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!
Game On!
Mancos Public Library is celebrating gaming for all ages during their fifth annual International Games Event.
- Teen Fortnite Battle Royale, Nov. 3, 7:00-10:00 pm
- Pokémon for Youth, Nov. 7, 4:15-6:15 pm
- Community Gaming, Nov. 9 & 10, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
- Gaming for Youth, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:15 pm
- Teen Game Night, Nov. 16, 7:00-10:00 pm
The next meeting of Aurora Public Library’s Pokémon Go Club is October 21 from 11:45 to 3:00 pm. Meet other trainers to trade, catch, and walk with as you hunt Pokémon on the Aurora Municipal Campus. New and veteran players are welcome.
Science and Fiction
Poudre River Public Library District welcomes award-winning novelist Todd Mitchell for Making the Strange Believable: Secrets for Writing Sci-Fi & Fantasy, on October 19 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. Registration required. This workshop is part of the 2018 Fort Collins Book Fest: The Big Think.
Arapahoe Libraries is holding a Geek Out Contest for teens from Oct. 1-31. Teens are encouraged to submit a representation of their favorite fandom for a chance to win a cool prize. Cosplay creators can show off their designs at a special Cosplay Catwalk event on Oct. 27. The awards ceremony will be held on Nov. 10.
Celebrate Star Wars Reads Day on October 12 at Lafayette Public Library. Families can stop by between 10:00 and 5:00 for Star Wars-themed crafts and books.
As part of their Brown Bag Science series, Broomfield Library will host astronomer Bill Bendel for Cruising Beyond Saturn, October 13 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Learn the latest news about distant planets beyond our solar system and whether any could support life. Ages 15+ ; registration required.
Community Art
Join Pine River Library for their Community Art Show Artist Reception on Friday, October 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The reception will kick off their Second Annual Community Art Show, which runs from October through December and features works from over 25 artists from the Bayfield area.
Anythink Wright Farms wants your help creating a community photography exhibit about the Kitchen Table, a celebration of family gatherings and community. Submit your digital pictures online, or stop by the library on October 15 between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm for help digitizing older photos.
Libraries Making News
Post Independent: Garfield Library District on local ballot to keep existing revenue
Fox 21 News: Find Out Why the President of the American Library Association Thinks Libraries are So Important
Congratulations to Sharon Nemechek on her new role as Director of Library & Museum Services for the City of Louisville. Her most recent position was Director of Archives & Collections for Douglas County Libraries. Read the announcement.
The Carnegie Public Library in Trinidad was recently awarded a CHRAB grant to improve their archive. They plan to protect, preserve, and catalog archival materials in order to improve accessibility for researchers. Read more about the CHRAB ReGrant program.
Boulder Public Library’s George Reynolds Branch is turning 50! Join the library on October 13 for a day of special events, including a historical photo game, sing-along, time capsule ceremony, music, and refreshments.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Reading expert Kim Schulz will present Reading on Their Own – Tips and Tricks for Parents, an informative session on strategies for guiding beginning readers. Join her at Bud Werner Memorial Library on October 21 at 1:30 pm.
UNC Libraries will host a public reception for their Reflections on Rwanda gallery exhibit, October 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The exhibit will be on display in the Mari Michener Gallery through November 2, 2018.
Montrose Regional Library now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. State Department. The service is available by appointment on evenings and weekends. Email or call the library at 970-964-2572 to schedule an appointment.
What’s New at the Colorado State Library
Digital Literacy
Learn the latest educational technology news and opportunities in the October edition of The Learning Edge.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Digital Literacy Instructional Specialist Christine Schein shares resources to help educators and students stay safe online.
Learning Opportunities
CSL in Session: “Radical Cataloging: Using alternative subject headings locally to promote inclusiveness and diversity”
- Oct. 16, 2018, 12:00 to 1:00
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
CSL in Session: “Curating your Best Collection”
- Oct. 23, 2018, 12:00 to 1:00
- Free! No registration required
- Join online
View other upcoming learning opportunities for October 2018. For Colorado-specific events check the Library Learning & Creation Center.
Colorado Online High School
Kayah Swanson, Public Relations Specialist at Pikes Peak Library District, published a guest post on Colorado Virtual Library that highlighted two new graduates of the Colorado Online High School program. Read about their journeys and how COHS helped them achieve their goals. Locals Receive Diploma Thanks to Free Library Program.
Out and About
CSL staff members Melissa Carlson and Teresa Allen recently visited the Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center for Youth Library Staff Training Day; they presented sessions on the Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, seasonal reading programs, and managing magazines.
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