Friday Grab Bag, June 21, 2019

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 begin, I just wanted to let everyone know that we won’t have an FGB next week (June 28th), as I will be out of town for a workshop – but as always, feel free to send me your news and events for the July 5th edition.

Now into the Bag!

Space-capades!

Summer Reading (Learning, etc.) is in full swing and the hits keep coming.

Experience outer space like you never have before – in virtual reality! Join Loveland Public Library and board the International Space Station, visit far away planets, and become an intergalactic traveler. Drop-in at any time! All ages welcome to come learn, play, and feel VR for themselves using the Library’s state-of-the-art mobile Oculus Rift stations! Check the calendar for additional dates and times throughout the summer, including:

  • KIDS ONLY EDITION: June 25: 3-4pm
  • All Ages: June 26: 3-5pm
  • TEENS ONLY EDITION: Tuesday, July 9: 1-3pm (Teen Hangout)
  • All Ages: July 5 @ the Summer Festival from 6-8 pm
  • All Ages: July 30: 1:30-3:30pm

Come experience an Inflatable Planetarium with Pikes Peak Library District on June 29 from 2:00-2:30. Crawl inside to see constellations, planets, and galaxies! Ages 9-18 only. Registration required – click here to register.

Kids ages 9 to 18 are invited to Louisville Public Library on June 22 from 2:00-3:30 for Sewable Circuits – Make Your Own Constellation. Create your own starry scene while learning about basic circuitry.

Registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Enjoy time with your family as you create a Recycled Artwork: Alien Space Station (ex. alien, planet, landrover, spaceship & etc). Use what you have laying around the house (ex. water bottles, egg cartons, cardboard, paper towel/toilet paper rolls, newspaper & etc.) Bring your creation to the Hayden Public Library by July 1 at 6:00 pm.

Join Buena Vista Public Library on June 27 for Rocket-In Movie Night! Bring a card-board box to turn into a spaceship or space contraption if you can (extra boxes will be available). Box Decorating begins at 5:45 pm, and the movie starts at 6:00 pm.

Make awesome Rockets and Robots with Gary Weston out of recycled and spare parts at La Veta Public Library on June 26 at 2:00.

From the Boiler Room. [Image courtesy of the Steamboat Pilot, Volume 101, Number 46, June 12, 1986. Accessed via the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection]

Learning for All

The High Plains Library District will be hosting the 4th Adult Programming Summit on August 9th at Riverside Library and Cultural Center (Evans, CO). Adult librarians and library programmers are invited to share fresh ideas for programming and partnerships, take part in some interesting insightful presentations and breakout sessions, and get advice and tips from other colleagues around the state. For more information, contact Maggie Shawcross at mshawcross@highplains.us or register here.  Space is limited to first 50 participants, so register soon.

Creature Features

Did you know that some of the fantastical beasts from the popular books and movies are real-life creatures? Join Garfield County Library on June 25 at 11:30 for Nature’s Educators: Animals of the Wizarding World where you’ll be introduced to some of the animals, learn about their role in the story, their habitat, diet, and natural history.

Kids in grades K-5 are invited to join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters at Poudre River Public Library  for an Animal Afternoon on July 7 at 3:00 pm. Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals.

Goats return to Anythink this June! Community members of all ages are invited to meet the friendly goats of Caramel Apple Farm at their local Anythink. An annual summer tradition, the goats provide an opportunity for visitors to learn first-hand about these fascinating, quirky creatures. All goat visits will take place from 10:00 am-2:00 pm:

The goats are coming... to Anythink in June
Image courtesy of Anythink Libraries.

Spiderman and Ironman have nothing on the Denver Zoo’s amazing ZOOperheroes.  Families with children ages 3 and older are invited to Bemis Library to learn about Denver Zoo animals that have fantastic adaptations which help them survive the perils of the natural world.  This event takes place on July 2 from 3:00-4:00 pm.

Museums & Libraries in the News

The Journal-Advocate reports Logan County Commissioners urged to divert Bookmobile funds to local libraries. Sterling Public Library Superintendent Sandy VanDusen told the commissioners the bookmobile concept has all but outlived its usefulness due to increased mobility, technology, and the availability of eBooks. She also noted that she’s only one member of the six-member Bookmobile board of directors, and her view is in the minority.

‘Take Note Colorado’ Helps Put Music Back Into Schools, Build Community. As reported by CBS 4 Denver, over the next few months, Denver Public Library branches will transform into mini music studios as part of a bigger push to get music back into the community.

For nearly 30 years, School District 51 has collected and given away used books ranging from novels to textbooks, picture books, and dictionaries. Read more about it in District finds new homes for old books from The Daily Sentinel.

Westminster Public Library’s STEM & Space Exploration Exhibit Is Out Of This World, reports CBS 4 Denver.

What’s New at the Colorado State Library

Library Related Employment:

Are you thinking of making a change this year in your job?  Check out Library Jobline’s slick new look, and find hot library employment opportunities.

Summit County also has an opening for a Library Associate at the South Branch in Breckenridge – click HERE for more info or to apply.

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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