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 open the Friday Grab Bag, take a moment to consider nominating a person, a library, or a program for a Colorado Association of Libraries award. It is for all sizes and shapes of libraries and library adjacent companies and folks. If you’ve never nominated before or have any questions, contact Katherine Weadley, at kweadley@clicweb.org. For a list of 2019 Award Descriptions click HERE. Awards will be presented at CALCON 2019, Sept. 19-21. For the nomination form click HERE (you may need to scroll down a bit). Deadline for nominations is June 15th.
Don’t hesitate — nominate! Now into the bag.
Mother’s Day
The Colorado Railroad Museum invites you to celebrate all the wonderful mothers in our lives this May 11 and 12 with free admission for moms! Enjoy performances at 11:00 am & 1:00 pm from the Legendary Ladies honoring the women of the West, their courage, struggles, and legacies. Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum will have a traveling exhibit on display featuring quilts from their collection.
Mother’s, grandmas, mother-in-laws, step-moms, mothers figures, and/or foster moms, and their loved ones are cordially invited to Mother’s Day Tea courtesy of the Manitou Springs Library on May 18 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tea, treats, and a light lunch will be served. There will be activities for you and yours to do together, as well as group activities. Dressing up is encouraged, but not required. Please register each member of your party so we can prepare accordingly.
Let Conejos Library District do the baking for you at their Mother’s Day Bake Sale on May 11, starting at 9:00 am at LaJara Capulin Antonito. All proceeds will benefit the Summer Reading Program.
Join Dolores Public Library on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 pm for a Mother’s Day Weekend book talk featuring local authors and mother-daughter-duo Eberly & Sharon Mehesy.

Jefferson County Public Library invites you to make Mother’s Day magical on May 11 from 1:00-3:00 pm with your own unicorn planter! The Bookmobile has all the supplies to make a Unicorn Planter. Decorate your planter with a unicorn horn, flowers, and whatever else you can imagine! The Bookmobile visits the Ken Caryl Safeway, 12442 W. Ken Caryl Avenue in Littleton, CO
Museums and Libraries in the News
The Vail Daily reports that the Colorado Snowsports Museum finds new home for antique snowcat. The 950 Thiokol prototype snowcat was donated to the museum in 2004, and will go to its new home, Cozens Ranch Museum later this spring.
Author Susan Joy Paul sings the praises of Pikes Peak Library District’s Mountain of Authors even in her column in the Woodmen Edition. This yearly gathering allows attendees to meet local authors, publishers and representatives from writing and editing groups, and learn about writing, publishing and marketing from industry experts.
Grants and Funding Opportunities
Smart About Money and the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) is happy to announce that applications are now open for the Fall 2019 Library Reimbursement Program. Twice a year, Smart About Money and NEFE® provide funds for incentives to qualifying projects that promote financial education awareness. Applications for the Fall 2019 Library Reimbursement Program are due on Friday, June 7, 2019.
The Colorado Historical Records Advisory Board (CHRAB) is happy to announce this year’s funding opportunities from National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for continuing education scholarships in archival studies. Three scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to applicants interested in attending in or out of state courses given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) or professional conferences such as SAA’s Annual meeting. Applications are open from April 22, 2019 to June 29, 2019. To apply, fill out the application form at this link.
Explore the West
The University of Colorado’s Earth Sciences & Map Library will host a reception for the exhibition “Protect This Land: Making Change Through Visualization” on Friday May 17, from 12:00-2:00 pm in their branch library (in Benson building). Professor Melanie Yazzie and her star printmaking students, whose works are featured in the show, will offer remarks on how the works reflect the space and meanings of the diverse Western landscape.

Mancos Public Library offers kids ages 9-13 the opportunity to explore, build, hike, create, and play outdoors in their Outdoor Adventures program, from 3:00-5:00 pm through May 24. This program was developed by a team of educators, biologists, artists, outdoor recreation specialists and librarians who believe kids need an opportunity to explore, build, hike, create and work together in a kid centered community in the outdoors. Registration is required – download the form here and get out there.
