Friday Grab Bag, January 3, 2025 – Colorado Virtual Library

Four ice hockey players and a dog play on the ice. — *Doggone, which side is the dog on? The Estes Park Trail, January 9, 1985*

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

New Year, New Outlook

A young child wearing a warm winter hat smiles. — *Ears covered, ready for anything, Golden Transcript, January 3, 1975*

Durango Public Library welcomes nutritionist Jolie Ensign for Better You in 2025: Less Sugar in Your Life on January 8 at 6:00 pm. Learn recipes and practical tips for busting your carb cravings naturally.

Aurora Public Library invites you to create Dry January Mocktails on January 4 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. Learn the basics of mixing alcohol-free drinks.

Jefferson County Public Library welcomes Standley Lake Stargazing as they explore the wonders of the winter night sky at New Year, New Night Sky on January 9 at Standley Lake Library. Learn about the latest highlights of the visible universe and the record-breaking year of spaceflights planned for 2025.

Tackle your New Year’s to-do list with Resolution: Declutter at Pine River Library on January 4. Molly Orendorff, owner of Cleaning Simplified, will teach you how to simplify your stuff for a less stressful 2025.

Worlds of Wonder

Educators from the Town Hall Arts Center will be at Bemis Library on January 3 to help create The Wizard of Oz: A Participation Play. The entire audience will be active participants, while onstage volunteers play every role from Dorothy and her friends to Munchkins, witches and the wizard himself!

Pikes Peak Library District is hosting a Winter Movie Marathon on January 4 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Fountain Library. Get comfy and stay awhile for this all-ages event.

Wilkinson Public Library invites you to Mountainfilm for Locals, an 80-minute program of short adventure films from Mountainfilm’s 2024 festival. Join them on January 8 at 5:30 pm for films featuring skiing, climbing, mountain biking, and skydiving.

Garfield County Libraries’ Parachute Branch invites wizards, hobbits, fairies, and dragons to Fantasy Fest on January 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Grand Valley Recreation Center. Attendees of all ages can enjoy games, activities, crafts, and snacks during this fantastical celebration.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Two mountain goats stand on rocks. — *Happy Ewe Year, The Estes Park Trail, December 26, 1984*

Poudre Libraries is celebrating cozy season with A Winter Day’s Hygge Party on January 6 at Old Town Library. All ages are welcome to snuggle up with winter crafts and activities, board games, a cozy storytime, as well as hot beverages and yummy treats.

Alamosa Public Library is exhibiting the Art of John Moore during the month of January. Stop by to see his unique geometric designs. Art will be available for purchase.

Estes Valley Library invites aspiring writers to Journeys Large & Small, Inside & Out: A Personal Writing Workshop with John Calderazzo on January 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. In this lively workshop you’ll discover compelling personal stories through examples and writing prompts.

Make Your Own Sandwich-on-a-Stick with Ignacio Community Library on January 14 at 4:30 pm. Select and skewer your favorite ingredients to make a delicious and unique sandwich.

What’s New from the Colorado State Library

Learning Opportunities

All events are online except where a location is noted.

Summer Drop in Chats
- January 14, 2025, 11:00 am
- January 28, 2025, 11:00 am
The Power of Mental Health First Aid
- January 9, 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Colorado Family Affordability Tax Credit Info Session
- January 9, 2025, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
RA for All: Flip the Script and Think Like a Reader (Colorado Library Staff Only)
- January 15, 2025, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Building Equity-Based Summers Cohort – Colorado Only
- January 16 – May 1, 2025
Working in the “Gray Area:” Determining Healthy Boundaries When the Best Choice Isn’t Clear – Colorado Only
- January 21 – January 30, 2025
Adventures in Library Partnerships
- January 29, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Brain Health – What Everyone Should Know
- January 30, 2025, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Introduction to Workplace Conflict Resolution (Colorado Only)
- February 4 & 5, 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
2025 CLiC Virtual Winter Workshop
- February 5 & 6, 2025
Find even more learning opportunities by browsing the Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library or the Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time).

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.

Collection Development Manager – Garfield County Libraries
Youth Services Coordinator – Carbondale – Garfield County Libraries
Library Director – Englewood Public Library
Central Library Manager – Denver Public Library
Library Associate – Outreach Coordinator – Bemis Library
Library Technician – Adult Services – part time, non-benefitted – Longmont Public Library
Patron Services Associate, Children’s Library – Broomfield Public Library
Teaching and Learning Student Assistant – Auraria Library / University of Colorado Denver
Library Associate – Fort Lupton Public Library
Education Librarian – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
Operations Manager – Estes Valley Library
Library Specialist, Lead – Mobile Library Services – Arapahoe 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.