Colorado State Publications Library

Avalanche Danger

2012-01-26T14:03:00.002-07:00

The conditions in the high country are ripe for an avalanche right now. In the last few days several people have died or have been injured in avalanche related events. Make sure to check the Back Country Forecasts from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center before heading up to ski. In addition to forecasts and current observations, the Center has accident reports and statistics and also links to online tutorials. If you'd like to learn about avalanches and how they form, the Colorado Geological Survey has a nice explanation in "Rock Talk: Focus on Avalanches."

Mentoring

2012-01-24T10:29:00.002-07:00

January is National Mentoring Month. Mentoring programs have been found to be very beneficial for troubled and/or underprivileged youth. For these youth, programs like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and other mentoring programs can have a lifelong impact. To learn more about mentoring programs in Colorado, and the positive effects of mentoring, see the following publications available from our library: Recidivism Findings for Washington's Juvenile Mentoring Program (Colorado Judicial Branch, 2010); and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (University of Colorado at Boulder, 2006). See also the following State of Colorado websites:
Colorado Best Practices: Mentoring; and Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program. And if you had a mentor, don't forget to say thanks - Thursday, January 26 is Thank Your Mentor Day.

Photo Traffic Tickets

2012-01-19T11:50:00.001-07:00

A bill before the Colorado Legislature would make it illegal for Colorado law enforcement to use red light cameras to ticket drivers (see the Denver Post story here). Recently these red light cameras have been in the news as Denver City Council voted to keep them active. For information and clarification on Colorado's traffic laws, be sure to check out the Colorado Motor Vehicle Law Resource Book, published annually by the Colorado Legislative Council; and the Colorado Driver's Handbook from the Colorado Dept. of Revenue.

"The Park Hill Experience"

2012-01-17T11:54:00.002-07:00

While Denver in the Civil Rights era may not have had quite the difficulties seen in the South, Denver's African Americans still faced issues such as segregation and busing. One of the places where this was most prevalent was in the Park Hill Neighborhood. (For the history, see the Story of Park Hill from the Denver Public Library's Creating Communities website). For anyone researching civil rights issues in Denver, an essential publication is The Park Hill Experience, published by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in 1974. This state document, available from our library, traces the civil rights history of this Denver neighborhood as it transitioned from all white to integrated neighborhood, opening up new opportunities for African Americans.

Martin Luther King Day of Service

2012-01-12T12:35:00.003-07:00

Colorado's Liutenant Governor and the Governor's Commission on Community Service are promoting the Martin Luther King Day of Service, to encourage Coloradans to spend their day off volunteering. Their website offers information on how you can help, including groups and causes looking for volunteers, as well as archived reports from past years' days of service and other Commission activities.

State of the State Address

2012-01-12T12:14:00.002-07:00

Governor John Hickenlooper delivers his State of the State Address today. The Address is delivered annually on the second day of the Legislative Session. In our library you can find copies of all of the State of the State Addresses from Governors Hickenlooper, Ritter, and Romer, and most years' Addresses from Governor Lamm. (Governor Owens chose not to have his published).

In Colorado's early years, the State of the State Speech was called "Message of His Excellency, Governor ..." and later just "Governor's Message." We have these "Messages" and/or Inaugural Addresses from past Governors Routt (1876-79); Pitkin (1879-83); Grant (1883-85); Eaton (1885-87); A. Adams (1877-79); Cooper (1889-91); Routt (1891-93); Waite (1893-95); McIntire (1895-97); A. Adams (1897-99); Peabody (1905); McDonald (1905-07); Buchtel (1907-09); W. Adams (1927-33); E. Johnson (1933-37); Ammons (1937-39); Carr (1939-43); Vivian (1943-47); W. Johnson (1950-51); Thornton (1951-55); McNichols (1957-63); and Love (1963-73).

