Friday Grab Bag, January 21, 2022

Conference Season Cometh

Montana Library Association, in partnership with the Mountain Plains Library Association and the Pacific Northwest Library Association, is hosting their 2022 Library Tri-Conference, August 3-6 at Missoula’s Downtown Holiday Inn. While it’s still too early to register, the Tri-Conference Committee is currently asking for program proposals. Anyone interested in presenting is welcome to submit a program proposal at: https://forms.gle/f41Fgr1TCMmMutwD7

Conference Theme: Building Bridges | Renewing Community

Program Proposal Deadline: March 1, 2022

Questions about the MLA Conference? Please contact Kirk Vriesman, MLA Executive Director, email: kirkv@mtlib.org

Grant & Funding Opportunities

Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection (CHNC) is excited to announce that the New Content Support Program is back and open for applications. This program is designed to help cultural heritage organizations across our state increase free online access to historic community news through the CHNC.

Last year’s program supported 7 institutions and added more than 10 new titles to CHNC. This year, CHNC will award $15,000 in funding with a max of $3,000 per institution.

Read all the details about awards and the application process.

SWIFT Migration Project Update

The migration from SWIFT to Prospector keeps moving forward, with some especially exciting news for AspenCat libraries. If you’re a SWIFT library (or if you’re just curious), check out the most recent project update on CVL.org.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Broomfield Public Library will host a Bilingual Poetry Workshop and Performance with TEDx speaker and Emmy-nominated poet Alejandro Jimenez on February 17 starting at 5:30 pm. Jimenez’s work centers around cultural identity, immigrant narratives, masculinity, memory, and the intersections of them all. No registration required. For more information visit bit.ly/bfalejandro.

Spring will be here before we know it, and Spanish Peaks Library District is getting a jump start with their Gardening 101 class on January 23, 2022. Participants will learn how to keep their home garden healthy and their gardening tools sharp. Gardeners of all experience levels are welcome! Learn more.

Boulder Public Library is getting a new skate park at their main branch, one of several new skate features installed recently by the city. The project will include a skate bank, box, and rails. Learn more about this exciting addition.

There’s still time to visit “A Different Perspective”, an exhibit by nature photographer David Josselyn, whose work focuses on the flora of Colorado’s woodlands. The exhibit is on display at Gilpin County Public Library through February 5, 2022. Read more.

Are you looking for a story that makes your heart go pitter-patter? Meet a variety of new books – and maybe your next literary love – at Fort Morgan Public Library’s February Book Speed Dating Event, February 9, 2022. Learn more.

Dig out that Instant Pot you got for Christmas  and learn how to pressure cook like a pro! Durango Public Library is hosting Nicole Clark, RDN, from La Plata County Extension for Instant Pot 101, a virtual cooking class on January 25. Learn how to access via Zoom.