coloring Contest for teens on April 29 at Standley Lake Library. Dress up as your favorite anime/manga character and enter the costume contest, or, come as you are and enjoy the games, food and activities! Event details.

Lake County Public Library is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Celebration on May 4 at 6:00 pm. Join them for food & drinks, crafts, bilingual storytime, and lots of fun giveaways including bilingual books, games, and more! Event calendar.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Anythink Libraries has expanded its TryIts collection. Whether you’re looking to play a new instrument or discover Colorado’s natural beauty, TryIts offers hundreds of experiences waiting to be sampled, including outdoor gear, musical instruments, fitness equipment, games, kites, and much more! Learn about TryIts.

Trinidad Public Library has Yard Games for checkout. With summer weather just around the corner, consider checking out croquet, slammo, cornhole, or ladder golf for your next outdoor event. Contact the library for details.

Mesa County Libraries is partnering with the Mesa Fiber Arts Guild to offer the Fiber Arts Skills Fair, April 29 at Central Library. Come experience knitting, weaving, crocheting, spinning, and textile making. Event details.

Pikes Peak Library District invites you to the 17th Annual PPLD Mountain of Authors on May 6 at Library 21c. The afternoon will feature a keynote by Alan Prendergast, a panel presentation, and a local author showcase and book signing. Event details.

Does your team have what it takes to be puzzle champions? Wilkinson Public Library invites pairs to a Puzzle Competition on May 4 for a chance to win a gift card. Register your team.

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Library Research Service

• Resilient Communities: How Library Programming Can Fight The Climate Crisis

Resource Kits

• Earth Day? How About Every Day! From Despairing to Doing: Reflections on making the newly available Climate Crisis Kit

Learning Opportunities

• Choose Your Own Adventures: Research-Based Play Experiences that Work for Libraries
  • May 4, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Register for link.
• PBS Books Spring Webinar
  • May 8, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Register for link.
• Virtual Partner Forum: Colorado Talking Books Library
  • May 16, 11:00 – 11:30 am. Register for link.
• Role of Rural Libraries in Promoting Digital Health Literacy
  • May 17, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Register for link.
• 2023 Colorado OER Conference
  • May 19 at History Colorado in Denver. Learn more.
• Disability 101 for Libraries (Disability Law Colorado)
  • May 25, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Register for link.
• Reading Video Games as Literature
  • May 25, 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Register for link.
• HESTL EdCON (School Libraries)
  • June 8 at Adams 12 Conference Center in Thornton
  • Proposals are due by April 15. Learn more.
• Online Learning Opportunities in April 2023 for Library Staff. Browse this calendar of free online learning opportunities shared with us by Wyoming State Library.

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.

• Patron Experience Associate – Standley Lake Library – Jefferson County Public Library
• Substitute Library Aide – Aurora Public Library
• Technical Services and Acquisitions Librarian – Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, Denver
• Instruction and Research Librarian – Colorado Mesa University
• Technical Information Specialist (Collections / Webmaster / LSP) – Boulder Labs Library, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

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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.