UCD Historical Studies Journal

2012-01-10T10:04:00.002-07:00

One of many journals in our collection is the UCD Historical Studies Journal, which features outstanding student writing from the University of Colorado at Denver's history department. The articles are "peer-reviewed," i.e., edited by other UCD history students. Generally, each issue will offer articles on various historical topics, including world history, U.S. history, state and local history, and public history. The journal not only makes an interesting read, but is also a great tool for incoming history students and those considering a history major to look at and "see how it's done." For more on the UCD History Department, including information on publishing in the journal (for students), visit their website.

New Laws Effective January 1

2012-01-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

Five laws came into effect on January 1, 2012. Descriptions of the laws from the Digest of Bills are as follows:

H.B. 11-1100 Military education, training, and service experience credit for license and certification The act requires the director of the division of registrations and the state examining and licensing boards to accept education, training, or service completed by an applicant for licensure or certification while serving in the military toward the qualifications required to receive the license or certification.

H.B. 11-1146 Property tax - definition of agricultural land - exclusion of up to 2 acres of land associated with a residential improvement unless residence integral to agricultural operation on the land - satisfaction of TABOR. The act amends the existing statutory definition of agricultural land for purposes of property tax to exclude up to 2 acres of land associated with a residential improvement located on such agricultural land unless the residence is integral to an agricultural operation conducted on the land.

A residential improvement is deemed to be "integral to an agricultural operation" if an individual occupying the residential improvement either regularly conducts, supervises, or administers material aspects of the agricultural operation or is the spouse or a parent, grandparent, sibling, or child of the individual.

In the case of a district that has not obtained voter approval to retain and spend revenues in excess of the fiscal year spending and property tax revenue limits imposed on the district by TABOR sufficient to allow the retention of all additional property tax revenues and that has determined that the modification of the definition of "agricultural land" will cause a net property tax revenue gain to the district sufficient to cause the district to exceed such limits, the district is permitted to place before the voters of the district at an appropriate election the question of whether the district may retain and spend revenues in excess of the limits imposed on the district by TABOR sufficient to allow the retention of the net property tax revenue gain. If a majority of the voters of the district fail to approve the ballot issue, or if no ballot issue has been submitted to the voters, the district is required to adjust the number of mills levied by the district to eliminate any net property tax revenue gain to the district resulting from the modification of the definition of "agricultural land".

Any person who objects to the application of the term "integral to an agricultural
operation" to their property and whose objections or protests have been denied by the county
assessor to submit a petition for appeal to the county board of equalization.

H.B. 11-1186 Health insurance - reimbursement of providers - acupuncturists. Currently, when an insurance policy or plan provides for reimbursement for services performed by certain health care providers licensed to perform the services, a health insurance carrier cannot deny reimbursement when the services are performed. The act adds licensed acupuncturists to the list of health care providers that cannot be denied reimbursement.

S.B. 11-034 Child abuse and neglect - mandatory reporters - W.I.C. educators. The act adds educators who provide services through a federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (W.I.C. educators) to the list of persons required to report child abuse or neglect.

S.B. 11-040 Health - youth athletic activities - concussion management - coach required education. The act creates the "Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act". Each public and private middle school, junior high school, or high school and each private club or recreation facility is directed to require each coach with primary supervisory responsibility for a youthathletic activity to complete an annual concussion recognition education course. The education course must include:

Information on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion;

The means of obtaining proper medical attention for a person suspected of having a concussion; and

Information on the nature and risk of concussions.

If the coach suspects that a youth athlete has sustained a concussion, the coach must immediately remove the youth athlete from a game, competition, or practice. Unless the signs or symptoms of a concussion can be readily explained by another condition, the youth athlete is not permitted to return to any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including games, competitions, or practices, unless the youth athlete has been evaluated by a health care provider and has received written clearance to return to play from the health care provider.

A doctor of chiropractic with training and specialization in concussion evaluation and management is allowed to evaluate and provide clearance to return to play for an athlete who is part of the United States olympic training program. A registered athletic trainer may be permitted to manage the graduated return to play after the concussed athlete has received clearance to return to play from a health care provider.

