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
Cons and Fests
Mesa County Libraries Comic Con will return to the Grand Junction Convention Center on September 19 & 20. This fun, free, family-friendly event brings together fans and creators old and young in celebrating the importance of stories and fandoms that connect us and enrich our lives.
Denver Zine Library, with sponsorship from Denver Public Library, presents Denver Zine Fest 2025, September 14 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at Central Library. Join them for a day filled with zine-y goodness and some fantastic collaborations with over 85 independent creators from Denver, across Colorado, and beyond.
Aurora Public Library’s annual Aurora Mini-Con returns on September 27 at the Aurora Municipal Center. This free event will feature a huge variety of vendors, a cosplay contest and parade, several panel discussions, a silent auction, a Magic: The Gathering tournament, and more!
Boulder Public Library invites you to JLF Colorado: International Literature Festival on September 13-14. This free event features engaging conversations with inspiring authors and thought leaders from across the state and around the world.
High Plains Library District announces 2025 YES!fest – Youth Engineering and Science Festival – on September 20 at the LINC Event Space. Visit booths and exhibitors from across many science and engineering fields, and engage in hands-on activities for all age levels.
Westminster Public Library invites you to fall in love with romance lit at RomCom 2025, an after-hours romance convention on September 13 at College Hill Library. Attendees 18+ can mingle with romance authors, explore themed genre tables, and enjoy a night packed with activities.
Learn Something New
Bemis Public Library will host Colorado State Representative Gretchen Rydin for a discussion about Healthy Political Engagement on September 16 at 6:30 pm. Rydin will bring her expertise and insight as a mental health professional to lead an interactive conversation on staying grounded, connected, and resilient in today’s uncertain times.
Gilpin County Public Library invites you to a Wildlife Safety Class on September 16 at 6:00 pm. The class will cover a range of topics, from recognizing wildlife hazards to learning how to prevent and respond to encounters with animals like bears, wolves, and other potentially dangerous wildlife.
End the tomato season strong with Buena Vista Public Library’s Success with Tomatoes on September 13 at 1:00 pm. Learn tips and tricks for getting the most out of your plants during the harvest.
Create & Play
Lone Cone Library announces their first Trading Card Club on September 13 at 2:00 pm. Learn, play, swap, or display popular trading card games, including sports cards, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Disney Lorcana.
Poudre Libraries is hosting 3DPrint/Makerspace Open Hours on September 14 at Old Town Library. This drop-in activity can accommodate 20 people at a time and features rotating activities such as robots, circuits, and building set fun.
Broomfield Library’s Teen Zine Workshop is September 13 at 2:00 pm. Local author, illustrator, and zinester Will Betke-Brunswick will lead teens through the experience of creating their own mini zine.
Vail Public Library is hosting Library Trivia Nite on September 25 at 6:30 pm. Gather your team to compete in rounds of questions spanning pop culture, history, science, literature, and beyond.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Book Club Sets
Quotation Canapés: No. 1 – All About Food
Continuing Education
Sunshine & Stories is Back! Season 2 of the podcast series is coming soon.
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC): Department of Public Safety
- September 15, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
- Leveraging Annual Data with the LRS Report Template
- September 18, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Library Facility Management 101
- September 18, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
- Unraveling Legacy Toxicity: Navigating Dysfunctional Environments in Leadership
- September 23, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Paonia Library (Delta County Libraries)
- September 24, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Talking Teen Services – Understanding Teens: Intersectional Factors (part 1 of 3)
- October 1, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- In Practice: Library Conversations on Prevention
- October 2, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- 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
- 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 September 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.
- Makerspace Librarian – City of Aurora, Library & Cultural Services
- Supervising Librarian – Youth Services – Westminster Public Library
- Spanish Language Librarian – Arapahoe Libraries
- Senior Library Associate – Young Adult Services – Pikes Peak Library District
- Data Analyst – Pikes Peak 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, [email protected].
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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