Friday Grab Bag, August 6, 2021

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!

Museums & Libraries in the News

New exhibit in Fort Garland explores the lesser-known history of enslaved Native Americans | 9 News
Fort Garland Museum’s new exhibit acknowledges the brutal effects that westward expansion and settler-colonialism had on Indigenous and Native Americans.

https://www.imls.gov/grant-spotlights/take-leaf-out-colorados-book-how-encourage-early-literacy | IMLS Grant Spotlight
For more than a decade, the Colorado State Library has coordinated early literacy initiatives across the state thanks to Grants to States funding from IMLS.

Colorado’s first Latina historian hopes to tell the stories of all the state’s communities | KDVR
Nicki Gonzales, who will be Colorado’s next state historian — and its first Latina in the role, hopes to provide Colorado’s youth with free access to museums statewide.

History Colorado to award locals for work in preserving Alfred Borah photos and journals from 1882 to 1917 | Vail Daily
The journals of Brush Creek settler Alfred Borah, brother of famed Theodore Roosevelt hunting guide Jake Borah, are now searchable thanks to a project from the Eagle County Historical Society and the Eagle Valley Library District.

Just for Fun

Come one, come all to a festival of color! Teens, kids, and preschoolers are invited to Clearview Library District on August 14 from 10:30-11:30 am for Chalk Fest, to decorate the parking lot with chalk. The library will block off the library parking lot to create a cement canvas just waiting for art and creation! All ages welcome. No registration required.

Enjoy fun in the sun at Anythink Bennet on August 7 at 1:00 pm with Water Balloon Games! You’ll want to wear a swimsuit, shoes and other clothing that can get wet, and bring a towel if able. Appropriate for ages 7 to 18. No advanced registration necessary.

Join Garfield County Libraries on August 7 at 11:00 am for a Boat Race Extravaganza. Make your own boat, and then enter in a boat race! There will be live music and storytime with Mr. Paul. This event will be held at Veteran’s Park.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Calling all grandparents, retirees, grown-up kids, former teachers or librarians! Join Bud Werner Memorial Library for Spellbinders Training Workshop on August 25, 26, and 30 from 5:00-8:00 pm and learn to tell engaging, fun stories to children in the oral storytelling tradition. Spellbinders is dedicated to restoring the art of oral storytelling to connect elders to youth, weaving together the wisdom of diverse cultures throughout time. Click here to read more about the national Spellbinders organization.

Explore the science behind severe weather and learn important safety aspects with Storm Chasing: Severe Weather Safety presented by Arapahoe Libraries on August 13 from 4:30-5:30 pm. Chris Chittick, a leading expert on extreme weather phenomena that works with disaster relief organizations on education, prevention and survival in the field, and also starred in the TV show Storm Chasers, will share videos, photos and personal stories for staying safe and surviving the worst nature can produce. This interactive presentation will include a Q&A session.

Join Mesa County Libraries on August 14 at 2:00 pm for Off-Grid Living w/ Rick and Di Herald. Rick and Di Herald built an off-grid home on a remote canyon edge in western Colorado. The house, made out of tires, cans, and bottles, is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They have ample electricity from the sun to run all the electronics needed for a 21st century life. The Heralds will show images of the home and discuss the adventures in building it.

Learning for All

Combatting Workplace Injustice in Public Libraries and the Importance of Diversifying Collections | August 10 @ 11:00 am MT
A library is looked upon as a place for equity, no matter the background of the person – but what about the library as a work place ? Do library workplaces also have tenacious challenges that impact all of us—bias, prejudice and bullying? Panelists will explore and discuss strategies to overcome them within the library system. They will discuss how to recognize, attack, and eliminate workplace injustice while transforming organizations in the process, along with the role that a diverse collection plays in educating patrons, overcoming barriers and creating awareness.

What’s New at the Colorado State Library

Colorado Virtual Library

Touring Wyoming’s Collections: Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center Finds Support for Collection Digitization
In 2019 Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center was awarded funds  to digitize and organize the Center’s collection of photographs.

Touring Colorado’s Collections: Pines & Plains Libraries Digital Collection
This summer, the Pines & Plains Libraries launched a digital repository in partnership with the CSL’s CVL Collections program. Explore Elbert County history and take a tour of their growing collection!

Nothing About Us, Without Us
If evaluation determines the value of programs and services, what happens when your library’s evaluation excludes or overlooks certain groups from the data? Learn more about equitable evaluation through community engagement with the latest from CSL’s EDIT team.

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

Are you thinking of making a change this year in your job?

Southwest La Plata Library District is in search of a new director that is passionate about providing exceptional service to the community. If this sounds like you, visit https://swlplibrarydistrict.org/southwest-la-plata-library-district/jobs/ and apply by September 4, 2021.

Check out Library Jobline for more new library employment opportunities.

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 Marisa Wood, mwood@coloradovirtuallibrary.org. Also, be sure to follow Colorado State Library on Twitter and Facebook.

Latest posts by Marisa Wood (see all)