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
Cozy & Festive
Pine River Library invites teens and adults to Cozy Craft Night: Crochet by the Fireplace on November 14 at 6:00 pm. Sip hot cocoa and cider by the fireplace while you crochet a simple craft.
Arapahoe Libraries invites families to their Winter Snow Ball on December 13 at the Franciscan Event Center. Celebrate the magic of the season with a DJ and dancing, crafts, and festive photo ops in holiday attire.
Just in time for cozy season—Estes Valley Library’s annual Puzzle Exchange is November 9 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm. Bring in your old (complete) puzzles and trade them for gently used ones.
Douglas County Libraries’ popular Forest of Stories is back from November 16 to January 4. Visit all 7 DCL locations to see the 175 trees dressed up in stories from children’s tales and classic literature to crime thrillers and mysteries.
Holiday Eats
Nederland Community Library’s 4th Annual Pie Contest is November 10 at 1:00 pm. Sign up to enter your pie in one of four categories: sweet, savory, diet restricted, and youth.
Englewood Public Library’s Friendsgiving for teens is November 15 at 6:00 pm. Enjoy a light meal and games during this after-hours event.
Lamar Public Library is collecting non-perishable food donations now through December 20 for their Holiday Food Drive. Items will be donated to Sparrow House Ministries.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Basalt Regional Library, in partnership with High Country Volunteers, is hosting a Volunteer Fair on November 21 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Connect with organizations in the Roaring Fork area and find opportunities to give back to your community.
As part of their Life Skills for Teens series, Aurora Public Library is offering an Overview of Transit Resources on November 15 at Central Library. Experts from the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council will present local transit options and services, as well as tips on navigating the city’s transportation resources.
Delta County Libraries is holding a Swing Dance on November 14 at Paonia Library. The evening kicks off with a beginners lesson at 6:00 pm, followed by open dancing from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
Garfield County Libraries is Demystifying Shakespeare with a reading of Twelfth Night (judiciously abridged) on November 12, 6:00 pm, at Glenwood Springs Branch Library.
Poudre Libraries is offering Cycling in Winter, a program for year-round bike riders on November 14, 6:00 pm, at Council Tree Library. Learn tips and techniques to help you ride safely, confidently, and comfortably by the experts from FC Moves.
Denver Public Library is celebrating Indigenous People’s Month with a variety of special events:
- Poetry Reading with Crisosto Apache – Friday, Nov. 8, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, Westwood Community Center
- Film Screening of INAATE/SE – Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:00 – 9:00 pm, Westwood Community Center
- Storytelling & Beadwork with James Dewey – Saturday, Nov. 16, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, Westwood Community Center
- Author Talk with David Heska Wanbli Weiden – Saturday, Nov. 23, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, Westwood Community Center
- Sand Creek Massacre Vigil – Friday, Nov. 29, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, West Steps of the State Capitol
Accessibility Corner
News, tips, and resources to support technology accessibility
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Book Club Resource
Historic Newspapers
Library Research Service
Adult Services
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Summer Drop in Chats
- November 19, 11:00 am
- December 3, 11:00 am
- December 17, 11:00 am
- Everyday Evaluations. Part III – Analysis and Visualization
- November 12, 11:00 am
- 2024-25 Youth Services Learning Community (Southeast Region)
- November 14, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta
- PHPR Collaborative and Libraries – Like French Fries and Frosty’s (Strange? You mean GREAT!)
- November 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- CSL in Session: How Wide is Your Window: A Thoughtful Approach to EDI Family Programming
- November 19, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Leading from Within: Cultivating Managerial Self-Care for Resilient Organizations
- November 20, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
- Adult Services Regional Workshop – Greeley
- November 22, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Book Madness: Engaging Schools, Teachers, and the Community
- December 2, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Ageless Grace in Libraries Community of Practice: Fall 2024
- December 9, 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Bridging the Divide: A Panel Discussion on Library Workers Loneliness
- December 18, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- 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.
- Patron Services Associate, Children’s Library – Broomfield Public Library
- Librarian, Branch Youth Reference – Spanish fluency – Arapahoe Library District
- Young Adult Services Specialist – Pine River Library
- Teen Librarian – Jefferson County Public Library
- Patron Experience Associate (Part-Time) – Edgewater Library – Jefferson County Public Library
- Adult Services Collection Development Librarian – Montrose Regional Library District
- Sr. Language Library Specialist, Spanish fluency -Sheridan Library – Arapahoe Library District
- Sr. Language Library Specialist, Spanish fluency -Koelbel Library – Arapahoe Library District
- Sr. Language Library Specialist, Spanish fluency -Kelver Library – Arapahoe Library District
- Sr. Language Library Specialist, Spanish fluency -Eloise May Library – 2 positions – Arapahoe Library District
- Sr. Language Library Specialist, Spanish fluency -Davies Library – Arapahoe Library District
- Sr. Language Library Specialist, Russian fluency -Smoky Hill Library – 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.
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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