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, a couple of housekeeping items: First, in April 2020, One Book Colorado will be giving away 75,000 books to Colorado four-year-olds and, starting today, voting for the winning title is open! Voters will have until November 22, 2019 to head over to the One Book Colorado website, watch video recordings of readings in both English and Spanish, pick your favorite, and vote! Second, the Friday Grab Bag is taking a short hiatus and will return on November 15, 2019.
Now into the bag!
NaNoWriMo
Today marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), when writers (aka, Wrimos) have from November 1-30 to write a novel and lots of Colorado libraries are participating as Come Write In partners. Check the full list of registered locations and get busy writing!
Boulder Public Library hosts Write Your Story Writing Class on November 1 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm (and most first Fridays of the month) Using guided writing exercises, author Lisa Jones will help you get your story — whether it’s fictional or autobiographical — down on the page. No writing experience is required; just bring are your writing instrument of choice, your open heart and mind and a willingness to write!
Just in time for NaNoWriMo, the Ignacio Community Library is revamping its Writers’ Group. The group will meet on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 5:00 pm. The first Thursday meeting will be centered around specific writing concepts/techniques, while the third Thursdays will be for in-house writing time as well as group/peer critiques. No registration is required by snacks will be provided.
Lafayette Public Library invites kids and teens in grades K-12 to submit a short story (500 words or less) between November 1 and November 30 for the National Novel Writing Month Contest (NaNoWriMo) for a chance to win prizes or have your entry featured on the LPL Books and Beyond blog! Follow this LINK to submit your story before November 30!
Join Bemis Library and fellow writers of all ages on November 1 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm for a National Novel Writing Month Kick-Off Party! Enjoy snacks, creative writing games, pick up a writer’s care package (including a motivational calendar and pencil, while supplies last), and get entered into the door-prize drawing for one of three $10 gift cards to Tattered Cover! No registration required.
Bring a laptop, some creativity and questions about the writing process to NaNoWriMo Write-In with Laura Brashear at High Plains Library District’s Carbon Valley Regional Library on November 14 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm.
Veteran’s Day
Join Arapahoe Libraries and swing back in time with the World War II era-inspired harmonies of The Denver Dolls: Live Patriotic Tunes on November 3 from 2:00-3:00 pm. This vintage, all-female trio will delight you with nostalgic songs from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s.
Museums & Libraries in the News
Olympic Museum has a special mission: a beacon to the disabled | The Gazette
The Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs aims to be a shining beacon of Olympic and Paralympic hopes, dreams, and values.
Library director: ‘It’s been a while’ | Telluride Daily Planet
On Nov 5, the San Miguel Public Library District will ask voters, via Ballot Issue 6A, to approve a .75 mill levy increase for the first time in 22 years.
Opening Durango library on Sundays is crucial | The Durango Herald
While most Durango city departments have returned to pre-recession staffing levels and schedules, the Durango Public Library remains closed on Sunday.
City of Craig proposes to take on funding for Museum of Northwest Colorado | Craig Press
The City of Craig, Moffat County, and the Museum of Northwest Colorado may have found a way to save the city’s historic museum.
City of Denver seeks Colorado artists for commissioned work in 2 libraries | Fox 31 Denver
The city and county of Denver is seeking Colorado artists to create commissioned work for two libraries.
2019 Is A Big Election Year For Colorado Public Libraries | CPR News
Eleven Colorado counties and cities will have measures on November’s ballot connected to funding for public library service.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Denver Museum of Nature and Science is offering 100% off of any of the Museum’s Curiosity Kits for delivery to rural locations around the state (90 minutes or more away from downtown Denver) with promocode: freecuriosity. Each kit is designed around a STEM topic and can be delivered anywhere UPS delivers and kept for one entire week. Availability is limited to act fast to reserve a spot online at: www.dmns.org/learn/offsite-at-your-place/!
Celebrate the diversity of cultures on the Western Slope at Mesa County Libraries’ Culture Fest, a day of friendship, entertainment, and connection. Enjoy tables and displays representing countries from around the world, crafts and events for children, musical and dancing entertainment. The fun kicks off on November 2 at 11:00 am and is open to the public at no charge.
Old School Games
Grab your friends and drop by Basalt Regional Library to learn How to Play Bridge on November 9 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. No previous experience necessary, beginners to advanced players are welcome.
B-I-N-G-O! Teens are invited to Teen Third Friday: Bingo! with Pikes Peak Library District on November 15 from 4:00-5:30pm. Snacks provided! Prizes for the winners!
Learning for All
Innovative Inspire Showcase
December 3 @ 10:30 am
What is the Inspire vision? And how is it different from just another MARC-based system? Join iii at Auraria Library for a day to learn more about this new, state-of-the-art platform that delivers library experiences designed to meet people’s expectations of modern software solutions. RSVP today to reserve your seat.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Colorado Virtual Library
Touring Colorado’s Collections: Clear Creek County Digital Collection
Get to know Clear Creek County through their newly launched digital repository, created in partnership with the Colorado State Library’s CVL Collections program! Do you have a digital collection that you would like to share online? We can help! Contact me at mwood@coloradovirtuallibrary.org for more info.
Trustee Corner – October 2019
The Trustee Corner is a monthly series featuring information of interest to public library boards.
Website Accessibility
Can people with disabilities understand, navigate, and interact with your website? We’re kicking off a series of articles that will help you evaluate your website, and fix common issues.
State Publications Library
Learning Opportunities
CSL In Session: Supporting Developing Readers at the Library: Outreach for K-3rd Graders
- November 4 @ 12:00-1:00pm
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
GRT@YourLibrary: Innovate & Inspire with Gail & Kate
- November 5 @ 12:00-1:00pm
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
CSL In Session: Conducting the Reference Interview: How to Ask Better Questions to Make Customers Happy
- November 6 @ 12:00-1:00pm
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
CSL In Session: Unearthing Seed Money: Locating grants to fund your project (The Colorado Edition)
- November 14 @ 12:00-1:00pm
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
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.
- Teen Librarian – Golden Library: Jefferson County Public Libraries / Golden, CO
- Campus Supervisor: Longmont Public Library / Longmont, CO
- Research Assistant: Colorado State Library / Denver, 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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