Friday Grab Bag, March 17, 2023

St. Patrick’s Day Cheer
The Estes Park Trail, March 16, 1973

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!

Teen Time

Chili Supper Tonight
The Royal Banner, March 21, 1963

Durango Public Library invites teens to Night of Leprechauns, an evening of karaoke, games, snacks, and a scavenger hunt on March 17 at 6:00 pm. Be sure to wear green! Event details.

Poudre River Public Library District’s Teen Council presents A DC Murder Mystery, March 31 at Harmony Library. Join Gotham’s finest to investigate a murder during a charity ball. Registration opens March. 17.

Clearview Library District is hosting a Teen Video Game Tournament on March 17 at Windsor-Severance Library. Test your skills and enjoy some good-natured competition among friends. Register online.

Fort Morgan Public Library’s next Teen Night Out on March 17 will feature a Mario Kart Tournament. Snacks and drinks will be available during this high-speed competition. Registration required.

Skills for Life

Wellington Public Library is hosting a Seed Start Class, March 18 at 1:00 pm. Join a CSU Master Gardener to learn about seed planting, then do some of your own. Learn more.

Boulder Public Library will host Professor Emerita Manette Ansay for her presentation College Application Strategies: A Practical Seminar on March 22. Join her for tips on creating original essays and building compelling applications. Register online.

Learn to program a basic computer at Estes Valley Library’s Arduino Basics with Dr. Senser, March 23 in the Makerspace. Register online.

Start your first vegetable garden this year by learning Vegetable Garden Basics. High Plains Library District is offering this class, presented by Colorado Master Gardeners, on March 25 at Carbon Valley Regional Library. Register online.

Lake County Public Library hosts former SAR president Chris Yeager for his presentation Backcountry Safety: “Know Before You Go”. Join him on March 22 at 7:00 pm. Event details.

Art for All

The noblest Roman of them all
The Aurora Advocate, March 21, 1963

Gunnison County Libraries’ own Keelin MacCarthy presents How to Look at Art: Making Sense of the Stuff We Make, March 20 at Crested Butte Library. Spend a relaxed evening with famous art pieces and some from the library’s own collection. Event calendar.

Bemis Public Library invites you to join BMoCA Educator Reid Portscheller for a hands-on Art Workshop about BMoCA’s current exhibition, and create a piece of art inspired by the show. Register for the March 23rd class.

Join Mesa County Libraries for their Recycled Book Art Reception, March 21 at Central Library. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will be announced. Event details.

Pikes Peak Library District is hosting a Teen Art Contest Award Ceremony, March 21 at East Library. Join them in celebrating some amazing teen artists. Event details.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Get to Know City Directories is a genealogy class that explores the treasures hidden in Pueblo City Directories. Pueblo City-County Library is offering the class on March 21 at Rawlings Branch. Learn more.

Aurora Public Library invites you on A Tour of Irish Lore, March 17 at 5:00 pm. Learn about legends like fairies and vampires as you wind your way around the Irish coastline. Call to register.

Vail Public Library is hosting a screening of the #IAmDenver documentary Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown, March 30 at Riverwalk Theater in Edwards. This free event is part of their One Book One Valley initiative. Reserve your tickets.

Library Moves to New Building
Broomfield Star-Builder, March 21, 1963

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Book Club Resource

Library Research Service

Website Accessibility

Colorado State Publications Library Blog

Learning Opportunities

  • Children & Teen Services (CATS) Interest Group 2023 Workshop
    • March 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, at Loveland Public Library
    • Registration closed March 13
  • CAL Adult Services Interest Group (ASIG) Spring Summit
  • Learning to Read at School, Loving to Read at the Library
  • Homelessness 101 for Libraries, presented by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
  • Getting Started with ACRL Project Outcome for Colorado Academic Libraries
  • Virtual Partner Forum: Adult Education Initiatives from Colorado Dept. of Education
  • 35th Annual Colorado Teen Literature Conference
    • April 15 at Bear Creek High School in Lakewood
    • Register
  • Creating a Trauma-Informed Library
    • April 25, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
    • Seats are limited for the blended learning opportunity. Learn more and register.
  • 2023 Colorado Resource Sharing Conference
    • April 26 & 27, virtual
    • Register by April 24
  • 2023 Colorado OER Conference
    • May 19 at History Colorado in Denver
    • Proposals are due by March 13. Learn more
  • HESTL EdCON
    • June 8 at Adams 12 Conference Center in Thornton
    • Proposals are due by April 15. Learn more
  • Online Learning Opportunities in March 2023 for Library Staff. Browse this calendar of free online learning opportunities shared with us by Wyoming State Library.

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.


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.

Amy Hitchner
Latest posts by Amy Hitchner (see all)