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
Growing and Making
Jefferson County Public Library welcomes participants to their Autumn Plant Swap on September 20 at Evergreen Library. Drop in to exchange houseplants, garden cuttings, or seeds in good condition, and while you’re there enter the raffle for a mystery plant.
Learn End of Season Vegetable Garden Essentials with Broomfield Library at the Brunner Farmhouse on September 25. Topics will include winterizing your irrigation, planting overwinter crops, and garden cleanup.
Lake County Public Library invites registered participants to a Plant-Based Dyeing Workshop on September 27 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. You’ll learn how to use flowers such as rabbitbrush and irises to dye pots and fabrics.
Add Paper Texturization to your crafting toolkit at a maker event hosted by Bemis Library on September 20. Use the provided materials to add dimension and texture to paper crafts like journals, scrapbooks, and greeting cards.
It’s Sourdough September at Summit County Library. Pick up a free sourdough starter and directions for feeding your starter, plus recipes for making sourdough boules, whole wheat sandwich bread, and cinnamon rolls.
Spooky Season Starts
Lone Cone Library will host a “Boo”tiful Fall Swag arts and crafts event on September 24 at 6:00 pm. They invite patrons to come make some spooky Halloween decorations.
Montrose Regional Library District invites teens to a Spooky Season Escape Room on September 26 at 6:00 pm. Can you and your friends crack the codes and escape the haunted library, or will you all join the ghosts that haunt the stacks?
Alamosa Public Library is hosting a KPop Demon Hunters Sing Along Party on September 27 at 5:30 pm. Come in costume or pajamas and sing along with this popular movie.
Community Celebrations
High Plains Library District is hosting the Golden Gallery Art Exhibition from September 24 through October 22 at the LINC Library Innovation Center. The exhibition, curated by the Weld County Area Agency on Aging and the Greeley Active Adult Center, will showcase art by both amateurs and professionals age 50+.
Anythink invites you to their Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on September 20 at Anythink Commerce City. Enjoy three live musical performances, face painting, free food and drinks, and more at this free, all-ages event.
Wilkinson Public Library is throwing a Hispanic Heritage Month Party on September 25. Drop by for free tacos from Latin Creations, kid crafts, and Lotería with prizes!
Join Garfield County Libraries for a ‘Storical Steampunk Shindig on September 20 at the Silt Historical Park. Activities will include a costume contest, kids crafts, teapot races, tea dueling, an absinthe demonstration, and other frivolities!
Front Range Community College and Westminster Public Library invite the Colorado library community to their Banned Books Week events, including film screenings of the documentary Banned Together on October 7 & 9 and a read-aloud on October 8.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Accessibility Quick Tip
Common Misconceptions about Digital Accessibility
Book Club Sets
Exploring Literary Movements with Your Book Club: Realism
Continuing Education
Sunshine & Stories Learns All About CSL Book Club Resources & CSL Kits
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- 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.
- Library Director (School/Public Combined) – Cripple Creek – Victor School District RE-1
- Full-time 40 hour Guide (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Perl Mack
- Full-time 40 hour Guide (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Commerce City
- Full-time 40 hour Youth Services Guide (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Bennett
- Adult Services Librarian – Spanish-language services – Montrose Regional Public Library
- Youth Services Librarian – Arapahoe Library District
- Library Specialist, Spanish Speaker, Part-time – Arapahoe Library District
- Library Aide – City of Aurora, Library & Cultural Services
- Youth Services Coordinator – Buena Vista Public Library
- Librarian I – Children’s Services – Eagle Valley Library District
- Catalog Librarian – High Plains 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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