The act does not abrogate or limit the existing immunities that apply to public entities and public employees, volunteers and board members, and ski operators. A youth athletic activity includes an organized athletic activity where the majority of the participants are 11 years of age or older and under 19 years of age.

Stock Show Begins Today

2012-01-05T09:45:00.005-07:00

Today at noon the National Western Stock Show begins with a parade of animals through downtown Denver. Colorado has hosted the Stock Show for more than a century, as it signifies the importance of agriculture to the economy of our state. In fact, the long history of livestock showing can be seen in two historical publications, Judging Livestock and Fitting Livestock for Show, which look back to the practice in the 1920s!

For some interesting facts on livestock in Colorado, see Colorado Livestock from the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture. We have many, many publications in our library that deal with all the particulars of livestock-raising, from diseases to taxes and everything in between, so be sure and check our web catalog using the terms "livestock" or "agriculture."

Photo courtesy of Colorado Department of Agriculture

"The People, Land, and Legends of Colorado and the West"

2012-01-03T10:24:00.002-07:00

Listen to three top history professors from the University of Colorado tell about the amazing history of our state in this interesting sound recording available from our library. From CU-Denver, Professor Tom Noel discusses the "history, myths and legends of the Centennial State." CU-Colorado Springs Professor Thomas Huber explains how you can be a "Roadside Geographer," and CU-Boulder's Patty Limerick lectures on "Understanding Colorado's History and Understanding Ourselves." The recording is on compact disc and is about 3 hours long. This is a great CD to listen to on your next long drive through our colorful state.

Year-End Top 10 Lists

2011-12-29T09:02:00.002-07:00

It's that time of year when all the websites and blogs are publishing top 10, 10 best, 10 worst, etc. lists, so I thought our library blog can get in on the act! Here goes:

Top 10 most frequently checked out items in our library:

Elk Hunting Colorado (DVD). Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2006.

Fly Fishing Colorado (DVD). Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2008.

Down to the Bone: Quick and Easy Method for Deboning Elk in the Field (DVD). Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2006.

Western Voices: 125 Years of Colorado Writing. Colorado Historical Society, 2004.

Colorado: A History of the Centennial State, 4th ed. University Press of Colorado, 2005.

Messages in Stone: Colorado's Colorful Geology. Colorado Geological Survey, 2003.

Gold Panning and Placering in Colorado. Colorado Geological Survey, 1992.

Laws Governing the Practice of Barbering/Cosmetology in the State of Colorado. Colorado Dept. of Regulatory Agencies, 1987.

Colorado: A History of the Centennial State, 3rd ed. University Press of Colorado, 1994.

Hell's Belles: Prostitution, Vice, and Crime in Early Denver. University Press of Colorado, 2002.

Top 10 most frequently downloaded documents in our digital repository:

Colorado Behavior Resource Manual, Colorado Department of Education, 2006.

Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP), Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 2008.

Drainage Design Manual, Colorado Department of Transportation, 2004.

State Sex Offender Treatment Programs, Colorado Department of Corrections, 2000.

Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) Approved Evaluation Instrumentation for Substance Abuse Using Adolescents and Adults, Colorado Department of Human Services, 2007.

Best Management Practices for Colorado Corn, Colorado State University, 2003.

Strictly Enforcing Colorado Seat Belt Laws to Save Lives, Colorado Department of Transportation, 2003.

Colorado Motor Vehicle Industry License Law Manual, Colorado Department of Revenue, 2004.

CDOT Local Agency Manual, Colorado Department of Transportation, 2002.

When is it Legal to Leave Children Alone? Colorado Department of Human Services, 2003.

Happy New Year from the Colorado State Publications Library!

