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.
Before we get into the bag, I wanted to share that the Colorado State Library’s Book Club Resource is back in business, with a bevy of new titles for your library’s book club/s to enjoy! The only requirement for receiving book club sets is that you must be a current, active user of the CLiC courier service (meaning your library is receiving deliveries from the courier).
Now let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!
Taking Care
Do you tend to feel stressed and anxious? If so, join Mesa County Libraries on July 29 at 6:00 pm for De-Stress and Lessen Anxiety with Jamie Elmer. You’ll learn simple breathing techniques and movement practices to help you lessen stress and anxiety. Practices that you can use throughout your day to calm your nerves and stress level. This short class is designed for all ages and body types. All you need is a little space, comfortable clothes, and a chair.
After surviving something traumatic, you may feel irritable, anxious, afraid, confused, or numb; sometimes all within the same day. You may have trouble concentrating or feel like your brain just isn’t working like it used to. That’s because it’s not. And neither is your body. The result: you can feel like you’re going crazy. Join Louisville Public Library on August 27 from 6:30 to 7:30 for 4 Ways Trauma Really Does Change You, and What You Can Do About It. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of what happens in your brain and body during a traumatic event, why it makes sense in that moment, and how you can get “stuck” in the trauma response.
Pikes Peak Library District invites eens to Teens Self-Care: Sleep Hygiene on July 25 from 11:00-12:00 pm. Learn about some simple changes you can make to get better and more restful sleep. And if you are struggling or dealing with other tough issues, check out some of the libraries collected resources and connections to local services at: http://research.ppld.org/toughtopics.
Narrative Gaming
Join Boulder Public Library and Renaissance Adventures’ Quest Leaders online on August 8 from 11:00-12:30 pm for an exciting Adventure Quest experience! Adventure Quest™ is an award-winning experiential education program where children and teens become the heroes of an incredibly fun and dynamic quest, working together in a mythical and magical world to overcome interesting challenges, solve mystifying riddles, and brainstorm unique solutions to puzzling dilemmas. Register HERE to attend – suitable for ages 9-13.
Are you an aspiring writer or video game creator? Do you enjoy creating narratives for tabletop RPGs? Arapahoe Libraries invites teens and tweens to Twine Tutorial: Creating Game Narratives on July 22 at 3:30 pm. In this workshop, you’ll learn to use Twine, a free tool for creating interactive stories with branching narratives, such as choose-your-own-adventure tales and video games stories. Registrationcloses 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. You will receive an email with instructions on how to access this event shortly before your session begins.
Do you love epic fantasy adventure? Dungeons and Dragons is a tabletop role playing fantasy game where a roll of the dice can change your future. If you have never played before or are a brand new to questing, join Jefferson County Public Library for Dungeons & Dragons for Beginners along with other new adventurers on July 25 at 1:00 pm! Suitable for ages 12-18.
Museums and Libraries in the News
Manitou library, art center explore shared space | Colorado Business Journal
The Pikes Peak Library District and Manitou Art Center are exploring a potential co-location partnership that could benefit library cardholders, MAC members, local artists, community partners, taxpayers and the local economy.
Elbert County library system vows ‘equitable access’ | Elbert County News
Pines & Plains Libraries, issued a statement July 2 stating, “in the wake of worldwide protests condemning disproportionate violence and institutional bias against Black people and other minorities,” it would “provide equitable access to diverse and abundant information featuring a wide array of perspectives” at its physical and digital branches.
Lafayette Library uses neighborhood little libraries to ensure residents get books | Colorado Hometown Weekly
While the Lafayette Library was closed to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, staff members have been making sure the community had access to books by going around town and filling little libraries with freebies.
Louisville man holds fundraiser to bring books addressing racial equality, social justice to library | Colorado Hometown Weekly
After recent events around the country, Kevin Gilbert of Louisville has put together a fundraiser to try and get some books which address racial equality and social justice into the Louisville Library.
