Friday Grab Bag, August 8, 2025

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

Get School-Ready

Jefferson County Public Library is hosting Educator Open Houses throughout the district on August 14 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Teachers are invited to drop by their local branch to meet library staff, discover valuable resources, and register for door prizes.

Clearview Library District’s 100 Books Before Graduation is a reading initiative to encourage teens to read 100 books before high school graduation. The books can be in any genre or format or from any source. Prizes will be awarded at different milestones, and there will be a monthly prize drawing.

Aurora Public Library’s Back to School Fair is August 9 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. Connect with local resources, trade old school supplies, donate new ones for those in need, and get ready for back to school at this event!

Pueblo City-County Library District invites tweens to Back-to-School Bookbinding on August 14 at the Rawlings branch. Learn how to turn ordinary paper into unique, customizable booklets that can be used for taking notes, drawing, and more.

Kitchen and Garden

Broomfield Library welcomes community members to a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Tour on August 9 at the CSU Extension Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. Get inspiration for your water-wise landscape and learn about plants and techniques for a successful xeriscape in this guided garden tour!

Durango Public Library’s Great Garden Series continues on August 13 with Preserving the Harvest. Nicole Clark, Director for CSU Extension, will present on the basics of various preservation techniques, including the pros and cons to help you decide which option is best for you.

Ouray Library District’s Culinary Club is cooking up Gluten Free Orange Chicken with Rice on August 13. Sign up to reserve your spot!

Pikes Peak Library District’s Summer Kitchen Classes series will feature Bagels on August 13 at Library 21c. Learn to make these classic doughy treats, perfect for breakfast or a snack.

Community Engagement

Grand County Library District welcomes Kremmling locals Bill and Marcia Honer for Eco-Explorers: Real-Life Stories of Conservation Travel on August 20 at Kremmling Library. The couple will share their experiences as eco-tourists in Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.

At Garfield County Libraries’ Truck ‘N Roll on August 9 at Carbondale Library, kids can get up close to a variety of big trucks and working vehicles—explore, climb aboard, and meet the people who drive them!

High Plains Library District is offering Geocaching for Families on August 9 at Farr Regional Library. Learn all about geocaching and what it can teach us about geography, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Bemis Public Library presents The Constant Tourists for a Western Welcome Week Concert on August 14. The band’s unique blend of vocals, guitar, trumpet, accordion, bass, and drums explores music from across genres.

Mesa County Libraries welcomes kids to a Puppet Show featuring classic characters Frog and Toad on August 15 at Orchard Mesa Branch Library. The show will include adaptations of three of the beloved Frog and Toad tales.

Boot scoot your way over to Westminster Public Library on August 11 for Line Dancing at the Library. This fun, family-friendly event will feature easy-to-follow dance steps, great music, and a chance to connect with community members of all ages.

What’s New from the Colorado State Library

Learning Opportunities

All events are online except where a location is noted.

• Illuminate Colorado – Stewards of Children (Colorado Only)
  • August 28, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
• Illuminate Colorado- Lines in the Sand (Colorado Only)
  • September 9, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
• The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC): Department of Public Safety
  • September 15, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
• Unraveling Legacy Toxicity: Navigating Dysfunctional Environments in Leadership
  • September 23, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
• Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: Navigating Anxiety, Uncertainty, and Systemic Challenges in Librarianship
  • October 14, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
• 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 August 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.

• Patron Experience Ambassador – Part Time – Jefferson County Public Library
• Bilingual Patron Experience Associate (English/Spanish) – Jefferson County Public Library
• Library instruction Assistant – Red Rocks Community College
• Library Assistant – Aurora Public Library
• Events & Hospitality Coordinator – Douglas County Libraries
• Accountant II – Arapahoe Libraries
• Adult Services Librarian – Poudre Libraries

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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, hitchner_a@cde.state.co.us.

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