Join Delta County Libraries at the Grand Mesa Arts and Events Center on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00pm for Voices of the Western Slope: Mosasaur Discovery. Gary Thompson and Joshua Lively will present a first-hand account of the discovery of the fossilized remains of a 35-ft mosasaur near Cedaredge, CO. Thompson discovered the remains in 1975 as a fifteen-year-old boy and Lively, a grad student from the University of Texas, has studied the them. Thompson and Lively will tell their unique stories and share interesting information about the mosasuar. In addition, Rob Gaston of Gaston Designs in Fruita will bring castings of the skeleton for attendees to view.
Eagle Valley Library District invites you to a The Wildlife of Eagle County on May 15 from 5:30-6:30 pm, with presenter Rick Spitzer. Learn about the impact that humans have had on local wildlife and what is necessary to reduce that impact.
Montrose Public Library hosts Library Voices: John Fielder on May 16 at 7:00 pm in the Jordan Room of the Holiday Inn Express. Colorado landscape photographer John Fielder will present Colorado: Black on White a new book and a slide show featuring over 200 of Fielder’s Colorado photographs. Fielder is a nationally renowned photographer, publisher, teacher, and environmentalist. Come for the photos, stay for the stories of life on the trail, and photo tips!
Students in grades K-5 are invited to STEAM Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm at Anythink Brighton. The May 21 event features Barr Lake Ranger Talk, where students will learn about a natural facet of Barr Lake State Park.
Join Red Feather Lakes Community Library and the new Red Feather Hiking club on May 20 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm to hike the beautiful trails in the Red Feather Lakes area and more. Hike difficulty and meeting locations will vary in difficulty and where we will meet. Make sure the library has your email address, or call the library at 970-881-2664 for information on the next hike. Wear comfortable clothing, hiking boots, bring warm water proof layers, water, snacks, and binoculars if you want to view wildlife. You can check out a pair at the library too!
Learning for Everyone
Free Archives and Digital Collections 101 Workshop (in person at UNC campus in Greeley, CO)
- June 27 & 28
- Free!
- Register Soon!
Photogrammetry, a way to build 3D models (in person at UW campus in Laramie, WY)
- May 20
- Free – no registration required!
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Learning Opportunities
CSL in Session: Supporting Developing Readers at the Library: Literacy-Based Programs for K-3rd Graders
- May 14, 2019, 12:00 to 1:00 pm MT
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
- May 14, 2019, 12:00 to 1:00 pm MT
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
Colorado State Publications Library Blog
Colorado Virtual Library
Oral Histories and Audio recording – Bag of Tricks
Kieran discusses audio recording and editing tools in the latest Bag of Tricks.
New Wyoming Collections added to the Digital Public Library of America
The Plains to Peaks Collective (PPC) is welcoming a new partner, the Park County Archives in Cody, WY!
Library Related Employment:
Are you thinking of making a change this year in your job? Check out Library Jobline for hot new library employment opportunities.
- District Librarian: Douglas County School District (District Media Center) / Douglas County, CO
- Library Tech – Innovation & Design Center: Douglas County School District (District Media Center) / Douglas County, CO
- Library Technician III: University of Denver Libraries (Main Library, Anderson Academic Commons) / Denver, CO
- Part-time 20 hour Wrangler: Anythink Libraries (Anythink Huron Street) / Thornton, CO
- Library Associate (2 Positions): High Plains Library District
- E-Marketing Specialist: High Plains Library District
- Districtwide Events and Experience Supervisor: High Plains Library District (Adminstration and Support Services) / Greeley, CO
- Part-time 25 hour Concierge: Anythink Libraries (Anythink Commerce City) / Commerce City, CO
- Applied Sciences Librarian: University of Colorado Boulder / Boulder, CO
- Director of Public Services: Grand County Library District (Central Services) / Grand County, CO
- Maintenance Technician: Grand County Library District (Central Services) / Grand County, CO
- Lead Teaching and Learning Librarian: Colorado College / Tutt Library
- Academic Technology Integrationist: Kent Denver School / Kent Denver School
Have a great weekend everyone!
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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