During visit, Gov. Polis recognizes Immigrant and Refugee Center, High Plains Library District for work during pandemic | Greeley Tribune
The work of two Greeley-area organizations assisting underserved residents of their communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – High Plains Library District and the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, were recognized with an in-person visit from Gov. Jared Polis, and COVID-19 relief funding.
Mesa County Libraries Literacy Center Receives $3,000 grant | KKCO 11 News
The Mesa County Libraries Literacy Center received a $3,000 grant to help immigrants obtain a driver’s license.
“African American history is American history”: Museum exhibits respond to Black Lives Matter | Salon
New curators are bringing the Black American experience to the forefront, including History Colorado, which launched a virtual exhibition called African American History in Colorado, detailing the crucial role Black frontier families played in the settlement of the state.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program is now available in Colorado | Fox 31
Dolly Parton thanked Colorado lawmakers Governor Polis, State Senators Jeff Bridges and Jack Tate, and State Representatives Kerry Tipper and Jim Wilson for bringing the Imagination Library Program to Colorado.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Trustee Resources
CALCON Virtual Conference: Trustee Track (Sept 10-12)
CALCON’s going virtual, including the full day Trustee Track. Registration is open now.
Library Board Essentials Virtual Workshops – July 2020
The Colorado State Library is introducing virtual board training opportunities!
- July 22: Library Board Essentials (for Advisory Boards)
- Register
- July 29: Library Board Essentials (for Governing Boards)
- Register
Trustee Corner – July 2020
The July edition of Trustee Corner features Colorado Public Library Standards, Trustee training opportunities, and more.
Library Research Service
Visualizing Data: choosing the right chart
Should you use a line chart? A pie chart? A bar chart? Data visualization can be difficult. Check out the latest installment of Between a Graph and a Hard Place from LRS on choosing the right visualization for the right job!
Learning Opportunities
Free Online Learning Opportunities
The Wyoming State Library has gathered up a wide variety of free online learning opportunities for July!
Hive Summit August 2020
You are invited to join The Hive for free online professional learning!
Colorado Virtual Library
State Grants to Libraries Funding Available for 2020-2021
The Colorado State Library will distribute $2.5 million in State Grants to Libraries for 2020-2021. Be sure to fill out the 2 page eligibility form on or before Tuesday, September 15, 2020.
Get To Know CSL: Leigh Jeremias on Archives, Digital Collections, and Our Connections to History
The fifth installment of #GetToKnowCSL, features Leigh Jeremias, the Digital Collections Coordinator for the Networking and Resource Sharing (NRS) unit of the State Library.
5 Early Learning Library Take and Make Kits
Libraries continue to offer service with “take and make” kits for caregivers to take home. Here are 5 fun ideas to help caregivers keep kiddos occupied!
A Window to History: Exploring Colorado’s College Newspapers
College newspapers occupy a sweet spot in the world of newspapers, and for this month’s ‘Window to History,’ we’re highlighting some of the new additions to CHNC.
State Publications Blog
Are you thinking of making a change this year in your job? Check out Library Jobline for hot new library employment opportunities.
- Interim Library Director – Library Manager – Library Clerk – Substitute Library Clerks: Southwest La Plata Library District / Marvel, CO
- Library Technician: University of Denver / Denver, CO
- Material Handling Technician: Douglas County Libraries / Littleton, CO
- Research and Instruction Librarian (part-time): Regis University / Denver, CO
- Librarian – Lamb Branch: Pueblo City-County Library District / Pueblo, CO
- Patron Experience Supervisor – Various Locations: Jefferson County Public Library / Lakewood, CO
- Adult Education Instructor: Pikes Peak Library District / Colorado Springs, CO
- Stacks Supervisor: University of Denver Libraries / Denver, CO
- Patron Services Supervisor: High Plains Library District / Longmont, CO
Patron Services Associate: Broomfield Library / Broomfield, CO
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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