Friday Grab Bag, May 31, 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!

Talent on Display

Mending Book Spines, a new exhibit at University of Colorado Boulder University Libraries, highlights the important work of the library’s Preservation and Collection Care team and demonstrates the delicate work they undertake in caring for circulating and non-circulating collections. The exhibit runs through the end of summer 2024 in Norlin Library M350B. Learn more in Don’t judge a book by its spine: Preservation exhibit shows methods of book repairs.

Jefferson County Public Library invites kids and anyone young at heart to Salida Circus Adventure, June 6 at Edgewater Library. Be sure to register for this interactive show featuring globe walking, plate balancing, puppets, and juggling.

Lafayette Public Library welcomes the Denver-based Grupo Tlaloc Aztec Dancers on June 1 at 11:00 am. Enjoy their dynamic performance on the North Lawn.

Get Involved

Basalt Regional Library invites instrumentalists and singers of all ages who are interested in jazz music to an introductory improvisation workshop with jazz ensemble Rhythm Future Quartet on June 6 at 3:00 pm. The group will lead the workshop on basic improvisation techniques.

Mancos Public Library is celebrating International Tabletop Day 2024 on June 1 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Join them for a day of board games, card games, and role-playing games. Costumes are optional.

Start organizing your family tree with Aurora Public Library’s Beginning Your Family History: Genealogy 101 on June 8 at Central Library. Aurora Genealogical Society will show you the basics to get started.

Broomfield Library will host artist Paula Rose for Drawing Characters for Teens on June 7. Bring your characters to life at this dynamic drawing session.

The Paonia Fire Department is visiting Paonia Library for Delta County Libraries’ Touch a Truck event on June 6 at 10:30 am. The morning will begin with a special storytime followed by a visit from local firefighters.

Durango Public Library is hosting their first Youth Chess Tournament for 9 to 17 year olds on June 5. Members of the weekly Youth Chess Club are encouraged to participate.

Pueblo City-County Library District welcomes Pueblo Emergency Management Coordinator Josh Johnson for The Adventure of an Emergency — Be Prepared, a class for teens on June 3 at Lamb Library. Learn how to prepare a go-bag for an emergency evacuation.

Salida Regional Library is hosting a Watercolor Social for Older Adults each month this summer. Get together with friends for socializing, painting with watercolors, and doodling at 10:00 am on June 1, July 6, and August 3.

Expert Events

Kick off summer reading at Englewood Public Library’s Author Festival on Saturday, June 8 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Englewood Civic Center. This free event is a great opportunity to chat with over 15 well-known and soon-to-be-well-known local authors. The morning will begin with an author fair, followed by author panels and lightning talks in the afternoon. No registration required.

Alamosa Public Library invites kids and families to learn about the duties and perks of being a park ranger at Great Sand Dunes Rangers’ Adventures, June 12 at Cole Park. Bring your reading log and bead chain for the Read for Beads program.

Pines & Plains Libraries welcomes Denver Botanic Garden’s Plains Conservation Center for Prairie Ecology, a presentation on June 4 at Elizabeth Library. Learn about the unique adaptations that help plants and animals survive on the prairie, discover how climate shapes the landscape, and explore important uses of native plants through ethnobotany.

Nederland Community Library invites parents to Internet Safety, a class led by Shared Hope on June 3 at 6:30 pm. Learn what you need to know to keep kids safe online.

What’s New at Colorado State Library

Cataloging Fundamentals

• MARC Control Fields

Colorado State Publications Blog

• Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways: Flat Tops Trail

Learning Opportunities

• Advancing Your Public Library Career: Workshop & Panel on Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews
  • May 31, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, online
  • Registration required
• HESTL EdCON (statewide K-12 library conference)
  • June 6 in Lone Tree
• PBS Books Lunch and Learn for Colorado Libraries
  • June 10, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, online
  • 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 –  La Veta Regional Library District
• Patron Experience Associate – Golden Library – Jefferson County Public Library
• Sr. Library Specialist – Castlewood Library – Arapahoe Library District
• Branch Supervisor, Castlewood Library – Arapahoe Library District
• Youth Services Coordinator – Garfield County Libraries
• Senior Library Associate – Pikes Peak Library District
• Library Associate – Creative Services – Pikes Peak Library District
• Adult Services Librarian – Durango Public Library
• IT Applications Administrator I – Boulder Public Library District
• Makerspace Educator – Pueblo City-County 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.