Friday Grab Bag, March 8, 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!

Writer’s Room

Mancos Public Library’s community writing project, Everyone Has a Story, meets twice a month until the end of March to write, share, and inspire each other. All ages and abilities are welcome to join them on March 14 and 28 at 5:30 pm.

Pens, Prompts, and Pizza is Longmont Public Library’s teen writers’ group. Join the next meeting on March 12 to write and create in a laid-back environment.

Loveland Public Library is hosting an all-ages workshop, Encountering a Poet: Charles Simic, on March 9 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Poet Chloe Leisure will lead this session.

Jefferson County Public Library presents An Evening with Jacqueline Woodson on April 5, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School in Edgewater. The award-winning author will reflect on her journey from embellishing childhood tales to receiving acclaim for her poetic prowess. A book signing will follow the presentation. Registration is required.

Make it Great

Take your crafting to the next level with Estes Valley Library’s Advanced Techniques for Embroidery Patterns, March 14 at 5:30 pm. Participants will use Inkscape and Ink/Stitch to make custom vector designs.

Clear Creek County Library District welcomes instructor Meghan Vickers for a Ukrainian Egg Workshop, offered on March 12 & 14 at Sit N Chill Ice Cream in Idaho Springs. Learn traditional Ukrainian egg painting techniques and decorate your own beautiful egg! Registration is required.

Denver Public Library announces Creativity and Dementia: A Special Event With Anne Basting on March 8, 12:30 pm at Sam Gary Branch Library. Dr. Basting will share ideas with program facilitators and caregivers about infusing their programs and interactions with imagination and joy.

Try Something New

Basalt Regional Library invites you to Let’s Talk About It: Interfaith Dialogue, a popular event they are bringing back on March 19 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. Community members from all faith backgrounds will be guided through a series of questions meant to open a space for difficult conversations.

Want to Try Virtual Reality without investing in a device? Ignacio Community Library invites adults to experience the Oculus 2 headset on March 14 at 6:00 pm.

Lamar Public Library is hosting Learn How to Use Your Library Card Online, March 8 at 1:00 pm. If you’ve ever wondered how to access the library catalog and request books from the comfort of home, this class is for you!

Aurora Public Library invites adults to Beginning Your Family History: Genealogy 101 on March 9 at Central Library. Representatives from the Aurora Genealogical Society will help you get started with researching and organizing your family history.

Salida Regional Library holds a Show & Tell for Grown-Ups the second Thursday of each month. Join them on March 14 at 5:30 pm to share your treasures and your stories.

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Digital Collections

• Digital Collections Stewardship: A Collaborative Learning Opportunity

Library Research Service

• A Variety of Outreach Visualizations

Learning Opportunities

• Children and Teen Services (CATS) 2024 Workshop
  • March 11, in-person at Library 21C, Pikes Peak Library District (Colorado Springs)
• Colorado Rural Library Springtime Roadshow
  • March 11 – 26
  • Locations vary; see Libraries Learn calendar for details
• Public Libraries and Adult Literacy: State of the Field
  • March 13, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Registration required
• Virtual Partner Forum: My Colorado Journey from Colorado Workforce Development Council
  • March 19, 1:00 – 1:30 pm
  • Registration is required
• Building a Ramp with Communication (Colorado Staff Only)
  • March 19, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
  • Registration is required
• Implementation of Telehealth Services in Rural Public Libraries
  • April 3, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
  • Registration is required
• Colorado Resource Sharing Conference
  • April 17 (pre-conference) & 18, online
  • Register by April 15
• HESTL EdCON (statewide K-12 library conference)
  • June 6, 2024 in Lone Tree
  • Submit a proposal by March 15
• 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 – Cortez Public Library
• Collection Development Librarian – University of Colorado Denver
• Librarian Bilingual (Spanish) Career and Workforce Development – High Plains Library District
• Community Engagement Coordinator – Arapahoe Library District
• Reference Librarian – Kelver and Davies Libraries – Arapahoe Library District
• Collection Development Librarian – Boulder Public Library District
• Cataloging Specialist II – Boulder Public Library District
• Resource Sharing Coordinator (Library Technician III) – Colorado School of Mines
• Marketing Coordinator – Lake County Public Library
• Library Manager 3 – Pikes Peak Library District
• Librarian I – Spanish/English – Longmont Public Library

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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.