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.
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Now, let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!
Learn Something New
Join Jefferson County Public Library for their next call-in program, The American Cowboy with Active Minds, on September 24 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Listen from anywhere as they peel back the mythology, explain the Spanish Colony’s influence, and trace the development of the American Cowboy. To join, call 303-502-5189 or visit www.uberconference.com/jcplhomeservices. Or, to be called at the time of the program, pre-register at 303-275-6173.
Local historians and published authors Dr. Sandra Mather, Bill Fountain, and Rick Hague will present an informational session on nonfiction research methods and processes, August 28 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at Summit County Library’s South Branch.
Are you curious about learning more about bitcoin and similar online currencies? High Plains Library District is offering a friendly introduction during Cryptocurrency: What is it and how do I use it to buy a pizza? Join them on September 14 from 10:15 am to 12:15 pm at Centennial Park Library.
Libraries in the News
Congratulations to Elektra Greer, the new director of Nederland Community Library! The library announced the appointment in their August 2018 Newsletter.
The Lyons Recorder reported that Lyons Library Director Katherine Weadley will be leaving the library to join the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC). Read Library Director Advancing to New Position.
Supporting Families
Lafayette Public Library is hosting Comfort Quilts, a monthly program where anyone can help create quilts that will be handed out to children in need by Lafayette fire and police officers. Even if you don’t sew you can still write encouraging words on a quilt square. The next meeting is September 8 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Poudre River Public Library District’s latest blog post promotes their home school resources for students, families, and educators, including a brand-new home school resource portal. Learn even more at their Homeschool Fair on August 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Old Town Library.
Arapahoe Libraries presents Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, nationally renowned pediatrician and early literacy advocate, August 29 at Smoky Hill Library and August 30 at Koelbel Library. His workshop, Prescription for Early Learning: Small Ways to Make a Big Impact, explores the role of reading in brain development. Reserve your spot.
Recycled Art
Bemis Public Library is hosting Altered Art, a teen craft class using repurposed objects, August 18 at 2:00 pm. The library will provide supplies and instruction. Registration required.
Lake County Public Library also invites participants to make art with re-purposed materials including old computers and other electronics. Join them this Saturday, August 18 at 9:00 am for Take Apart Make Some Art.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Celebrate the opening of the Colorado International Chinese Calligraphy Exhibit, which includes 70 pieces of art that capture the essence of the art and beauty of Chinese calligraphy and painting. The Aurora Public Library is hosting a reception on August 25 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at the Central Library.
The tomato harvest is upon us! Pay your homage to this delectable fruit (or is it a vegetable?) by entering Delta County Libraries’ 2018 Tomato Haiku Contest now through August 31.
Rampart Library District is hosting a Death Cafe on August 29 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. The event is intended to create awareness about death and to help people make the most of their lives. Refreshments will be served.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Book Club Resource Survey
Does your library check out book club sets from the Colorado State Library? Please help us improve this service by answering this short survey. Thank you!
ALA Conference: STEM and Rural Libraries
ARSL President Kieran Hixon presented a poster session at the ALA Annual Conference on the challenges and opportunities of STEM in rural libraries. Read his reflections.
Learning Opportunities
CSL in Session, Getting Unstuck: The Secret Life of Procrastinators, with Jean Heilig & Christine Kreger.
- Sept. 20, 2018, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
- Free; no registration needed; join online
CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy) Conference
- Oct. 12, 2018, 8:00 to 4:30
- Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
View other upcoming learning opportunities for August 2018. For Colorado-specific events check the Library Learning & Creation Center.
#GetToKnowCSL Wrap-Up
From March to June 2018 we ran #GetToKnowCSL, a social media campaign designed to put a human face on the Colorado State Library. We hope this campaign helped you feel more connected to the staff members who make this such a vibrant organization. All of the profiles are now available in in this wrap-up post.
Plains to Peaks Collective (PPC)
School is back in session, and soon students and teachers will be looking for primary sources for their research projects. Did you know that the Plains to Peaks Collective (PPC) has over 46,000 digital objects (photos, oral history recordings, maps, etc.) available in the Digital Public Library of America? This free resource is great way to discover unique collections held by libraries and museums across the country—including Colorado and Wyoming! Search the DPLA.
Colorado State Publications Library
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 Amy Hitchner, ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org. Also, be sure to follow Colorado State Library on Twitter and Facebook.
- 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