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.
Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!
Sharing Experiences
The Colorado Mesa University Library, in conjunction with the school’s International Program, hosts a series of Cultural Cafés each semester where students, faculty, and staff share their experiences travelling, living, studying, and working abroad. Join the next Cultural Café on February 14 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm, when CMU’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Cynthia Pemberton, will share her experience as a recent Fullbright Scholar in Jordan. View this event and more on CMU library’s events page.
Have you ever wanted to quit your job and travel the world? Join travelers Brian and Heather Blankenmeister as their share their tips for making that dream a reality, January 27 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at Summit County Library South Branch.
Join the Gilpin County Public Library for Mountain Light in the Darkness, an evening of prose and poetry from local authors whose works appear in the Peak-to-Peak literary anthology Under the Devil’s Thumb. The event is January 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Weekend Fun
Security Public Library is treating the women of their community to an evening of rest and relaxation. The 3rd Annual Ladies Night Out is January 25 at French Elementary and will feature chair massages, yoga, tai chi, essential oils, smoothies, card making, and refreshments, plus a free goody bag for the first 100 ladies in the door.
Sing your way into the weekend with Karaoke at Lamar Public Library, January 19 at 4:00 pm.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Boulder Public Library’s next U-Fix-It Hands-On Repair Clinic is January 21 from 1:00-4:00 pm at BLDG 61 Makerspace. Bring something you’d like to fix and get help from U-Fix-It Clinic coaches, or work on your own with the available tools and supplies. Register online.
Louisville Public Library is seeking entries for their Spring 2018 Youth Art Show, which runs March 2 – March 31. Artists age 4-18 must submit their works by February 24. Door prizes will be drawn during the opening reception on March 1 from 5:30 to 7:30.
Learn about the history of the lodges, camps, and resorts of Rocky Mountain National Park. Bud Werner Memorial Library and Tread of Pioneers Museum present Lost Lodges of Rocky with storyteller Dave Lively, January 24 at 6:30 pm.
Anythink York Street is seeking homeschool families that would like to help plan future homeschool events, activities, and meetups. Join them for Homeschoolers Unite! on February 16 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
Libraries in the News
Colorado Public Radio’s Colorado Matters featured a story about the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of the Museum of Western Colorado and the Mesa County Library. Listen to the interview with Librarian Noel Kalenian.
9news reported that Arapahoe Libraries is joining a growing movement of libraries that are reducing or eliminating fines. They are ditching late fees for books returned within 30 days of the due date. Read the full story on 9news.com and the announcement from Arapahoe Libraries.
9news also reported that Pines & Plains Libraries (part of Elbert County Library District) are suing Elbert County commissioners over a policy that gives the commissioners more control over appointments to library boards and committees. Read the full story.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Online Learning
Growing Readers Together webinar: Incorporating Play and Movement into Storytime. Jan 23, 2018, 10:00-11:00 am MDT. Join the Adobe Connect room. Free; no registration required.
Growing Readers Together webinar: Partnerships between Public Libraries and Family Resource Centers. Jan 30, 2018, 1:00-2:00 pm MDT. Join the Adobe Connect room. Free; no registration required.
RIPL webinar: Getting Things Done: Managing Your Time…When You Have No Time, with Shelley Walchak of Pine River Library. Jan 31, 2018, 10:00-11:00 am. Free; no registration required; limited to 100 participants.
CSL in Session webinar: Baby-Friendly Libraries. Feb 20, 2018, 12:00-1:00 pm MDT. Free; no registration required.
The Library, or, La Biblioteca
Pamela Mejia of Growing Readers Together welcomes all new patrons to the library! In her latest post, she describes some of the differences she’s noticed between libraries in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, her birth country. Post available in English and Spanish.
2018 Teen Video Challenge
Encourage teens at your library to enter the 2018 Teen Video Challenge, sponsored by the Collaborative Summer Learning Program. This year’s theme is music. Contest deadline is Feb 28; winners will be announced in April 2018.
Colorado State Publications Library Blog
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