Union Station

2011-12-27T09:53:00.002-07:00

Denver's Union Station has been in the news lately as a plan for the old train station's redevelopment as a hotel and multi-modal transit hub has been in the works. Union Station was originally built in 1881 but was destroyed by fire in 1894. It was rebuilt soon after with a large stone clocktower. In 1914 the clocktower was removed and the center section of the Station was replaced with the Beaux Arts structure seen today. For information on government's role in the project, see this Issue Brief from the Colorado Legislative Council.

Snow and Ice

2011-12-22T10:39:00.002-07:00

Last night heavy snow began piling up in Colorado. If you're out driving, be careful - especially those not used to driving on icy, snowy roads. Before heading out, take a look at Slick Tips, the Colorado Dept. of Transportation's handy winter driving guide, and check road conditions on cotrip.org.

Planning some fun in the snow? If you're into snowmobiling, Colorado State Parks has issued several brochures on the subject, including Colorado Snowmobiling Facts and Snowmobile Colorado!: Snowmobile Safety and You. Make sure you're aware of what to do in case of an avalanche. In our library you will find Avalanche Wise: Your Guide to Avalanche Safety in Colorado. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center also offers safety courses.

If you're interested in the science of snow, our library has many interesting publications on the subject, such as Colorado State University's The Snow Booklet: A Guide to the Science, Climatology, and Measurement of Snow in the United States. Our library includes many research studies from both CSU's Atmospheric Science Department and CU-Boulder's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, as well as from the Colorado Dept. of Natural Resources' Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Also, we have an interesting CSU publication from 1901, Forests and Snow.

Christmas Bird Count

2011-12-20T09:59:00.002-07:00

Every year for 112 years, American bird enthusiasts have gathered between December 14 and January 5 for the Annual Christmas Bird Count (see the Colorado Division of Wildlife's press release). The Bird Count is an annual census of bird populations that helps scientists understand bird population changes.

If you're interested in Colorado's birds, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has published a number of guidebooks that are available from our library. You can read about the Christmas Bird Count on the CDOW's website, and you can also find out more about birding at the CDOW's Colorado Birding Trail website. Some of the publications you can find in our library include the Colorado Wildlife Viewing Guide; A Birding Primer; and the Colorado Birding Trail guides for southeastern and southwestern Colorado. You can also check out a DOW video called Wonders on the Wing: Colorado's Migratory Songbirds. If you like watching birds but don't want to go far from home, check out How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard and Attracting and Feeding Birds in Winter.

Citizen's Guide to Government

2011-12-19T13:25:00.004-07:00

If you have an issue of concern with a Colorado state government agency, and you're not sure where to start, contact the Citizen's Advocate Office. For a list of the type of things they can handle, vist their FAQ.

Each state agency has someone designated as a citizen's advocate to help the public with difficulties or complaints. A new directory of these advocates, the Citizen's Guide to Colorado State Government has just been released.

Colorado, As Experienced by Diverse Groups

2011-12-15T09:53:00.002-07:00

Colorado, like the United States as a whole, is a place of many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups, all of which have have influenced the history of our state. Here is a sampling of some of the publications on our collection that tell the story of Colorado's diverse groups, and how they all contributed to the state we know today.

NATIVE AMERICANS
The Anasazi of Mesa Verde and the Four Corners
Tell Me, Grandmother: Traditions, Stories, and Cultures of Arapaho Peoples
The Ute Indians of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico

EUROPEANS
Italy in Colorado

ASIANS
A Chinaman's Chance
Colorado's Japanese Americans

HISPANICS
La Gente: Hispano History and Life in Colorado

RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Colorado Catholicism and the Archdiocese of Denver, 1857-1989
Pioneers, Peddlers & Tsadikim: The Story of Jews in Colorado

GENDER
Long Vistas: Women and Families on Colorado Homesteads

Colorado Business Resource Guide

2011-12-13T09:39:00.002-07:00

Whether you're a new or experienced businessperson, Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade has a resource that you'll want to keep handy: the Colorado Business Resource Guide. This helpful guide, written specific to Colorado, includes a checklist for starting a business, as well as information on taxes; marketing; financing; liabilities & insurance; trademarks, copyrights, and patents; business plans; and more.

