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
Winter Get-Together
Grand County Library District invites you to join Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s Avalanche Forecaster Andrew McWilliams for Avalanche Aware with CAIC and Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team on December 13 at Fraser Valley Library. Andrew will explore local snowpack considerations, key travel techniques, and how to use CAIC’s forecasts to make informed decisions in the backcountry. He will be joined by special guests Obie and Gravy, avalanche rescue dogs from the Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team.
Enjoy a Winter Walk at Anythink Commerce City on December 10 at 4:30. Bring your friends and family to enjoy the professional light installation in the Library’s backyard, then warm up with a hot refreshment by the cozy fireplace.
Jefferson County Public Library invites their community to Holiday Celebration: Candlelight Walk on December 5 at Golden Library. Enjoy holiday treats, stories, balloon artists Dan Lego and Corey Alexander, and holiday tunes from The Rocky Mountain Ukulele Orchestra.
Buena Vista Public Library welcomes you to their Local Author Fair on December 6 at McGinnis Gym. Stop by for a sweet treat on the Chocolate Walk and discover local authors! Bring your holiday shopping list and meet published writers, purchase signed copies, and enter book raffles.
In a Festive Mood
Delta County Libraries invites you to Improv Games: Holiday Edition on December 11 at Paonia Library. Join theater instructor Natalie Haines for holiday improv shenanigans with new games like Pass the Presents, Elf on a Shelf, and Snowman Contest. Leave with a fun “family photo” to take home.
Loveland Public Library welcomes kids to Storytime with Santa on December 6 at 12:00 pm. Stick around after storytime for a photo with Santa.
Boulder Public Library is hosting an all-ages film social to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol on December 7 at the Main Library’s Canyon Theater. Enjoy this classic holiday story starring everyone’s favorite muppets.
Estes Valley Library invites you to get in the holiday spirit with Ornamania! on December 12 at 10:00 am. The Makerspace will be open and fully stocked with materials for a variety of creative ornament-making projects, such as clothespin snowmen, pom pom reindeer, a Grinchy gnome, laser cut ornaments, and more.
Garfield County Libraries welcomes Mateo and the Heartstrings as part of their Holiday Concert Series on December 6 at the Silt Branch. Come enjoy their original sounds inspired by the forest and the mountains.
Cozy and Yummy
Basalt Regional Library is holding a Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop on December 10 at 3:00 pm. Bring your whole family and work together to design your own winter wonderland, then take your masterpiece home to enjoy.
Longmont Public Library invites teens to taste test Fall and Winter Treats on December 11. Sample different seasonal treats from around the world and rank your favorites.
High Plains Library District’s Spice of the Month is Mulling Spices. This cozy blend of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and orange peel is perfect for infusing your home and holiday treats with the warmth of the season. Library patrons can sign up to receive a free “take-and-make” kit.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado state parks: Stagecoach
Resource Sharing
2025 Prospector Reconciliation Instructions & Timeline
Sunshine & Stories Podcast
Unearthing Sunny Ideas for Summer Program Planning
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Loveland Public Library
- December 9, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Talking Teen Services: Seeing Our Unseen Caregiving Youth
- January 13, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
- Talking Teen Services: How Could We Serve Caregiving Youth?
- January 20, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
- Shine a Light on Innovative Practices | Focus on the Spark: Creating Interactive Lessons
- January 21, 4:15 – 5:15 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- Libraries Learn
- Maine State Library’s Continuing Education Calendar (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for December 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.
- Collections Data Analyst – Denver Public Library
- HR Workforce Services Manager – Denver Public Library
- IT Technician II – Denver Public Library
- Mobile Services Supervisor – Denver Public Library
- Facilities Associate – Grand County Library District
- Library Technical Services Specialist (Part-Time) – University of Denver Sturm College of Law
- Barista – Library Specialist Blended Role, Part-time – Arapahoe Libraries
- Technology Specialist – Arapahoe Libraries
- Adult Learning Instructor – Mesa County Libraries
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, [email protected].
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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