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
Community Collaborations
Front Range Community College, Poudre Libraries, and Women in Film and Media Northern Colorado invite you to a screening of the documentary Trusted Sources and Modern Media Literacy on October 14 at 5:30 pm. The film will be followed by a moderated panel with the filmmaker, local journalists, journalism educators, and stakeholders in media to discuss trust in local journalism and media literacy in Northern Colorado. A Zoom option is available upon registration.
Join Lafayette Public Library, the Lafayette Historical Society, and the Louisville Historical Museum for Lafayette Learns: Arapaho Language and Culture on October 9 at the Library. Speaker Fred Mosqueda, Arapaho Language and Culture Program Coordinator, will share the history of the Southern Arapaho tribe in Boulder County and the work he is doing to preserve the traditions and language of his tribe for future generations.
Pikes Peak Library District and Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging (PPAAA) invite older adults to join their Retirement Series and explore the many ways retirement can be challenging and enjoyable. The next meeting on October 6 at East Library will be an interactive discussion on Seniors and the Arts. Bring your own art and stories to share!
All the Fall Things
The Pueblo Community College Library has a month full of events about the Salem Witch Trials. The exhibit Witch Trials: Accusation to Exoneration, created by academic librarian Jennifer Tozer, will be on display throughout October. Other events include guest speaker Sarah Jack, a descendant of an accused person in Salem (Oct. 9), and authors Kathleen Kent (Oct. 16) and Daniel A. Gagnon (Oct. 22). The library website has virtual attendance information.
Summit County Library’s 2nd Annual Fall Festival is October 4 at the North Branch. Enjoy family fun throughout the library with games, live music, crafts, storytime and more!
Bud Werner Memorial Library is hosting a Fall Festival for kids on October 4 at 1:00 pm. Dress up as your favorite book character and enjoy fall-themed crafts, games, and activities, including a photo booth.
Basalt Regional Library’s Swap It Like It’s Hot returns on October 18. This annual fall celebration combines a free community clothing swap with food, drinks, and activities for all ages. Donations will be accepted October 1-17.
Alamosa Public Library invites their community to join Will Krebs on October 11 to practice the art of Origami. This session will be Halloween-themed.
Learn Something New
Front Range Community College is hosting a Human Library on October 8 at the FRCC Rocky Mountain Room. During this event, readers “check-out” and engage with real people from a wide variety of social groups, backgrounds, and points of view.
Learn how to run your own tabletop role-playing games at Mesa County Libraries’ So You Want to Be a Game Master? on October 7 at Central Library. At this session you’ll discover practical tips for building confidence and creativity at the gaming table.
Boulder Public Library invites you to the Ikenobo Grand Showcase: Sessa Takuma Japanese Flower Exhibition on October 4 & 5 at the Main Library Canyon Gallery. In addition to the exhibition, the weekend’s events will include a film screening and an ikebana demonstration.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Continuing Education
Creating Autism-Friendly Libraries with Sunshine & Stories
Library Research Service
Drawing From Thirty Blueprint Posts
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Alamosa Public Library
- October 8, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Demystifying Grants: Finding Money for Your School Library
- October 8, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: Navigating Anxiety, Uncertainty, and Systemic Challenges in Librarianship
- October 14, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Talking Teen Services – Understanding Teens: Biases and Stereotypes (part 2 of 3)
- October 15, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Talking Teen Services – Understanding Teens: Building Positive Relationships (part 3 of 3)
- October 29, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – High Prairie Library (PPLD)
- October 30, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Data-Informed Advocacy for School Libraries
- November 18, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Ignacio Community Library
- November 19, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library
- Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for October 2025.
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.
- Head of Access Services and Marketing – Colorado Mesa University
- Safety & Security Manager – Douglas County Libraries
- Library Services Specialist, Earth Sciences & Map Evening & Weekend Coordinator – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Library Security Clerk – City of Aurora, Library & Cultural Services
- Patron Experience Associate (Part-Time) – Jefferson County Public Library
- On-Call Librarian – Denver Botanic Gardens
- Librarian Archivist – Pueblo City-County Library District
- Full-Time 40 Hour DEIB Specialist (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Support Services in Northglenn
- Full-Time 40 hour Anythinker in Motion (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Support Services in Northglenn
- Full-time 40 hour Teen Guide (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Wright Farms
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, [email protected].
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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