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!
Love to Learn
Library lovers in Denver will soon have a unique learning opportunity: the Denver Public Library Academy is a 9-week course that explores the inner workings of DPL and the library profession in general. From September 12 to November 14, participants will learn about the various divisions of the the library and the important services each one provides. Potential Academy members must apply to be considered. Applications are due August 15.
Join Mesa County librarian Ike Rakiecki at the Palisade Branch on July 18 at 3:30 to learn A Brief History of Mining in Western Colorado.
Ridgway Public Library is hosting an art exhibit by nature and wildlife photographer Darin Houtstra, July 8 through August 31.
Stop by Louisville Public Library on July 22 between 1:00 and 4:00 pm for their Maker Expo Open House. All ages are welcome to attend and get hands-on experience with the library’s computer science programs.
Arapahoe Libraries announced that Lake of Fire by Colorado author Mark Stevens is their Village Read title. The library is teaming up with the city of Greenwood Village to offer this title and supporting events to their community.
Bring your littlest readers to the Broomfield Public Library Early Literacy Fair on Saturday, July 15 between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm. Families can play and learn together at activity stations while learning early literacy skills to practice at home.
Healthy Living, Healthy Outlook
Maria Barry of Vail Dance Academy will be at the Vail Public Library to teach Country Western Dance as part of the library’s Healthy Lifestyle Series. Join Maria to learn the Two Step, Double Two, and Cowboy Cha Cha on Monday, July 17, 24, and 31 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
Author Trish Carpenter will present a session on Anti-Bullying at Hayden Public Library on July 17 at 1:00 pm. All ages are welcome.
Learn about the latest recommendations and guidelines for healthy foods for disease prevention from Melaine Hendershott RD, a Specialist in Oncology Nutrition, at Gypsum Public Library on July 27 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Learn more.
Grow a healthier garden with DIY Natural Pesticides. Learn about effective, organic gardening techniques at Pikes Peak Library District’s Penrose Library on July 15 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Register online.
In a move that just might break the internet, Aurora Public Library is offering Kitten Yoga on Saturday, August 12 from 9:30-10:30 am. Registered participants will practice their downward facing dogs while rescue kittens from the Aurora Animal Shelter roam about. Register online or call 303-739-6630.
Get Cooking at the Library
The Tastebuds Cookbook Group of Jefferson County Public Library will meet on Sunday, July 16 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Standley Lake Library. This group meets monthly to share prepared dishes and swap recipes. This month’s recipe theme is Salads.
Teens can mix food, science, and reading at Boulder Public Library’s Meadows Branch when they attend Unfortunate Foodology on July 15 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. This STEM-based program encourages teens to solve problems in Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events using food science.
Are you dreaming of a heart healthy burger? Chef Sapna Von Reich will be at the Council Tree Library in Poudre River River Public Library District on Monday, July 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 to teach participants how to make delicious, flavorful, and low-cal vegetarian and vegan burgers.
Libraries in the News
The Elbert County News featured a profile of Ann Ledford, youth services department head at the Lone Tree Library in Douglas County.
The Castle Rock News-Press ran a story on volunteers in Douglas County, including Rasika Mukkamala, a volunteer at James H. LaRue 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 for books, e-books, database subscriptions, and other educational resources.
The Colorado State Library is pleased to offer four registration scholarships to CALCON 17. Our goal is to help MLIS students and staff from small/rural libraries who might otherwise not be able to attend. Please submit your scholarship application by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 28.
CSL is partnering with CLiC to offer 12 registration scholarships to the CLEL Conference on September 8, 2017 in Longmont. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, July 28. Conference registration closes on August 25.
Professional Development Opportunities
CSL in Session is a free online learning series from the Colorado State Library with new sessions monthly. Here’s what’s coming up:
- Check Out an Experience. July 18, 12:00 to 1:00 pm MDT.
- 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
The #LoveMyCOLibrary campaign launched on July 1 and will continue through August 31. We’ve seen some great posts from Colorado library lovers on Twitter and Facebook. Help us spread the word within your networks! Posting is easy: simply tag your pic with #LoveMyCOLibrary and share it with the Colorado State Library on Facebook and Twitter.
The latest Touring Colorado’s Collections post highlights the Gunnison County Libraries digital collection, which documents the history of Cattlemen’s Days.
Looking for a book club novel with an air of mystery? Arian highlights relevant titles in her latest post, Keys to Mysterious Places.
New this week on the Colorado State Publications Library Blog:
- The Architecture of Jacques Benedict – You can see the work of this early 20th century architect in downtown Denver and around Colorado.
- Time Machine Tuesday: Colorado’s Count and Countess – In 1848, Count Henri and Countess Katrina Murat fled Europe and eventually settled in the Denver area.
- Agri-Tour Colorado This Summer – Resources to help you plan an agri-tour of Colorado.
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.
- 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