All Mesa County Libraries locations will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.

All library locations also will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25, for Thanksgiving. In addition, libraries will close early at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Patrons can visit mesacountylibraries.org anytime to place holds, renew materials, and use eResources such as Kanopy, Hoopla, the Libby/OverDrive Digital Library, and Mango Languages.

A complete list of library locations and hours is available here.

The annual Culture Fest celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Central Library, 443 N. 6th St. The celebration focuses on cultures in western Colorado with performances, tables, and art representing a variety of cultures.

Included as part of Culture Fest is the Art Reception from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the Central Library with live music. The Culture Fest Art Show will be on display in the Central Library's main hallway through Dec. 15.

Join Mesa County Libraries for Books on Tap! Rotating through some of the great breweries in the Grand Valley, we'll gather on the second Thursday of the month at a local brewery to discuss what books we're reading.

At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, we will meet at Edgewater Brewery, 905 Struthers Ave., Grand Junction.

You're welcome to enjoy a cold brew during conversation, but it's not required.

In this all-ages open-house event, prepare to engage with a giant floor map of Colorado and learn how GIS maps are made online.

Heidi Ragsdale is a well-known STEM educator in Mesa County. She works with GJ Makerspace, owns STEM Is My Future, and is a National Geographic grantee that is enabling her to provide this program.

Join us to learn about 10 common warning signs and what to watch for in yourself and others, typical age-related changes, how to approach someone about memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of a diagnosis and the diagnostic process, and Alzheimer's Association resources.

Discover some of the many abandoned towns and communities in Mesa County through photos and maps.

Mesa County Libraries' in-house historian, Ike Rakiecki, will be the guest speaker for this fascinating look back in time.

The event will be held at the Fruita Community Center Meeting Room at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Registration is required.

The Giving Tree is a holiday giving partnership between Mesa County Libraries and Grand Valley Catholic Outreach. Gift recipients are underprivileged Mesa County residents of all ages. The library invites the public to participate by filling gift requests with new items and returning them unwrapped to the library by Monday, Dec. 5. 

Participate at: Central Library • Clifton Branch • Fruita Branch • Orchard Mesa Branch • Palisade Branch (No virtual option is being offered this year.)

3) Purchase a new item, and bring the unwrapped gift (with the tag attached) to the library by Dec. 5.

The current temporary art display at the Central Library is the Culture Fest Juried Art Show, on display through Dec. 15. This year’s juror, Savannah Ashmore, selected 30 pieces of artwork to be displayed from over 60 entries. Stop by and see the show in the library's main hallway!

Stop by the Collbran Branch to see a vibrant display of quilts from local artisans. Some of the quilts have storied pasts from multiple generations that evoke memories for locals.

Every six months or so there is a call to Plateau Valley residents to bring a quilt to decorate the Collbran Branch. As you can see, there is no end to the talent! We are grateful to artists Carol Dibrell, Kaylene Polhemus, and our very own library director, Michelle Boisvenue-Fox, for sharing their quilts for all to enjoy!

New Take and Make Kits for all ages are now available! Visit any library location to pick up a kit while supplies last.

• Paper Cats (for preschoolers ages 3-5)

• Fall Pop-Up Cards (for kids ages 6-11)

• Concrete Bookends (for teens and adults)

The Mesa County Libraries 970West Digital Collection captures the unique aspects of life in western Colorado. Photos, videos, artwork, and other elements in this evolving collection are contributed by Colorado photographers and artists, Mesa County Libraries staff, and others whose work helps to ultimately compose a rich, dynamic portrait of the region.

A staff favorite is the lively collection of cowboy poetry performed by the late Al Albrethsen. Find Cowboy Poetry and other collections in our 970West Digital Collection.

We want to be more aware and compassionate about what our neighbors deal with, whether it is something they are struggling to understand, something they endured years ago, or something they do their best with every day.

At Community Voices, we are inviting three members of the Collbran community to share their stories and answer questions. When we learn to listen to the people around us, it gives our connections a chance to grow and allows our community to be strengthened. As the author Suleika Jaouad has said, "There’s strength in this collection of voices. In these connections, we build something: a larger story about the human experience, one that transcends the particular and becomes universal.”

This presentation happens at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Plateau Valley Collbran Fire Department (2004 Elm Ave., Collbran)

Join us every fourth Tuesday of the month at the Clifton Branch, 590 32 Road, from 5 to 6 p.m. to discuss movies that coincide with the chosen movie theme of the month!

This month on Tuesday, Nov. 22, come prepared to discuss your favorite family movies!

You could invest your TABOR refund in the future of Mesa County Libraries!

By now, most Mesa County taxpayers have received TABOR refund checks for $122.98. While this money could be spent on anything, we'd like to ask you to consider donating your refund to the Mesa County Libraries Foundation in support of the new Clifton Branch.

With about $1 million left to raise for our Clifton Capital Campaign, your donation will help us reach our fundraising goal and help provide library resources for thousands of Mesa County residents. If multiple members of your family received refund checks, donations of $250 or more are also eligible for an Enterprise Zone tax credit from the state of Colorado.

For more information on how you can support the new Clifton Branch, visit our website.  

Contact Mesa County Libraries at 970-243-4442 or visit mesacountylibraries.org