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
Last Hurrah for Spooky Season
Clear Creek County Library District invites kids to BOOkfest on Halloween night. Trick-or-treat at Idaho Springs Public Library or John Tomay Memorial Library for a free kids’ book and a sweet treat.
Alamosa Public Library presents Spooky Stories on Halloween from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Teen volunteers will lead tours filled with spooky tales, poems, and candy.
Estes Valley Library invites families to make the Library a trick-or-treating destination before heading downtown for more festivities. The Library will be handing out spooky toys and sweet treats.
Trick-or-treat at the Spanish Peaks Library District Haunted Library, October 31 and November 1 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Wear your costumes as you tour the spooky haunted house on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Spanish Peaks Library!
Mancos Public Library is hosting a Pre-Trick-Or-Treat Gathering at 4:30 pm on Halloween. Kick off your evening with Halloween chili, crafts, and a trip to Frankenstein’s laboratory.
Engage & Create
Clearview Library District’s Walking Club will meet at Severance Library on November 13 at 10:00 am. Join them for a wheelchair and scooter accessible stroll around Blue Spruce Park pond.
Delta County Libraries is hosting a Teen Recipe Swap at Delta Library on November 4. Stop by their Teen Recipe Swap station to share your favorite fall treats or family dishes, decorate recipe cards, and explore other recipes and food-themed books.
High Plains Library District invites tweens and teens to enter the Pasta Car Derby on November 5 at Farr Regional Library. Build a car out of dry pasta and race your creation against others.
Dive into cozy season with Pikes Peak Library District’s Cocoa Blend Workshop, November 1 at Fountain Library. Create a personalized cocoa blend, then take home your custom creation to enjoy or share with a friend.
Writers’ Retreats
Lyons Community Library’s Writing in November workshop is November 1 from 9:00 to noon. Local author Kayann Short, PhD, will lead this workshop perfect for any type of writer.
Garfield County Libraries announces the GarCoWriMo 2025 Flash Fiction Contest. Submit a short but complete original story (under 750 words) between November 1 and 30; winners will be announced December 4.
Boulder Public Library welcomes writers to the Reynolds Writing Retreat on November 5 at Reynolds Library. Participants will have the opportunity to write in silence, share excerpts, eat snacks, socialize, and play games for a mental rest in between.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Colorado Talking Book Library
2025 Legislative Blue Book in Audio Format. CTBL makes the Blue Book recording available to all.
Colorado Historic Newspapers
An Appreciation of Colorado’s Underground Press
Sunshine & Stories Podcast
Lieutenant Governor Primavera Talks Telehealth on Sunshine & Stories
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Make Your Students the Stars: Practical Ways to Increase Engagement
- November 4, 4:00 – 5:00 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
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Loveland Public Library
- December 9, 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 Circulation Services – Montrose Regional Public Library
- Head of Adult Services – Montrose Regional Public Library
- Library Access Services Assistant, 30 hours – Regis University
- Barista – Library Specialist Blended Role – Arapahoe Library District
- Branch Supervisor, Sheridan Library – Arapahoe Library District
- Media & Learning Digital Ecosystems Coordinator – Poudre School District
- Head of Materials Management – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Head of Acquisitions & Accounting – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Youth & Family Services Supervisor – Douglas County Libraries
- Digital Initiatives Librarian – University of Colorado Denver, Auraria Library
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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