Friday Grab Bag, July 26, 2024

The Friday Grab Bag is a weekly series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting happenings in Colorado libraries, and includes news from Colorado State Library.

Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!

Create Something Cool

Aurora Public Library needs teens to help them build an awesome Cardboard Fort for the younger kids to enjoy before school starts. Join the construction party on August 7 at Tallyn’s Reach Library.

Jefferson County Public Library is looking for teens to showcase their talents at the Belmar Teen Art Exhibit in September. The exhibit is open to all mediums and themes. Artwork must be dropped off to the Belmar Library by August 25, ready to hang upon arrival.

Bemis Public Library’s Ultraviolet Moonlight Mural is a collaborative endeavor for tweens and teens on July 31 at 2:00 pm. Create a giant neon painting with black lights at a glow-in-the-dark art party!

Poudre Libraries invites teens to Just Meme It, a cutting-edge workshop about the history of internet memes, how to create them using free meme generators, and how to stay up to date on meme trends. Register for the workshop on August 1 at Old Town Library.

Summer Fun

Celebrate the end of summer reading with Delta County Libraries at their Water Balloon Party on July 31 at Paonia Library. Enjoy water balloon games, bubbles, and summer reading prize drawings.

Broomfield Library is holding an Outdoor Gear and Clothing Swap on July 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Bring in your secondhand apparel and gear, canned goods and toiletries. All items are available for free while supplies last.

Pueblo City-County Library District is hosting a Summer Olympics Watch Party on July 26, 11:30 am, at Patrick A. Lucero Library. Enjoy snacks while you watch the Paris Opening Ceremony.

Pine River Library has Drop-In Pickleball every Friday from 8:30 to 10:00 am starting July 26. Meet at Library Park to learn the basics or engage in some fun competitive play.

Lifelong Learning

La Veta Regional Library District welcomes naturalist Bob Kennemer for Edible, Medicinal, Useful: A Brief History of Ethnobotanical Practices in Spanish Peaks Country on August 3, 4:00 pm, at Cuchara Public Library. The 90-minute program will feature information on the historic uses of wild plants found in south central Colorado.

Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library is hosting a unique program featuring a hand-made model of the 20 Mule Team Borax Wagons. Join them on July 26 at 2:00 pm to learn about the history, wagon routes, and more!

Nederland Community Library invites you to check out Local Landmarks and Legends, a historical Nederland exhibit created by 8th graders, on display at the library from August 1-5.

West Custer County Library welcomes Jordan Benson for an Artificial Intelligence class on July 30 at 5:00 pm. Learn how AI impacts everyday life and how to get started with hands-on tools.

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Colorado State Publications Blog

• Colorado State Parks: Ridgway

Program Spotlight

• Club de Lectura de Cuentos Cortos/ Short Stories Book Club at Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales

Learning Opportunities

• The Importance of Alternative Literacy: What is It and Why is it Important to Implement in our Libraries, Classrooms and Lives
  • August 1, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• The Ins and Outs of Check Out Colorado State Parks for Libraries
  • August 8, 10:00 – 11:00 am, online
  • Registration required
• Drop-In Q&A for Check Out Colorado State Parks for Libraries
  • August 8, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• Drop-In Q&A for Check Out Colorado State Parks for Libraries
  • August 13, 10:00 – 11:00 am, online
  • Registration required
• Summer Drop in Chats
  • August 13, 11:00 am, online
  • No registration required
• CSL in Session: Level Up Your Booktalks! New Ways to Engage in School Outreach
  • August 14, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
  • Registration required
• 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Northeast Region)
  • August 15, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Yuma Public Library
  • Registration required
• Adult Services Regional Workshop – Grand Junction
  • August 16, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Mesa County Central Library
  • Registration required
• Drop-In Q&A for Check Out Colorado State Parks for Libraries
  • August 19, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• Summer Drop in Chats
  • August 27, 11:00 am
  • No registration required
• 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.

• Library Director – City of Fort Lupton
• Librarian – Aurora Public Library
• Library Assistant – Aurora Public Library
• Adult Programming Librarian I – Broomfield Library
• Senior Director of Development & Executive Director of Foundation – Pikes Peak Library District
• Records Manager, Administrator IV – Department of Public Health & Environment Division
• Discovery & Metadata Student Assistant IV – Auraria Library, University of Colorado Denver
• Part-time 25 hour Concierge (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Brighton
• Public Services Supervisor – Edgewater Library – Jefferson County Public Library
• Custodian – High Plains Library District
• Library Associate – Children’s Services – High Plains Library District
• Library Clerk – Louisville Public Library
• Part Time Customer Service Specialist – Clearview Library District

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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, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org.

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