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 the grab bag is taking a short hiatus and will return on June 5th.
Now into the bag…
Good Vibrations
Friends of the Pine River Library saw an enormous outpouring of community support in their efforts on behalf of the Navajo Nation Supply Drive this past weekend. Originally thinking they would need 3-4 drivers to transport donations from Bayfield to Farmington, NM, they ended up needing 9, and a second trip. The load will go from Farmington to Window Rock, where the Navajo Nation is headquartered, and tribal leaders will distribute the goods throughout the 3-state community based on need.
Earlier this month, Montrose Regional Library District launched Home Delivery of library materials using their outreach van. The book fairies received a particularly heart warming thank you from one patron. Reading does rock! And, librarians are superheroes!
The Mesa County Libraries Discovery Garden project is a series of interactive and demonstrative gardens that provides education, food, respite, and community engagement. The goal of the garden is to promote nutrition literacy as well as a designated space for quiet relaxation and general enjoyment where people of the community can pick their own food and experience educational programs.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Bud Werner Memorial Library’s Steamboat Uke Jammers Club is starting a new trend – for each month that offers a 5th Friday (that includes May 2020), they’ll pick a famous artist and jam to as many of their tunes as possible. For May, they’ve selected John Denver, for a Rocky Mountain High 5th Friday virtual ukulele jam session on May 29 from 4:00-5:00 pm. Registration required.
Lamar Public Library’s 2020 Creative Writing Contest is in full swing. Contestants are invited to enter one original work in each category – Fiction Short Story, Non-Fiction Short Story, Poetry, Six Word Story, Theme: Life Before the Pandemic, and Short-Short Story (250 words of fewer). Entries should be submitted by June 1 to be eligible for cash prizes with weekly winners featured on the library website.
Museums and Libraries in the News
Many hands make light work
Not only is correcting text fun and a bit addictive, but it makes historic details easier to find. Learn more and get in on the action with Veridian Software’s handy new guide to text correction.
Coronavirus Closed Denver’s Libraries, Leaving The City’s Homeless Disconnected | CPR News
Denver Public Library’s Central Branch plays an unofficial role as the city’s largest day shelter. With branches closed, many unhoused people are without a way to access essential resources.
Designing resilient libraries for a post-covid world | Building Design + Construction
An architectural approach to what libraries can do in the short term and long term to adapt spaces and behaviors in order to ensure that our communities remain safe and resilient in the face of future pandemics.
Bennet cosponsors $4 billion Internet connectivity proposal | Colorado Politics
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has joined the Senate Democratic caucus in cosponsoring a bill providing $4 billion to ensure Internet connectivity for students learning remotely during the pandemic.The money would go to schools and libraries for the provision of wireless hotspots, equipment and devices used by students, employees and library patrons.
The President’s Diaries: Transcribers needed for CSU history project | Source
The Colorado State University Libraries need volunteers to help preserve University history by transcribing four handwritten diaries from Charles A. Lory, CSU’s longest-serving President.
Learning For All
Why Futurists Can’t Predict the Future, And How You Can | May 26 @ 12:00 pm MDT
Learn 14 principles that can improve your accuracy when you’re peering into your crystal ball.
Online Tools for Content Creation and Virtual Meetings (Mid-America Library Alliance) | May 28 @ 1:00-2:00 pm
This free 60-minute webinar provides resources for librarians to utilize while working remotely and highlight important tools that no librarian should be without.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Learning Opportunities
Register Now for Deconstructing Equity with Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler
Registration for “Deconstructing Equity” with Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler is now open! Mark your calendar for June 11 from 2:00-4:00 pm for this free online workshop.
Free online learning opportunities for May
Check out all of the FREE online learning opportunities that the Wyoming State Library has curated!
Library Research Service
Correlation doesn’t equal causation (but it does equal a lot of other things)
Correlation ≠ causation, but it does = a lot of other things! Learn what correlation is, how it’s different than causation, and why it’s useful in this week’s Between a Graph and a Hard Place.
Colorado Virtual Library
CHNC Contest Results and More Text Correcting Opportunities!
In April, CHNC ran a text correction contest that resulted in 66 people correcting over 120K lines of text in 14 days! You too can hold a local competition, and we can help.
Trustee Corner – May 2020
The May edition of Trustee Corner has resources to help restore library services safely, and much more.
2020 Teen Video Challenge Is On!
Looking for an easy program to share with your teens that they can do at home this summer? The Teen Video Challenge is back for 2020!
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.
- Community Engagement Coordinator: Garfield County Libraries / Rifle, CO
- Technology and Innovation Manager: Garfield County Libraries / Rifle, CO
- Library Collections Manager: Garfield County Libraries / Rifle, CO
- Youth Services Coordinator: Buena Vista Public Library / Buena Vista, CO
- Staff Trainer: Garfield County Libraries / Rifle, CO
- Linux System Administrator: ByWater Solutions (Telecommute position)
- On Site Librarian: Action Staffing Solutions / Lakewood, CO
- Department Head Youth Services: Douglas County Libraries / Lone Tree, CO
- Technology and Web Services Librarian: University of Colorado Law Library / Boulder, CO
- On Site Librarian: Action Staffing Solutions / Lakewood, CO
- IT Agile Project Manager: Denver Public Library / Denver, CO
- Patron Services Supervisor: High Plains Library District / Longmont, 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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