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 bottom. Let’s open the Grab Bag!
National Library Week is April 9-15, so look for announcements for special events and programs from your library in the coming weeks. Follow library events around the country on social media using the hashtags #NationalLibraryWeek and #LibrariesTransform. Vail Public Library and Delta County Libraries are getting the spirit by offering fine amnesty for overdue books. Check with each library for more details.
Fun for Kids and Teens
Douglas County Libraries is one of the sponsors of the 2017 Summer Camp and Activities Fair, April 2 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the CU Denver South campus in Parker. The Summer Camp & Activities Fair is a one-stop-shop event designed to give families the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the best camps, summer activities, and more in and around Douglas County.
Louisville Library wants tweens and teens to design interactive picture books using maker technologies like 3D design and printing, circuitry, and sound. The library is partnering with CU Science Discovery to offer a month of workshops that will get teens thinking like designers.
- April 2: 3D Design & Prototyping
1:00 – 3:00 pm - April 9: 3D Design & Printing (using TinkerCad)
1:00 – 3:00 pm - April 23: 3D Design & Printing II (using TinkerCad)
1:00 – 3:00 pm - April 30: Circuitry & Sound (using Makey Makey)
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Library Anniversaries
Tread of Pioneers Museum in Steamboat Springs is celebrating the 50th anniversaries of Bud Werner Memorial Library and Colorado Mountain College with an exhibit from March 24 – September 24, 2017.
Celebrate Eagle Public Library’s 20th anniversary with special guest John Fielder! Join the popular nature photographer for a reception on April 12 at 6:00 pm. Watch a multimedia presentation, learn photography tips, and hear stories behind Mr. Fielder’s photographs of Holy Cross and Eagles Nest Wildernesses.
Gardens and Coops
Are you curious about what’s involved with raising backyard chickens? Local expert Jim Admire will give a presentation at Broomfield Library on Sunday, April 2 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. Learn about local Broomfield regulations and how to start your own coop.
Summit County can be a tricky place to garden because of the short growing season, but South Branch Library is here to help with a Seed Planting Workshop on April 12 at 5:30 pm. Master gardeners from the High Country Conservation Center will be on hand to answer questions and instruct participants about how to start seeds indoors.
Artists at the Library
Gilpin County Public Library is hosting an artist reception for Rebeccah Joyce of Mountainjoy Quilts in celebration of her new exhibit at the library. Meet Ms. Joyce and enjoy some refreshments on April 4 at 6:00 pm.
John C. Fremont Library’s featured artist in April is actually a duo: Emily Vanwey and Buffy Avila are B.E. Crafty, and together they create handmade decor and one-of-a-kind art with recycled objects. Their series will be on display at the library throughout April. Emily will also lead a workshop for teens on reclaimed art on April 6. Meet B.E. Crafty during an artist reception on April 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Library organizations around the country are campaigning to #SaveIMLS. IMLS, the federal agency that provides much-needed library funds to states, is at risk of being eliminated from the budget. Colorado receives $2.7M annually from LSTA funds distributed by IMLS, and these funds support such programs as Colorado Talking Book Library, One Book 4 Colorado, Read to the Children, Check Out Colorado State Parks, and many more. ALA’s website lists ways that you can advocate for library funding, including encouraging your House representative to sign IAL and LSTA “Dear Appropriator” letters by April 3.
On March 29, volunteers gathered at Colorado Talking Book Library to prepare for One Book 4 Colorado, a program that distributes 75,000 copies of one book, chosen by vote, to all Colorado 4-year-olds. Volunteers spent the morning packing boxes to be distributed to every public library, military library, and Denver Preschool Program classroom. The winning title will be revealed at the launch party on April 17.
Before Garden of the Gods became a popular tourist attraction in Colorado Springs, it was a sacred Ute gathering and burial site. Arian’s recent post on CVL explores the history of this stunning landmark using sources found in the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.
Another resource for history buffs on CVL is a biography of Black Kettle, a 19th century Cheyenne chief and peace negotiator who was present at the Sand Creek Massacre. Read the entire post.
The Colorado State Publications Library blog is packed with interesting and useful resources. Check out their most recent posts:
- Colorado Coal Resources
- Time Machine Tuesday: Education in Early Colorado
- Colorado Governors: John Evans
This post is part of the Spotlight on Sharing initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of resource sharing in Colorado libraries. How is your library sharing? We’d love to hear about it! Email Amy Hitcher, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org. On Twitter follow @hitchlib and use the hashtag #spotlightonsharing.
- 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