Friday Grab Bag, December 13, 2019

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!

Try Not.

Kids grades K-5 are invited to put their skills with the Force to the test at Aurora Public Library’s Jedi Training Obstacle Course on December 14 at 10:30. Make a pool noodle light saber and take on an obstacle course designed to test your Jedi reflexes!

Join Douglas County Libraries on December 14 from 2:00-3:00 pm for Jedi Academy. Experience Jedi lessons with a twist. This month: Jedi dueling. Costumes are encouraged. All ages are welcome but registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Holiday Roundup

Pine River Library will be transformed into the fantastical world of Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas for one evening to hold a Friday the 13th Before Christmas Party on December 13 from 6:00-8:00 pm. This event is free and includes dinner, but advanced sign up and parent permission is required, so click HERE to download the permission slip and sign up.

“Ring-a-ling…hear them ring!” Escape the holiday hustle and bustle and take in the seasonal sounds of The Smithtonian Handbell Ensemble, performing your favorite festive tunes on December 13 from 6:00-7:00 pm at Arapahoe Libraries. For all ages.

Join Nederland Community Library on December 14 at 2:00 pm for Holiday Remedies and Gifts. Make your very own lip balms, sugar scrubs, and perfect handmade gifts just in time for the holidays. Click HERE to register.

Vail Public Library is celebrating the holiday season with The Dickens Carolers on December 18 from 6:-00-7:00 pm. This volunteer choral group performs wearing  Victorian costumes (many of them are made by hand by the singers themselves) while you enjoy a  “build-your-own-cocoa” bar supplies from Rimini Gelato.

Join Mesa County Libraries for a special winter puppet show of The Nutcracker on December 14 from 10:00-10:30 am. Based on the classic ballet, follow the story of Clara and her magical adventure to defeat the King Mouse and his army.

Learning for All

Save the Date for the 8th Annual Kraemer Copyright Conference at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs on June 15-17, 2020. Registration if FREE and opens on March 2, 2020. The Kraemer Copyright Conference is a dynamic and enriching FREE conference that offers public, academic, special, and school librarians the opportunity to learn about U.S. Copyright Law, recent updates to the law and how it impacts the services we offer our library users. This conference provides an opportunity for professionals at every level and across libraries to discuss the importance of copyright in libraries.

Free Webinar: The Positions Model for Improving Personal Influence and Workplace Interactions | January 7 @ 12:00 pm
Learn what each of the three position (first, second, and third person) stands for and how to incorporate them in how you think and act in your workplace.

Pick ‘n’ Mix

Clearview Library District’s Film Club meets on December 19 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm for a screening of Infamous Colorado Cannibal, which takes a closer look at the most recent anthropological evidence and attempts to uncover the truth about Alfred Packer’s twisted tale. No registration required – the Film Club explores people and places with Colorado connections through documentary films.

Cannibal Plateau. [Image courtesy of Denver Public Library Digital Collection. Accessed via the Digital Public Library of America.]
4-9 year olds are invited to join Montrose Public Library for Animals in Winter on December 14 at 10:00 am to learn how animals prepare for winter. Kiddos need to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Denver Public Library hosts retired Colonel Tom Duhs as he presents The Ski Troops of World War II on December 13 at 2:00 pm. Learn about the U.S. military’s 10th Mountain Division, a specialized unit of ski troops trained near Pando, Colorado, at altitudes up to 14,000 feet, often under brutal weather conditions and for weeks at a time.

Join Boulder Public Library on December 14 at 11:00 am to Design Your Own Video Game Controller. Work together in groups to create video game controllers using Makey Makey and everyday objects such as Play-Doh, food, foil, and more! This event is for ages 7-12, seats are limited and registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Museums & Libraries in the News

Library Corner: Does your weekend look, feel like this? | Sky-Hi News
Lots of reasons to give to your local library on Colorado Gives Day (which was Tuesday the 10th).

This is the ultimate dinosaur road trip | CNN Travel
The ultimate dinosaur road trip includes a couple stops in western Colorado including trekking and trails in the Grand Valley, Dinosaur Journey Museum, and Dinosaur National Monument.

Canon, Florence museums raising funds | Pueblo Chieftan
The Friends of the Royal Gorge Regional Museum will be holding a silent auction on a childrens dinosaur-themed rocker to help raise funds.

Estes Park Archives program this Saturday | Estes Park Trail Gazette
A collection of 20 early photographs attributed to J.R. Riddle has been listed for sale by a private book dealer. Is it the real deal? John Meissner of the Estes Park Archives traveled to Crested Butte to find out.

What’s New at the Colorado State Library

Colorado Virtual Library

Learning Edge December 2019 #1
This edition of the Learning Edge has resources to help you embrace the excitement in your classroom around the holidays for student learning.

Submissions are Open for the New Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant
Do you have an idea for a community engagement project or program but no money to execute it? Consider apply for a Libraries Transform Community Engagement Grant

State Publications Library

Learning Opportunities

CSL In Session: Friends with Benefits

  • Dec 12 @ 11:00am – 12:00pm MT
  • No registration required!
  • Join online

Library Leadership Webinar:  The Community Centered Library

  • January 8 @ 2:00 pm MT
  • No registration required!
  • Join online

For more learning opportunities and education events, make sure to check out the Library Learning and Creation calendar – https://create.coloradovirtuallibrary.org/calendar/.

Library Related Employment:

Are you thinking of making a change this year in your job? Check out Library Jobline for hot 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

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