Fracing and Oil in Colorado

2011-12-09T09:15:00.006-07:00

There have been a lot of stories in the news lately about oil development in Colorado and concern about a technique called hydraulic fracturing or fracing. This technique uses a specially blended liquid which is pumped into a well under extreme pressure causing cracks in rock formations underground. These cracks in the rock then allow oil and natural gas to flow, increasing resource production. There is growing concern that hydraulic fracturing can lead to groundwater contamination. The process has been receiving a lot of attention due to increased drilling activity in the Denver Basin over the last few years. The latest issue of "Rock Talk" from the Colorado Geological Survey gives a nice overview: "Colorado's New Oil Boom --the Niobrara." The COGCC also has put together a great site on hydraulic fracturing information for public review.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) has been monitoring the effects of oil and gas development on groundwater for many years. Many studies have shown that although some wells in the vicinity of active oil and gas rigs contain methane and other chemicals, the origin of the chemicals was from a completely different source than from the nearby oil wells. The reports are available online from the COGCC library. Reports focusing on the Denver Julesburg Basin as well as other areas of Colorado are included.

The Legislative Council Staff have published an Issue Brief on hydraulic fracturing that gives background information, and details current laws and regulations surrounding the issue.

Music History

2011-12-08T10:26:00.003-07:00

Since ancient times, a love of music has always been something we humans shared. Over the centuries and even decades, music and peoples' tastes in music have evolved dramatically, but whether it's ancient tribal tunes, classical symphonies, or rock-n-roll, music has always been and continues to be an important part of the cultural life of people across the world. Here in our library, you can find several interesting sources that will teach you about the history of music in Colorado and the United States, including:

Orpheus in the Wilderness: A History of Music in Denver, 1860-1925, by Henry Miles. Published by the Colorado Historical Society, this engaging book offers offers more than a history of early Denver's music scene - it's an incredible resource for discovering the facets of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century "pop culture."

The American Music Research Center Journal is a periodical published by the University of Colorado Boulder's School of Music since 1991. In 2006, they issued a special publication titled 'In the Good Old Summertime': An Illustrated History of American Popular Sheet Music from the American Music Research Center; and the following year published Yankee Doodle Melodies: An Illustrated History of American Patriotic and Presidential Sheet Music from the American Music Research Center. These special publications as well as all the issues of the Journal contain interesting research on music in American history and culture.

Enduring Legacies: Ethnic Histories and Cultures of the Colorado Borderlands contains a chapter on "Music of Colorado and New Mexico's Rio Grande."

Colorado Heritage Magazine and its' predecessor, Colorado History Magazine, offer many interesting articles on music history in Colorado. Some of the Heritage articles that explore Colorado music history include "Cowboy Songs: From the Open Range to the Radio," 1981; "Katharine Lee Bates and 'America the Beautiful,'" Summer 1989; "Singing Colorado's Praises," Spring 1992; "The Denver Symphony Orchestra," Autumn 1992; "Astronauts to Zephyr: Colorado's Music of the 1960s," Winter 1997; "Opera in Denver," Spring 1999; and "A Folk Music Mecca," Winter 2006. Henry Miles, author of Orpheus in the Wilderness, also wrote a series of articles for Colorado Heritage that later became incorporated into the book.

Colorado in the Civil War

2011-12-06T10:01:00.002-07:00

Lately, Civil War history has come into the spotlight as it began 150 years ago this year, and many anniversary events are taking place. Today, December 6, is the 146th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which ended slavery in 1865.

While many think of the Civil War as being fought mostly in the East, Colorado did have a role. The Colorado Volunteers fought in the Battle of Glorieta Pass (which actually took place in what is now New Mexico) in what is called the "Gettysburg of the West" against Confederate Texans. (Less gloriously, the Colorado Volunteers also fought in the "Indian Wars" and were responsible for the Sand Creek Massacre, which destroyed around 200 peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians).

