Friday Grab Bag, February 14, 2020

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!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Celebrate Mardi Gras with Garfield County Libraries by making your own DIY Mardi Gras Masks on February 25 at 11:00 am. Masks and craft supplies will be provided. King Cake will be served while supplies last. If your slice of cake contains a trinket, you become “king for the day” and win a free book.

Carnival Kiss. [Courtesy Surface Creek Champion, Volume 33, Number 37, February 17, 1938. Accessed via the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.]
Kids and tweens are invited to Jefferson County Public Library to celebrate Fat Tuesday, Louisiana-style on February 25 from 2:00-3:00 pm. Listen to a story about New Orleans’ most exuberant festival, then decorate masks and a group parade float. Wear green, purple and gold (optional) as we march around the Library in our very own Mardi Gras parade!

Let the good times roll with Denver Public Library on February 24 at 4:15-5:15 pm by embellishing your very own Mardi Gras Mask. Ideal for kiddos ages 6 to 12.

Museums & Libraries in the News

The Children’s Museum of Denver is in the running for best in North America | The Denver Channel
The Children’s Museum of Denver is on the USA Today’s top 20 list for best children’s museums in North America in 2020.

Program Model: The 411 on 420 | Programming Librarian
Estes Valley Library hosted a daylong symposium about marijuana designed to educate the community in advance of a ballot measure allowing the operation of marijuana facilities within city limits.

A stunning collection of Colorado art is hidden in a spot you might not expect | The Know
The Denver Public Library’s collection has some of its best works on display right now at its downtown headquarters.

Boulder City Council growing closer to action on library taxing district | The Daily Camera
Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Bob Yates advocates for an examination of the different ways to fund the city’s public library system by forming a library district.

Smooth Moves

Broomfield Public Library welcomes Denise Gard’s famous Border Collie, Joey, for  Doggie Dance with Denise and Joey at Jefferson Academy on March 7 from 2:00-3:00 pm. Discover some incredible stories set to music! Then dance like a dog! No registration required.

Join Clear Creek County Library District on February 21 from 5:00-6:30 to eat, drink, and be SCARY at the Zombie Dance! DEVOUR zombie treats. SLAY zombie dance moves. PLAY zombie games.

Denver’s own Cleo Parker Robinson Dance company will wow you with its high-energy performance honoring African American heritage. Join Arapahoe Library District on February 22 at 2:00 pm for a transformative experience as these world-renowned dancers explore the human condition through the universal language of dance.

Serious Business

You’ve seen Shark Tank on TV — now come and see what it’s like in real life! Longmont Public Library hosts EforAll Longmont’s February Pitch Contest – a fast-paced, community event that enables early-stage entrepreneurs to gain valuable exposure and feedback on a business idea at no cost, from 6:00-8:00 pm on February 27. Entrepreneurs interested in participating should go to EforAll Longmont for additional information.

Poudre River Public Library presents Fort Collins Startup Week February 24 through Friday, February 28 at multiple venues, including Harmony Library. Startup Week features presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities around entrepreneurship.

At the Academy

Exhibition focuses on humans’ response to a changing climate | Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine
Two classes of undergraduate students in the Program in Environmental Design (ENVD) worked with Mary Mattingly, the CU Art Museum’s 2020 artist-in-residence, to design models for an ecotopian library of the future for the exhibition.

UNC’s Michener Library displays LGBT Influence on Harlem Renaissance exhibit | The Mirror
The Colorado LGBT History Project, a program of The Center on Colfax,put together this gallery titled Ain’t Nobody’s Business, highlighting attitudes of acceptance for the LGBTQ community.

CSU Libraries Calls for Volunteers to Decipher Century-Old Cursive Writing | North Forty News
The Water Resources Archive is launching a pilot project to crowdsource transcriptions of three diaries written by Delph Carpenter, an influential water lawyer, state senator and river commissioner in Colorado in the early to mid-1900s.

What’s New at the Colorado State Library

Learning Opportunities

Upcoming CSL in Session -Teen Mental Health: In their own words

  • February 20 @ 12:00 – 1:00 pm
  • Free – no registration required!
  • Join online

Library Patron Data and Privacy: Privacy-Centered Library Vendor Management

  • March 3  @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Free – no registration required!
  • Join online

Upcoming (FREE) Workshop: Teen Development and Connected Learning in Libraries

  • March 18, 12:00-4:30 @ Mesa County Libraries in Grand Junction
  • Free – but you need to REGISTER by March 11
  • Also, free lunch!

Free Online Learning Opportunities for February
Check out all of the FREE online learning opportunities that the Wyoming State Library has curated!

Colorado Virtual Library

Black History Month
We’ve compiled ideas and resources to honor and celebrate Black History Month in and out of the classroom.

Learning Edge February 2020 #1
The Learning Edge February 2020 #1 rounds up professional learning events, digital learning resources, and news from the education field.

Get To Know CSL: Kieran Hixon on Technology and Storytelling
The third installment of #GetToKnowCSL features  Kieran Hixon, the Technology and Digital Initiatives Consultant for the Networking and Resource Sharing (NRS) unit of the State Library.

State Publications Library

Library Related Employment:

Are you thinking of making a change 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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