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 School Prep

Aurora Public Library’s Back to School Fair is August 1 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. Prepare for classroom life with this fair full of supplies, crafts, and more.

Garfield County Libraries announces their Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway Party, a partnership between the Rifle Branch Library and Columbine Ford. Join them on August 1, 10:00 am, at the Rifle Outdoor Plaza to participate in the giveaway, plus ice cone treats, water bounce house, food drive, and more.

Wilkinson Public Library is participating in Telluride’s Back to School Fair on August 5 at Ahh Haa School of Arts. The event will include school health and immunization registration, community and financial resources, free school supplies, prizes, and more!

Engaged Learning

On August 1 at 1:00 pm, Boulder Public Library is hosting an Opening Reception for their Romanian Folk Arts Exhibition, on display now through September 27. The exhibition and reception will be held in the Canyon Theater.

Lyons Community Library and welcomes all ages to I Love Bugs! presented by Boulder County Parks & Open Space on August 6 at 6:30 pm. Learn about what makes a bug, a bug, and the different types of insects that live in Boulder County.

Mesa County Libraries welcomes you to Researching a Historic Property on August 5 at the Fruita Branch. Learn tips on how to utilize local community resources, library materials, and helpful databases when researching the history of a home or building.

Buena Vista Public Library invites their community to two events on August 1. First, at 11:00 am, they welcome songwriters and music lovers to From inspiration to arrangement, songwriting with Patsy O’Brien. Then, at 1:00 pm, their Master Gardeners series continues with Composting, where participants will learn about managing a home compost bin.

America 250 – Colorado 150 Celebrations

Estes Valley Library, in partnership with the American Legion, welcomes University of Denver Law Professor Marty Katz for a talk on the Separation of Powers in the U.S. Constitution and how it has held up over the 236 years since the Constitution became the law of the land. Join him at the American Legion Post 119 on August 2 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm.

Jefferson County Public Library is celebrating Colorado at two upcoming events at Belmar Library. First, on August 1, Lasso the Cowgirl will share stories and poetry of The Wild West. Then on August 7, the monthly Tween Thing hangout will feature activities, crafts, and games that say Happy 150th Colorado.

Delta County Libraries welcomes their community to a Colorado 150th Birthday Celebration on August 1 at Cedar Edge Library. The event includes a themed storytime and craft, ice cream social, and book sale. 

West Custer County Library invites you to Celebrate Unusual Colorado History for the 150th on August 24 at 10:00 am, when Julie VanLaanen from Filter Press will present “crazy” facts from our state’s history.

What’s New from the Colorado State Library Technology

AI Reading Recommendation: Humane Ingenuity “…technology that helps rather than hurts human understanding, and human understanding that helps us create better technology. “— Dan Cohen

Book Club Sets

Book Club Reads for Colorado’s Sesquicentennial. Mark Colorado’s 150th anniversary with some fascinating reading!

Learning Opportunities

All events 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 July 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 Associate- Mobile Services – High Plains Library District
• Facilities Technician – High Plains Library District
• Part-time 25 hour Concierge – Anythink Huron Street (Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred)
• Sr. Library Specialist, Castlewood Library – Arapahoe Library District

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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.