Friday Grab Bag, July 21, 2017

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!

A Total Eclipse of the Sun

Several libraries are holding special events this summer to educate patrons about the Great American Eclipse happening on August 21. Colorado Space News reports that public libraries will be centers of eclipse education. In addition to offering educational programs, many public libraries are also distributing free eclipse-viewing glasses and hosting eclipse parties.

Upcoming Eclipse Events

• The Great American Solar Eclipse, a presentation by astronomer Kevin Manning at Bemis Library, July 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
• The Day the Sun will Disappear, Lafayette Public Library, August 1 at 6:30 pm.
• Colorado Springs Astronomical Society presentation at Library 21C on August 10 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
• All About Eclipses with Clint Smith, John C. Fremont Library (meet at the Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe), August 16, 7:00 pm. The library’s eclipse viewing party is on August 21 at 11:30 am.
• Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, hosted by Cañon City Public Library at Macon Plaza on August 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
• Viewing Party at Woodruff Memorial Library on August 21.
• Solar Eclipse Day at Pitkin County Library, in partnership with Aspen Science Center, August 21 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.
• Broomfield Library is live-streaming the eclipse!

Past Eclipse Events

• Denver Public Library hosted Dr. Scott McIntosh on Wednesday, July 19 as he discussed The Sun, the Moon and Us: A Guide to the Great American Eclipse of 2017.
• The Elizabeth branch of Pines & Plains Library hosted a presentation by Thalimer Observatory on July 13.

In the Mix

Summit County Library’s North Branch now offers a monthly crafting event. One Saturday per month, starting July 22 at 9:00 am, crafters can drop-in to work on their own crafting project or complete one of the “Make and Take” projects. There will also be a craft supply exchange table.

Teens in Poudre River Public Library District are invited to watch a drive-in movie in a “car” that they will construct from cardboard and duct tape. Join the fun and watch 90s cult classic Tremors on July 25 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

Bud Werner Memorial Library’s Genealogy Club will meet July 27 at 9:30 am. Special guest Mary Borg, teacher of American and Colorado History at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, will discuss how to incorporate personal narratives into family histories.

This summer, enjoy world-class music from up-and-coming musicians at Basalt Regional Library. View event details.

Broomfield Library is now circulating Explore More Bags. These themed experience kits cover a variety of topics, from Jane Austen to California Wine Country, and contain a curated collection of multimedia resources.

Aurora Public Libraries is hosting a free, proctored SAT practice exam for teens on August 19 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This event is in partnership with Revolution Prep. To register, contact Laura Thornton at 720-651-8270 or laura.thorton@revolutionprep.com.

Libraries in the News

The Daily Camera recognized the Boulder Public Library for offering Career Online High School through their BoulderReads program.

The Kiowa County Press featured a partnership between Las Animas Library and John Martin Reservoir State Park, in which children participating in the summer reading program can enter to win an overnight camping pass. The partnership expands upon the popular Check Out Colorado State Parks program.

Check Out Colorado State Parks was also mentioned in a story on KRCC.org, the NPR affiliate station in southern Colorado. The program recently expanded so that patrons can check out a State Parks pass and backpack from academic libraries in addition to public libraries.

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 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 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

Next on CSL in Session, a free online learning series from the Colorado State Library: 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

Are you curious about the world of library data? We invite you to join the newly launched RIPL Community of Practice. As part of the community, you can:

• participate in conversations about survey tools
• see examples of data visualizations
• take advantage of the resources and expertise provided by your fellow librarians

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.

This week on Colorado Virtual Library, read about Nikola Tesla, the famous inventor and scientist who came to Colorado Springs in 1899 with intentions to transmit wireless telegraphy signals from Pikes Peak to Paris. The post includes links to relevant newspaper articles from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.

New this week on the Colorado State Publications Library Blog:

• Time Machine Tuesday: Uranium Mining – The southwest corner of Colorado, known as the Uravan Mineral Belt, was in important source of uranium in the 20th century.
• Museums and Galleries at Colorado’s Universities – Lists museums and art galleries at Colorado universities that are open to the public.
• Colorado’s Budget in Brief – The State Publications Library houses budget documents dating back to 1962.

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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.