Friday Grab Bag is a weekly Spotlight on Sharing series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting happenings in Colorado libraries. News from the Colorado State Library is at the end. Let’s open the Grab Bag!
STEAMing Through Summer
Is your library Ready to Code? ALA has announced Ready to Code, a competitive grant program sponsored by Google that will fund a cohort of 25-50 school and public libraries to design computational thinking and computer science programs for and with youth, including underrepresented youth. ALA will award between 25-50 grants worth between $5,000 and $25,000 each. Application deadline is August 31.
Robauto is coming back to Louisville Public Library and bringing the library’s own Bibli robot! On August 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, kids ages 8 to 12 can learn to program the robot using Python programming language. Space is limited and registration is required.
The Makerspace at Ignacio Community Library will be a busy place this month, with programs for participants to create with LEGO, build a robot bug, or launch an air rocket. Visit the library’s events calendar for more details.
Calling All Readers
Eagle Valley Library District is taking applications for their Reading Buddies program, which pairs teen mentors with young readers for 8 weeks of reading and activities. Teen volunteers receive specialized training about how to coach their younger reading buddies.
Visit the 6th annual Reading Carnival at Clear Creek County Library District’s John Tomay Memorial Library, August 19 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. In true carnival fashion, participants can enjoy food, games, face painting, and a bouncy house. All ages are welcome.
Teen fans of books, comics, and pop culture are invited to the Teen Nerd Prom at Poudre River Public Library District, August 26 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. The evening will include video games, a DJ dance party, nerdy crafts, and more. Costumes are encouraged! Teens age 12-18 must RSVP online to reserve their tickets.
Self-Improvement & Lifelong Learning
Colorado Workforce Center will be at Vail Public Library on Friday, August 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm to provide one-on-one help with resumes, applications, interviews and more. The Workforce Center visits Vail Public Library the third Friday of every month.
Longmont Public Library will host An Evening with Dr. Temple Grandin on Tuesday, September 12 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Stewart Auditorium at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center. Dr. Grandin is a world-renowned author whose publications range from livestock handling to autism awareness. Registration for this free event opens on August 7 at 10:00 am on the library’s website.
Learn the basics of high altitude Seed Saving with Jenny Cook from High Country Conservation. The workshop will be August 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Summit County Library’s South Branch
Art and About in the Community
Gunnison Library’s First Friday Art Walk series features artist Susan Crawford during the month of August. Visit the library on Friday, August 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm to see an exhibit of Ms. Crawford’s work, which is inspired by the southwestern landscape and its varied cultures.
Jefferson County Public Library has several opportunities to make and see community created art. Through August 20, Lakewood Library’s Artist Trading Card Exhibit features cards created by local art therapy group members—you can create your own, too! To see more community art, check out the mixed media entries in the Teen Art Exhibit, on display at the Belmar Library until August 31.
Eagle Valley Library District is partnering with Vail Valley Art Guild to present introductory art classes at the Gypsum Public Library. These classes are designed for teens and adults. Participants do not need to have experience or bring any materials. The three class—Introduction to Pastels, Introduction to Watercolor, and Basic Drawing—will culminate in a community art display at Gypsum Public Library throughout September.
Libraries in the News
The Pine River Times reported that more than 300 people turned out for Pine River Library’s 2nd annual STEAM Festival. During the event, learners of all ages participated in science and technology related activities. The library partnered with Ignacio Community Library and several community organizations to put on the event.
Denver Public Library’s Ross-Broadway Branch is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. In celebration of this designation, the library will host a reception on August 8 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
Arizona Public Radio station KNAU featured a story on the Check Out State Parks Program, which allows patrons to check out a State Parks pass and a backpack at their public or academic library.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Scholarships & Grants
State Grants to Libraries funding is available for 2017-18! Eligible public, school, and academic libraries are encouraged to submit a short eligibility form by September 15. Funds can be used books, e-books, database subscriptions, and other educational resources.
Professional Development Opportunities
The CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy) Conference is September 8, 2017 in Longmont. Conference registration is open now through August 25.
CSL in Session is a free online learning series from the Colorado State Library with new sessions monthly. Here’s what’s coming up:
- Workplace Bullying: Word Can Hurt More Than You Think. August 24, 12:00 to 1:00 pm MDT.
CSL is partnering with the state libraries of Georgia, Iowa, and Maryland to sponsor a free, virtual conference, Libraries as Community Catalysts, on August 16, 2017 from 9:00 to 3:00 MDT. All Colorado library staff are encouraged to join. Register online by August 15.
Fun & Informative
We’re more than halfway through the #LoveMyCOLibrary campaign, and the amazing pics of library awesomeness keep coming in! Have you submitted a pic yet? It’s easy to participate: simply tag your pic with #LoveMyCOLibrary and share it with the Colorado State Library on Facebook and Twitter.
Outside the Lines, a global initiative to demonstrate library innovation, is September 10-16, 2017. There’s still time to register on the OTL website. Please consider sharing your OTL activities with the State Library—we’d love to hear what your library has planned.
New this week on the Colorado State Publications Library Blog:
- Japanese Beetles – Learn how to prevent the spread of this invasive species that is on the rise in Colorado.
- Time Machine Tuesday: Colorado Day – We celebrate the anniversary of Colorado’s statehood on August 1.
- Colorado Governors: Edward McCook – This territorial governor served two non-consecutive terms after the Civil War.
This post is part of the Spotlight on Sharing initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of resource sharing in Colorado libraries. Do you have a story from your library to share? Email Amy Hitcher, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org. Also, be sure to follow Colorado State Library on Twitter and Facebook.
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