Friday Grab Bag, August 20, 2021

The Write Stuff

Join Loveland Public Library on the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30-5:30 pm for T’ink. Teens ages 11-17 or attending 6-12th grade will use a series of prompts and themes to springboard their passion for writing.  Activities will encourage imagination, collaboration, and literacy all while sipping tasty beverages.

So many of us have thought we have the idea for the next blockbuster novel. Is it time to sit down and begin writing? Before your fingers reach for the keyboard, join Arapahoe Libraries for So You Think You Can Write a Novel? on August 25 from 4:30-5:30 pm. This  workshop will discuss some things about writing to consider as you begin and share some tips on where to find help and encouragement along the way and give you some understanding of literary agents, independent publishing and the traditional route. Taught by local author Kevin Wolf, whose debut novel, The Homeplace was the winner of the 2015 Tony Hillerman Award.

Have a book idea, but don’t want to go the route of traditional publishing?  Explore the options of self-publishing with High Plains Library Districts’ Self Publishing with Yourself on August 24 at 10:00 am, an informal discussion of the variety of options available to you.  We will look at companies that help you publish, whether you should focus on ebooks versus printed, and basic strategies to get your name out there!

Grants & Funding

Lois Lenski Covey Foundation: Bookmobile Grant Program
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation is dedicated to advancing literacy and fostering a love of reading among underserved and at-risk children and youth. The Foundation’s Bookmobile Grant Program provides support to nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. These grants, ranging from $500 to $3,000, are for purchasing books published for young people, preschool through grade eight, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses. Applications may be submitted through September 1st of each year. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the guidelines for the Bookmobile Grant Program.

Laura Jane Musser Fund: Rural Initiative Program
The Laura Jane Musser Fund encourages collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in communities in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Wyoming, as well as Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties in New York and the Rio Grande Valley, Deep East Texas, and the Brazos Valley regions of Texas. Through the Rural Initiative Program, the Fund supports efforts that will help to strengthen individual rural towns in the targeted states in a number of civic areas, including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education. The applicant community must have a population of 10,000 or fewer and must be able to demonstrate the rural characteristics of their location and support from a diverse cross-section of community members and institutions. Planning grants of up to $5,000 and implementation grants of up to $25,000 are provided. Online applications must be submitted between September 1 and October 1, 2021. Specific grant guidelines and application procedures are available on the Fund’s website.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Join Douglas County Libraries on August 21 at 5:30 pm for Fairy Tale Ball: Sleeping Beauty, an enchanted evening once upon a dream, where you’ll test your archery skills, make some magical crafts, and take a stroll through the world of the princess in pink. Or is it blue or green? Those fairies could never make up their minds! This event will take approximately 30-60 minutes and all activities will be continuous. Please feel free to arrive anytime during the event, based on the amount of time your family will need to enjoy the festivities. This event is ideal for ages 4-10, but all ages are welcome. Costumes are encouraged!

Do you have moments as a parent where you are frustrated, stressed, or angry? Have you noticed that these negative emotions are often passed on to your children, disrupting the energy in your home? Join Garfield County Libraries on August 25 at 6:30 pm for Joy and Parenting, a class on how to live and parent more joyfully. Presented by Lauren Raymond who helps parents build joyful homes where everyone feels loved, heard, and nurtured so that your house can truly be a sanctuary of peace.

Practice quick pickling with the ingredients in Mesa County Libraries’ Grown Up Take and Make: Quick Pickling Kit  for delicious results! This Take and Make kit is available starting August 25, and will continue while supplies last. Visit any library location to pick up a kit or you ask for a kit during your next curbside pickup.

Learning for All

Using WhatsApp to Increase Engagement with Multicultural Communities | August 26 @ 12:00 pm MT
In the US, WhatsApp is mainly used by Spanish-speaking communities and other diasporas, so If you’re working with these communities or are planning to expand your reach, you need to start innovating in your communication methods. As the world is turning towards digital strategies, let’s embrace new communication methods that will increase the reach of your existing emails and newsletters.

What’s Up Wednesday: An Empathetic Approach to Customer Service Training | August 25 @ 8:00 am MT
This presentation addresses customer service training by growing and nurturing empathy and empowering staff to navigate the gray areas in our policies. Using storytelling and group interaction, we will look at special and challenging situations such as code of conduct violations and difficult patrons. Discover how understanding our own implicit biases and not assuming the worst of our patrons can help you offer consistent customer service to everyone we serve.

Museums & Libraries in the News

CU Art Museum to reopen Aug. 17 with new shows, artist-in-residence | CU Boulder Today
The CU Art Museum is reopening on Aug. 17, 2021, after being closed to the public for the past 17 months, with three new shows on view as well as a visiting artist-in-residence this fall.

Garfield County Public Library executive director resigns | Post Independent
The Garfield County Public Library District’s board of trustees has received and accepted the resignation of Brett Lear as executive director of the GCPLD effective Aug. 20, 2021. The resignation comes following multiple complaints surrounding Lear’s supervision over administrators, support staff and various library affairs.

Colorado Virtual Library

Colorado State Library at CALCON 2021
Colorado Association of Libraries’ annual conference returns in person this year, and State Library staff members will present sessions throughout #CALCON21, ranging in topics from futurism to emotional intelligence. We hope to see you there!

2021-2022 ARPA Grant Offering – Round 2 Open to Schools
CSL is distributing non-competitive LSTA ARPA grant funding (provided by Institute of Museum and Library Services)! Round 2 is currently open to state supported School Districts with applications due October 1, 2021.

Learning Opportunities

Upcoming CSL in Session – That’s Not What I Meant: Improving Your Online Communication Skills

• August 26, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
• FREE, no registration required
• Join Online

August’s free online continuing education opportunities
Thanks as always to Wyoming State Library for this fantastic list of free online learning opportunities!

State Publications Library

• How to Spot the Differences Between Eagles and Hawks