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
Cool Creations
Grand County Library District is holding a Scary Story Contest for kids in grades K-8. Pick up an entry form during September or early October to participate.
East Morgan County Library District invites you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Papel Picado on September 16 at 6:00 pm. Create your own beautiful cut-paper decorations while enjoying Mexican food and drinks.
Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library will host herbalist Lake McCullough for Making Herbal Remedies with Native Plants, September 11 at 4:00 pm. Participants will learn how to identify, harvest, and use common native plants.
Community Engagement
This year’s All Pikes Peak Reads selection is Go as a River by Colorado author Shelley Read. Pikes Peak Library District is planning fun, thematic programs all September long, culminating with two keynote speaking events on October 5 at Library 21c.
Trinidad Public Library is hosting a Trivia Night on September 10, 6:00 pm, at Mutiny Trinidad on Main Street. Come down and test your knowledge of Trinidad history.
Louisville Public Library is turning 100! Help them celebrate at their birthday party, Cheers to 100 Years, on September 15 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm. Stop by for refreshments, music, a library scavenger hunt challenge with a chance to win a prize basket, opportunities to learn more about the library’s past 100 years, and more.
Join Lake County Public Library and Planned Pethood for Bark in the Park on September 7, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at Leadville Dog Park. They will be hanging out with dogs, books, and fun activities.
Learn & Explore
Front Range Community College is hosting an Author Talk with Jamie LaRue on September 25 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Westminster Public Library. Join him for a discussion on censorship and defending the right to read. Download the flyer (pdf).
Buena Vista Public Library invites you to a Star Party, presented by Colorado Springs Astronomical Society on September 7, 8:00 to 11:00 pm, at Kelly Ranch. Enjoy lawn games, stargazing, and a laser tour of the night sky.
Gunnison County Libraries invites you to get started with Geocaching in the Gunnison Valley & Beyond, September 6, 6:00 pm, at Gunnison Library. Join the meetup to learn tips and tricks for this fun outdoor recreational activity.
Estes Valley Library welcomes Sharon Saternus of Femme Trek for Wilderness Survival Skills for Women on September 10 at 5:30 pm. Sharon’s presentation will include techniques to stay calm and think, shelter building, the basics of fire, water, signaling, and navigation—all tailored specifically for female day hikers.
Accessibility Corner
News, tips, and resources to support technology accessibility
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
CSL Podcast
Learning Opportunities
- Summer Drop in Chats
- September 10, 11:00 am
- September 24, 11:00 am
- October 8, 11:00 am
- October 22, 11:00 am
- No registration required
- Pride In Practice: LGBTQ+ Library Workers Perspectives on Mental Health
- September 10, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Registration required
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: It Is For You!
- September 19, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Registration required
- Influence and Persuasion in Libraries: Revamping Traditional Marketing Strategies with Social Psychology Research
- September 19 & 20, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, University of Denver
- Register for one of the two days
- CSL in Session: Seeing the Unseen; Raising the Visibility of Equity Work
- September 25, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Registration required
- Balancing Act: Navigating Mental Health as Parental Caregivers in the Library Profession
- October 16, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
- Registration required
- Adult Services Regional Workshop – Lamar
- October 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, in person
- Registration (free) required
- 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.
- Administrative Assistant to the Deans – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Libraries Events Coordinator and Receptionist – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
- Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging and Community Engagement – Anythink Administration – Anythink Libraries
- Teaching and Learning Student Assistant – Auraria Library / University of Colorado Denver
- Head of Teen Services – Montrose Regional Library District
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator Sr. – Spanish Services – Jefferson County Public Library
- Archive Specialist – Boulder Public 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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