Colorado State Publications Library

International Museum Day

2013-05-16T10:37:00.000-06:00

This Saturday, May 18, is International Museum Day. Established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums, the day is set aside to encourage the public to visit and support their local museums. No matter what you're interested in, there's probably a museum somewhere that would interest you. On Saturday, many museums around the world will have special events, free admissions, and other celebrations.

Colorado is packed with great museums, not only the large instutitions here in Denver but also small and rural museums across the state. So wherever your travels around Colorado take you, or if you're just looking for something to do in your own neighborhood, there are several resources that can help you find a museum of interest to you. The Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums has a Museum Guide on their website, with a database searchable by location and type. There are 54 types of museums listed, from Aviation to Zoology, so there is surely something there for everyone! Another helpful resource is the Colorado Tourism Office's Museums webpage, a pictorial guide with tourism information on all kinds of museums across the state. If you're interested in Colorado history, visit History Colorado's Museums page. History Colorado offers not only the large state museum in Denver, but eight other regional museums in all parts of the state, from Leadville to Pueblo to Trinidad, and more. Finally, check out the book Colorado Museums and Historic Sites from our library.

Colorado SBDC and Transportation Projects

2013-05-14T11:10:00.002-06:00

Yesterday's blog post introduced the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network as a resource for small businesses. In addition to their business services, the Colorado SBDC has also partnered with the Colorado Dept. of Transportation (CDOT) to help small businesses in the transportation industry. SBDC and CDOT have partnered up to launch a new website, www.connect2dot.org, which "provides small businesses with all of the news, information, and resources needed to compete in the Colorado transportation industry. On this site you will find valuable information about how to do business with CDOT and other state and local transportation agencies. For more information, including a list of resources found on the site, see their April 29 press release.

Colorado SBDC Network

2013-05-13T08:51:00.002-06:00

The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network has a new website. Here you can find information about the resources and assistance available to those looking to start a business or to those interested in growing and sustaining their current Colorado small business. Sponsored by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the SBDC provides counseling, consulting and training for small businesses in our state. On the website you can also find the Colorado Business Resource Book, filled with helpful information on starting and running a business, including information on laws, taxes, bookkeeping, insurance, trademarks, and more.

Ralph Carr Judicial Center

2013-05-09T10:15:00.001-06:00

The Ralph Carr Judicial Center at 2 E. 14th Ave. in Denver is officially open, with opening ceremonies featuring United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The building was designed by Fentress Architects, who also designed Denver International Airport, the Colorado Convention Center, the Jefferson County Administration Building ("Taj Mahal"), and other prominent structures around the world. The new Judicial Center's design includes neoclassical columns, dome, and other details echoing the nearby State Capitol and City and County Building, with a modern twist. The building now houses the Colorado Supreme Court, Colorado Judicial Branch, Colorado Supreme Court Library, and the Colorado Attorney General's Office. For interior and exterior photos of the building, see the Judicial Branch's photo gallery.

The Center is named for Ralph Carr, governor of Colorado during WWII, who stood up for Japanese-Americans at a time when many of them were being sent to relocation camps. You can find out more about Ralph Carr and view his papers at the Colorado State Archives.

New Colorado Health Report

2013-05-07T10:02:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Governor Hickenlooper's office released a new report on the State of Health in Colorado: Colorado's Committment to Become the Healthiest State. According to the Governor's Office, the plan "will create a comprehensive and person-centered statewide system to address a broad range of health needs, deliver the best care at the best value and help Coloradans achieve the best health possible." Cornerstones of the plan include prevention/wellness, coverage, quality, and sustainability. For more information and a link to the report, see the Governor's Press Release.

Colorado Literacy Week

2013-05-06T13:31:00.000-06:00

Colorado recognizes the importance of teaching children to read with Colorado Literacy Week, May 6-10, 2013. For a complete schedule of events, visit the Lt. Governor's website. Here you can also find links to several state reports on literacy in Colorado. One of the fun highlights of Colorado Literacy Week this year is the One Book 4 Colorado Program, sponsored by the Colorado State Library and the Lt. Governor's Office. The program provides a free book to all Colorado 4-year-olds; this year's title has been announced as Duck on a Bike.

