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 as well as images from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!

Library Events & Programs Learn Your Library

The Anythink Nature Library Grand Opening Event is August 8, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the brand-new 15 acre indoor-outdoor library in Thornton. You’ll enjoy live performances, family-friendly activities, story time led by Nature Library staff — and so much more.

At Vail Library’s Library 101: Library of Things on August 11, you’ll learn how to unlock the full potential of your library card by discovering resources like GoPro, yard games, tools, and more!

Discover all the amazing things about Englewood Public Library at Oh, The Places You’ll Go! – Library Open House on September 1 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Complete a passport by learning about library services, then enter it into a drawing for cool swag.

At Mesa County Libraries’ monthly 970West Studio Orientation, participants take their first step towards using the studio equipment. Join them for the next class and tour on August 8 at 10:00 am.

Use Your Imagination

Grand County Library District invites you to visit Fraser Library at the Fraser Mountain Mural Festival on August 8, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The library booth will have art supplies where you can unleash your inner artist and create your very own mural masterpiece.

Pueblo City-County Library District welcomes CSU-Pueblo Professor Lei Marquez for a lecture about the Mysterious Creatures of Cryptozoology on August 7, 2:00 pm, at Giodone Library. Participants will learn the history and lore behind some of the world’s mysterious and legendary “hidden animals.”

Delta County Libraries hosts Improv Games at Paonia Library every second Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm. Local theater instructor Natalie Haines shares imagination based activities for families, kids, and tweens.

Wonders of Nature

West Custer County Library will host Patrick Fiore of Custer County Public Health and Custer County Search & Rescue for Senior Trail Smarts: Safe Recreation Tips for Older Adults on August 11. Learn best practices for fun and safe outdoor adventures.

Basalt Regional Library invites you to explore the Skies Over Basalt on August 29 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. This immersive astronomy program will feature live telescope views of celestial bodies, engaging videos, and expert-guided discussion.

High Plains Library District is hosting Solar Astronomy, an interactive program about the science of the sun, at Erie Community Library on August 7. Participants will get a chance to directly look at the sun’s surface through special solar telescopes.

America 250 – Colorado 150

Arapahoe Libraries welcomes you to Colorado 150: Celebrate the Centennial State on August 30 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Cherry Knolls Park in Centennial. Gather with friends, family and neighbors for an evening of live music, interactive activities, and family-friendly fun, then look to the skies as the celebration concludes with a spectacular drone show honoring Colorado’s 150th Birthday!

Did you know Colorado has an interesting connection to teeth? At Jefferson County Public Library’s Celebrate Colorado with Belmar, you’ll learn about Quirky Toothy History, from dinosaurs to hockey players. Sink your teeth into this science exploration on August 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Belmar Library. 

What’s New from the Colorado State Library Colorado Historic Newspapers

20th Century Women Making Waves. Learn about The Colorado Business Woman, published from 1953 to 1971 and newly available in the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.

Book Club Sets

Book Club Author Suggestion: J.M. Mitchell. This Colorado-based novelist explores themes of environmental preservation, local interests, and federal bureaucracy.

Learning Opportunities

Digital Collections Stewardship 2026-27. This facilitated peer learning group is ideal for beginner- and intermediate-level professionals working in libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies in Colorado and Wyoming.

New Cataloger Camp 2026-27: a cohort designed to address the needs of early career and “accidental” library catalogers in Colorado.

All events below are online except where a location is noted.

• Hidden Gems: Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
  • August 11, 11:30 am – 12:15 pm
• Talking Teen Services: Preparing Teens for College Through Academic Library Collaboration
  • August 20, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Find even more learning opportunities:
  • View CSL events on the Libraries Learn calendar.
  • Visit Maine State Library’s Continuing Education Calendar for national events (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for August 2026.

Library Jobline

Are you considering a job change this year? Check out Library Jobline for hot new library employment opportunities, like this selection from around Colorado.

• Colorado State Librarian – Non-Classified – State of Colorado – Department of Education
• Patron Experience Manager – Estes Valley Public Library District
• Library Clerk Courier – City of Aurora, Library & Cultural Services
• Library Manager – Loveland Public Library

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This post is part of the Spotlight on Sharing initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of Colorado library programs and resource sharing.

Do you have a story from your library to share? Email Amy Hitchner, [email protected].

All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.