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 (October 18th), as I will be out of town for a conference – but as always, feel free to send me your news and events for the October 25th edition.
Now into the Bag!
Gone Clubbing
Denver Public Library’s Get Lit Pop Up Book Club finishes up 2019 at Stem Ciders with a discussion of Tracy Chevalier’s At the Edge of the Orchard on October 22 from 6:00-7:30 pm. Set in the harsh pioneer years of the 1830s-50s, Chevalier’s excellently researched novel brings to life a seminal chapter in American history, reaching from the frontier swampland of Ohio to the seedy towns of California in the Gold Rush. Enjoy a book discussion with optional cider/pairing flight ($20 p/p) with back room notes from Stem Ciders.
Join Bud Werner Memorial Library’s Parenting Book Club discussion of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, the Parent Connection 2019 Summit selection, and discover practical tools you need to transform your parenting in a positive, proven way. The Parenting Book Club will meet on October 28, and December 4, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. and is facilitated by local professionals: Beth Wendler, Eddie Konold, Kim Schulz, and Tom Valand.
Park It
Throughout October, Garfield County Libraries hosts Fun and Games with Your State Parks, a family-friendly way to explore the many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in Garfield County. Whether hiking, fishing, floating, hunting, birding, biking, sledding, or anything else is what draws you to the great outdoors, join Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s naturalist Jeff (and former high school quiz bowl team captain) for a family-friendly hour of trivia and games at your local library. Click HERE for dates and times.
Join Mesa County Libraries and ranger/naturalist Greg Gnesios for Our National Parks: America’s Best Idea – A Concise and Insider History of the National Park Service, a fascinating tour of the history of the National Parks Service on October 17 at 12:00 pm. This program, which is part of the ongoing monthly Oral History Meeting and is open to the public at no charge.
It’s Instrumental
Pine River Library hosts Thom Chacon in Concert on October 19 from 7:00-8:00 pm. The local Durango singer-songwriter and fly fishing guide will play his soulful Americana and folk tunes for all. This event was made possible by Pine River Arts, a local non-profit devoted to supporting and promoting arts and culture in the Pine River Valley. For more information and a full schedule of their events visit https://pineriverarts.org/.
Kids ages 0 (infant) through 8 are invited to Jefferson County Public Library for Bradley Weaver Concert: Meet the Instruments on October 12 from 1:00-2:00 pm. Explore instruments like the acoustic guitar, resonator, ukulele, harmonica and autoharp while playing and sharing each instrument’s special story. Celebrate with music on this special day that also features Olde Town Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows.
Discovery and appreciate fine craftsmanship and stringed instrument creation at Vail Public Library’s Sensational & Super Seniors – Stringed Instrument Creation on October 16 at 1:30 pm with Eagle County woodworker, Dennis Laird. As a luthier (builder of stringed instruments), Laird designs and hand-crafts acoustic guitars, ukuleles, old-time banjos, mandolins and bouzoukis. Enjoy an afternoon of Laird’s designs and fashioned tools he uses in his craft.
Join Boulder Public Library on November 17 from 3:00-3:45 pm for Sensory Friendly Concert: “The Joy of Living”. Enjoy a relaxed, inviting concert-atmosphere with violin, cello, piano, ukulele, and vocalists! Families with young children and persons with disabilities are particularly invited: join premier Denver trio, “A Touch of Class,” along with Benjamin Tarasewicz (performer and international speaker on autism) for a varied program of classical and popular favorites, plus original songs.
Fall Festivals
The Fort Collins Book Fest: Food for Thought kicks off on October 18, with writing workshops at Poudre River Public Library’s Old Town Library, an evening literary reading and authors sharing their books about beer, cooking, and brewing. The festival continues October 19 with nearly 40 activities including the opening keynote by acclaimed author Rick Bass and the final evening presentation with award-winning chef Sean Sherman. The complete schedule is available online at www.FoCoBookFest.org/2019-festival/schedule/.
Mancos Public Library will host a Harvest Festival on October 19 from 3:00-6:00 pm, featuring stories about the growing season, a potluck, music by Jamie and the Dreamers, and returns to the Seed Lending Library, a program MPL offers which allows locals to borrow heritage or organic seeds for planting.
Museums and Libraries in the News
Aspen Art Museum wins federal grant to fund rural programs | The Aspen Times
The Aspen Art Museum has been awarded a $102,000 IMLS grant to support its new three-year Rural Arts Connect initiative.
Read In Ned: Lunch Boxes And #Library Cards | The Mountain Ear
Elektra Greer, director of Nederland Community Library invites students to pack their library cards your sense of wonder, and visit the library!
75 years after internment, librarians give voice to Japanese and Japanese American history | CU Boulder Today
CU Boulder Japanese and Korean Studies librarian Adam Lisbon, head of archives Megan Friedel launched the Japanese and Japanese American Community History Project in August, and are conducting interviews, digitizing records, and collecting new archival material in time for the 75th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt suspending Japanese incarceration in the United States.
Vive la difference | North Forty News
Creed Kidd, director of Red Feather Lakes Community Library reminds us how interlibrary loan via AspenCat and SWIFT, allows the library to support a variety of tastes in reading and media.
Multiple fundraisers aid Moffat County Libraries in times of financial crunch | Craig Daily Press
The future of Moffat County Libraries is looking brighter as community members and local businesses continue to show up in support through fundraisers and donations.
Give and Take
Help your fellow library staff around the country not reinvent the wheel by sharing your programs on Library Program Helper.org. This grant funded project is live and seeking contributions from librarians and library staff like you. All topics are welcome (and needed). Other library staff can then access your contributions by clicking on Ready to Go Programs on the home page.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Colorado Virtual Library
Dyslexia Awareness Month
October is International Dyslexia Awareness Month and we’ve rounded up some resources and information to help you learn more and spread the word.
Geeking on Spreadsheets – Bag of Tricks
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I wish I could make one spreadsheet out of five different spreadsheets – One Spreadsheet to Rule Them All!” this piece is for you!
Learning Edge
Learning Edge October #1
This edition highlights the many national awareness events held in October including Digital Citizenship, Bullying Prevention, Dyslexia, and Cybersecurity Awareness.
Learning Opportunities
GRT@YourLibrary: Explore & Examine with Kate & Melody
- October 22 @ 12:00-1:00pm
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
CSL in Session: Playing Well with Others – At Work
- October 24 @ 12:00-1:00pm
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
State Publications Library
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.
- Library Manager 2: Pikes Peak Library District (Manitou Springs Library and UTE Pass Library) / Manitou Springs, CO
- Program Director III – Learning Commons: Aims Community College / Greeley, CO
- Librarian – Teen Services: High Plains Library District (Farr Regional Library) / Greeley, CO
- Director of Parks, Recreation and Library Services: City of Englewood / Englewood, CO
- Librarian – Youth Services: Aurora Public Library / Aurora, CO
- Facilities Specialist: Pikes Peak Library District (East Library) / Colorado Springs, CO
- Technology Manager: Mancos Public Library / Mancos, 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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