Did you know, there are more books written about the Civil War than any other event in American History? Two interesting books in our library collection, both published by the Colorado Historical Society, shed light on the Colorado Volunteers' service in the Civil War: Colorado Volunteers in the Civil War: The New Mexico Campaign in 1862; and This Soldier Life: The Diaries of Romine H. Ostrander, 1863-1865, in Colorado Territory.

Colorado 2-1-1

2011-12-01T09:23:00.002-07:00

Do you have health questions and don't know where to turn? Do you need information about financial assistance and other human services? Are you elderly, disabled, a struggling youth, or a victim of poverty or abuse, and need someone to talk to about your situation? Are you homeless and looking for shelter? Do you need counseling but don't know where to go? Or are you searching for volunteer opportunities? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you can call 2-1-1 in Colorado to receive health and human service information and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

*Remember: 2-1-1 is not for emergencies. If you have an emergency, you should still call 911!*

Colorado 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that was set up by the Federal Communications Commission. You can find more information on the 2-1-1 service specific to Colorado at their website, www.211colorado.org. In 2010, the Colorado Legislature sent a Joint Memorial to Congress in support of the service. That same year, the Legislature passed a bill to assist the service by creating a tax checkoff for Colorado taxpayers to donate to fund the program. You can find more ways to help by visiting their website.

Redistricting Part Deux

2011-11-30T08:46:00.001-07:00

Back in September new legislative redistricting maps for the Colorado House and Senate were approved by the Colorado Reapportionment Commission. Many legislators objected to the new maps. They were challenged, and the Colorado Supreme Court ruled to reject the maps. Today a new set of maps have been approved. Redistricting is always a process fraught with emotion because redrawing the district lines can throw two current incumbents into a race for the same seat, or change the political dynamic of a district. An article detailing the latest drama can be found in today's Denver Post. The latest proposals and information about the reapportionment process can be found at www.colorado.gov/redistricting.

New Guidebook on Arts Education

2011-11-29T11:37:00.003-07:00

The Colorado Department of Education has just published a guidebook for arts education in Colorado. The new guidebook is in response to HB10-1273 from the Colorado Legislature. The guidebook addresses the need for arts education and the implementation of arts instruction in schools. Program evaluation, leadership and planning, student engagement, funding, and more are all addressed. This is a very helpful guide for all educators interested in bringing the arts back into schools.

New Population Estimates and Economic Forecasts for 2010

2011-11-23T08:41:00.002-07:00

New 2010 population estimates and economic forecasts have just been released from the Colorado State Demography Office. Population and housing unit figures, and county populations by single year of age and sex have been updated. The updated forecasts show Colorado's population growing by 1.6% per year over the next five years, increasing to 1.8% per year before the end of the decade to grow to close to 6 million persons by the year 2020.

The economic base analysis and job estimates for 2010 have also been updated and released. According to the State Demographers, Colorado saw a slight dip in total jobs, losing 45,411 (-1.6 percent) jobs between 2009 and 2010. The largest contraction occurred in the Denver Metro Area, with Denver, Jefferson, and Arapahoe Counties accounting for nearly half (20,128) of jobs lost statewide.

There are also interesting thematic maps based on figures from the 2005-2009 American Community survey.

Visit www.colorado.gov/demography for the latest data and information.

Wildlife and Holiday Decorations

2011-11-22T09:35:00.002-07:00

As many people start to think about hanging their holiday decorations this time of year, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has issued some tips on how to decorate with wildlife in mind. These tips, which you can find here, offer handy information particularly on how to avoid having deer get tangled in strands of lights. The reindeer with his antlers wrapped in Christmas lights is a popular caricature for the holidays, but in real life, it's very dangerous, so make sure to follow these tips to avoid getting deer trapped in your holiday lights. For other tips on how to keep wildlife safe on your property, see Fencing with Wildlife in Mind from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.