Friday Grab Bag is a weekly Spotlight on Sharing series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting activities and news in Colorado libraries.
Since February is the month of love, let’s celebrate some ways that libraries show their love of reading, creativity, and science. You can also show your love for libraries by sharing stories and photos on social media using the tag #LibraryLoversMonth.
Love of Reading
Broomfield Library is seeking nominations for their One Book One Broomfield title. Community members can drop off their suggestions at the library or email referencedesk@broomfield.org.
Share your love of reading by donating books during the month of February for kids age 0-18 at the Dayton Memorial Library at Regis University. The program is a collaboration between Regis University and Reach Out and Read Colorado.
To celebrate Library Lovers Month, Poudre River Public Library District announced their #IReadEverywhere photo contest. During February, share a picture of yourself reading, taken through their “I Read Everywhere” cutout Heart frame postcard. Share your pic on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtags #IReadEverywhere and #PoudreLibraries. Read more details about the contest, including info on weekly prizes, on the I Read Everywhere page.
In an effort to eliminate barriers for young library users, Grand County Library District is testing a special library card for children under the age of 12. The “ONE 4 FUN” card doesn’t accrue overdue fines, while allowing children to check out one book at a time and use online resources and public computers. If the test is successful, they will make the card available in March 2017.
Love of Creativity
Bud Werner Memorial Library and the Nature Conservancy are collaborating on an annual event to create a large, landscape-scale work of art on the snowy haymeadow at the Carpenter Ranch. This year’s Community Snow Drawing theme is Finding Peace in Nature. Participants should bring their own snowshoes, snacks, and water to the Carpenter Ranch in Hayden on February 26 at 9:00 am. To participate, RSVP to Jennie Lay at jlay@steamboatlibrary.org
Looking for a musical Valentine’s date idea? East Morgan County Library presents a concert by folk music duo Hungrytown on Tuesday, February 14th at 6:00 pm. Hungrytown’s music has been featured on The Daily Show, Portlandia, and Lady Dynamite.
Movie lovers and fashionistas alike will enjoy Breakfast at the Library with Breakfast at Tiffany’s on Saturday, February 18 from 10:30 to 12:30 at the Summit County South Branch Library in Breckenridge. Have some coffee and donuts during the film screening, then stay afterwards for a brief discussion.
At the Ruby Sisson Memorial Library, kids in grades 5-12 can learn basic sewing skills and make their very own mini felt plushie. The class is on Thursday, February 16 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm.
Love of Science
Auraria Library offers a Savvy Researcher Workshop series to help students, staff, and faculty better understand the different steps and areas of research. The next workshop in the series is Design a Research Poster on February 22, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Participants will learn how to create a poster that gets noticed and starts conversations.
Englewood Public Library is partnering with the DU Science Team during the month of February to offer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programming for kids. The two remaining programs are February 13 and 27 at 4:00 pm.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Arian recently posted 3 recipes from Kitchens of the Great Midwest, a novel about a single chef dad raising his daughter. This book is just one of nearly 150 titles in the Book Club Resource, which are available for libraries to check out.
Arian also posted a new historical biography about Julia Archibald Holmes, who led an extraordinary life that included being the first woman to summit Pike’s Peak in 1858. This biography is part of the Colorado’s Beginnings series.
Dementia and memory loss are increasing in the U.S., and libraries are rising to meet the challenge with specialized programming and services. I recently spoke with two librarians from Denver Public Library and Arapahoe Libraries about the memory care programs they offer. The recording of this webcast (part of the Spotlight on Sharing series) is now available online.
There is still time to submit your application for a travel stipend to RIPL Regional in Colorado Springs on July 31 & August 1. The Colorado State Library and CLiC have sponsored up to 14 stipends for this very popular library research event. Applications are due by 5 pm on February 15.
Also due soon are submissions for the 2017 Colorado Teen Video Contest. This year’s theme is Build a Better World. Encourage teens in your community to submit their videos by February 14.
Join the next CSL in Session on February 15 at 12:00 pm MST, when Jane Martel from Arapahoe Libraries will introduce a workplace communication tool called DiSC. If you’ve every wanted a better way to communicate with colleagues, then DiSC might be for you! CSL in Session is always free and no registration is required.
Finally, check out the latest posts on the Colorado State Publications Library blog, a great resource for many aspects of living in Colorado:
This post is part of the Spotlight on Sharing initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of resource sharing in Colorado libraries. How is your library sharing? We’d love to hear about it! Email Amy Hitcher, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org. On Twitter follow @hitchlib and use the hashtag #spotlightonsharing.
- Friday Grab Bag, November 16, 2018 - November 15, 2018
- Friday Grab Bag, November 9, 2018 - November 9, 2018
- Friday Grab Bag, November 2, 2018 - November 2, 2018