Statewide Education Survey Results

2013-05-02T10:46:00.000-06:00

The results of a major survey of Colorado educators were released this week (see the Denver Post article and the Colorado Dept. of Education (CDE)'s press release). The CDE-sponsored survey's official website, where you can find the results and data, describes the rationale:

The 2013 TELL Colorado Survey will provide educators with data, tools and direct support to facilitate school improvement. The TELL Colorado Survey includes questions on the following topics:

• Community Engagement and Support

• Teacher Leadership

• School Leadership

• Managing Student Conduct

• Use of Time

• Professional Development

• Facilities and Resources

• Instructional Practices and Support

• New Teacher Support

Home Inventory: Prepare for Disaster

2013-04-30T10:36:00.001-06:00

If a fire, flood, tornado, or other disaster destroyed your home, would you be able to report to the insurance company everything you lost? Unless you have completed a home inventory, the answer is probably "no." Luckily, taking an inventory of the contents of your home can be easy, thanks to the Colorado Division of Insurance. They have put together a helpful Home Inventory Checklist which you can use to go room by room through your home and note furniture, electronics, appliances, collectibles, artwork, kitchen items, and more. For an even better home inventory, use the checklist to identify items, and then photograph them. It's an easy way to save yourself a great deal of stress later, should disaster ever strike. For more information, see "Understanding the Value of Your Home and Its Contents" from the Colorado Division of Insurance.

Apartment Rates and Vacancies

2013-04-29T13:33:00.002-06:00

A story in today's Denver Post reports that apartment rents are at an all-time high in Metro Denver. The story references a report produced quarterly by the Colorado Division of Housing and the Apartment Association of Metro Denver. You can find reports on apartment vacancies for Metro Denver, Colorado Springs, and Statewide at the Division of Housing's website.*

If you're thinking about renting, be sure to check out the Division of Housing's Colorado Renter's Guide.

*Please note, that the current report as referenced in the Post article will not be available on the Division of Housing site until the next quarter's report is released. This is because the Apartment Association charges a fee for the current report.

Backcountry Avalanche Forecasts

2013-04-25T11:15:00.003-06:00

Much of the central Colorado mountains is under "considerable" avalanche danger conditions right now, as evidenced by several recent deaths. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) monitors avalanche conditions and constantly updates their Backcountry Forecasts page with the latest information. Right now, the Front Range, Vail and Summit Counties, and the Sawatch Range are all under what the CAIC has termed "considerable" danger: "Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential." This helpful resource also provides information on weather, snowpack, and other essential information. So if you're headed to the high country, be sure and check this site to determine which parts of the state are not safe.

2012 Remedial Education Report

2013-04-23T12:19:00.000-06:00

The growing numbers of college and university students needing remedial education is the focus of a new study released last week by the Colorado Dept. of Higher Education. Each year, the department tracks statistics on the numbers of postsecondary students enrolled in remedial classes. This year, in addition to the report, the department has prepared a video, frequently-asked-questions, resources to help improve remidiation rates, and an explanation of new methods for calculating the remedial rate in 2012. All of this information can be found on the report's webpage at the Colorado Dept. of Higher Education site.

Colorado Digital Citizenship Day

2013-04-22T11:17:00.001-06:00

Today, April 22, has been designated as the first-ever "Colorado Digital Citizenship Day," as recognized by the State Board of Education. "Colorado Digital Citizenship Day will focus on the important issues facing children and their families in our 24/7 digital world," according to the State Board's resolution. This includes children's internet safety and privacy issues, and how families, schools, and students can work together to keep everyone safe online. For resources on children's internet safety, see the Colorado School Safety Resource Center's "Internet Safety & Digital Responsibility" page; the Colorado Attorney General's Safe Surfing brochure; and Cyber Bullying and Internet Safety from the University of Colorado's Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. For more information on Colorado Digital Citizenship Day, see the Colorado Dept. of Education's press release.

