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
Helping Hands
Aurora Public Library welcomes adults to Mature Living: Truth About Decluttering Your Home on April 7 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. A panel of experts will discuss both the emotional and physical aspects of de-cluttering your home and will provide practical strategies for getting started.
Poudre Libraries will host the City of Fort Collins Emergency Management Department for Emergency and Disaster Basics on April 8 at Old Town Library. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of emergency response systems and learn personal safety measures that you can put into practice.
Garfield County Libraries is offering an In-Person Homebuyer Workshop on April 19 at Rifle Library. This NEWSED homebuyer workshop is designed to help you navigate the path to homeownership as well as earn a CHFA certification that will be valid for a year.
Readers & Writers
High Plains Library District announces READCON 2025, a literary festival on April 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at the LINC Event Space. This celebration of books, creativity, and storytelling will feature best-selling authors, book readings and signings, Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities.
Clearview Library District’s Reading Bugs book club is a 4-week experience for 6-8 year olds, fostering their love of reading through engagement and play. The first meeting is April 4 at 4:00 pm.
Lamar Public Library welcomes entries to their 2025 Creative Writing Contest now through May 31, 2025. Categories include short story, essay, and one-sentence story; prizes will be awarded in each age group.
New Horizons
Boulder Public Library’s Kitchen Connections series features Sri Lankan Cuisine on April 5 at George F. Reynolds Library. Boulder resident Nisa will teach you how to cook roti and tomato fry, a quick and easy dish.
Lyons Community Library welcomes all ages to Constellations—Pictures in the Sky, Past and Present on April 8 at 5:30 pm. Learn how to identify basic constellations and listen to stories about the stars.
Mancos Public Library invites you to Encounters With Nature – A Reading By Watercolor Artist Jan Wright on April 10 at 7:00 pm. You’ll share her journey into the desert, encountering animals, butterflies, stones, and trees.
Jefferson County Public Library is hosting Tween Robotics on April 6 at Columbine Library. Learn basic design and coding skills while tackling a creative challenge.
Fort Morgan Museum is hosting a 1920s-Style ‘Mocktail Party’ on April 12 at 2:00 pm. Mix non-alcoholic drinks, try some 1920s snacks, and dance the Charleston. Costumes are encouraged but not required.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Library Research Service
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Maryland State Library Cultures Conference 2025
- February 12 – April 9
- Aging at Your Library: How Colorado Libraries Meet the Moment for Aging Adults
- April 7, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
- Effective “Debriefing” in the Workplace: Supporting Staff Who Experience High-Stress Events (Colorado Only)
- April 8, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- How to Engage Older Adult Patrons through Creative Aging this Summer and Beyond
- April 10, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Mountain West Region)
- April 11, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Grand County Library District’s Granby Library
- 2025 Colorado Resource Sharing Conference
- April 18, 10:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Pikes Peak Library District, Library 21c (Colorado Springs)
- Spirituality in the Library Workplace: Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
- April 23, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Central Region)
- April 24, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Castle Rock
- 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 Building Safety Coordinator – Lafayette Public Library
- Adult Services Supervising Librarian – Clearview Library District
- Library Technician – Bilingual Outreach Services – Longmont Public Library
- Innovation Technician – High Plains Library District
- Innovation Technician Makerspace – High Plains Library District
- Research Center Support Specialist – University of Denver Libraries
- Sr. Library Specialist – Davies Library (part-time 30 hours) – Arapahoe Libraries
- Library Specialist – Davies Library (part-time 20 hours) – Arapahoe Libraries
- Library Branch Manager – Pueblo City-County 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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