Ludlow

2013-04-18T12:25:00.000-06:00

99 years ago this Saturday, Colorado was the scene of one of the bloodiest and most controversial incidents in the Progressive Era labor wars. The Ludlow Massacre, April 20, 1914, occurred when Colorado National Guard troops fired on striking coal miners and their families in the Ludlow tent colony near Trinidad. The miners, employed by John D. Rockefeller's Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I), were part of a strike organized by the United Mine Workers of America that lasted from September 1913 to November 1914. One of the great tragedies of the massacre was that not just striking workers, but also their families, were the victims. At least 19 people died in all; of these, two women and 11 children were killed when, trying to protect themselves by burrowing under a tent, fire consumed the tent above them. Historian Howard Zinn called the massacre "...perhaps the most violent struggle between corporate power and laboring men in American history." Today the massacre site includes a monument to the victims and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

The story of the strike and its aftermath is a complicated one, and many books have been written about Ludlow and the Colorado coal strike. Some of the resources that you can find in our library include:

Brandstatter, Natasha. "Remembering Ludlow: A Monument for the Masses." Colorado Heritage, July/August 2012.
Larkin, Karin, and Randall H. McGuire, eds. The Archaeology of Class War: The Colorado Coalfield Strike of 1913-1914. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2009.
McGovern, George S., and Leonard F. Guttridge. The Great Coalfield War. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado, 1996.
Munsell, F. Darrell. From Redstone to Ludlow: John Cleveland Osgood's Struggle Against the United Mine Workers of America. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2009.
Pascoe, Pat. Helen Ring Robinson: Colorado Senator and Suffragist. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2011.
Rees, Jonathan. Representation and Rebellion: The Rockefeller Plan at the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, 1914-1942. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2010.
Sampson, Joanna. Remember Ludlow!, Denver, CO: Colorado Historical Society, 1999
Secrest, Clark. "Ludlow: A Colorado Horror." Colorado Heritage, Winter 1992.
Wolff, David A. Industrializing the Rockies: Growth, Competition and Turmoil in the Coalfields of Colorado and Wyoming, 1868-1914. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2003.

Numerous other books and articles have been published on Ludlow and the Colorado Coal Strike, so be sure to check your local public or university library for more information. You can also find records on the Ludlow Massacre at the Colorado State Archives.

The Colorado State Archives has in its collection this and other telegrams to Governor Elias Ammons two days after the Massacre, when strikers retaliated against the troops. "...strike situation absolutely beyond control...men women and children now among dead..."

Quick Facts on Education

2013-04-16T10:17:00.002-06:00

Are you puzzled by the multitude of K-12 educational programs and laws currently in place? If so, you're not alone, so the Colorado Dept. of Education has set up a new webpage of Education Fact Sheets. Here you can find brief summaries and statistics for various education topics including accountability, assessment, educator effectiveness and associated legislation, remediation, school choice, licensure, and much more.

Kids and Car Seats

2013-04-15T12:51:00.005-06:00

With the laws about car seats constantly changing, how do you know if your child is in the right size seat for his or her age, height, and weight? Check out Car Seats Colorado from the Colorado Dept. of Transportation (CDOT), which can help you determine if your child is in the right seat. According to CDOT, 64 child passengers died in car accidents between 2006 and 2010 in Colorado. Of these, 55% were not properly restrained. So check out this helpful website to make sure your child stays safe when riding in a motor vehicle.

Jefferson's Legacy in Colorado

2013-04-11T14:10:00.002-06:00

Did you know that Colorado was almost named Jefferson? In October 1859, residents of Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory (now the Denver metro area) gathered in Auraria to form a new territory, named Jefferson after the president who had signed the Louisiana Purchase. A territorial constitution was drawn up and Robert W. Steele was named the first Governor of Jefferson, which included parts of what had been Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Washington, and New Mexico Territories. Jefferson included all of what is present-day Colorado, but extended north and west into parts of what is today the states of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah. There was one problem, however -- Jefferson Territory was not recognized by the United States Government. So the federal government set up Colorado Territory in February 1861. Yet for about a year and a half, residents lived by the laws set up in the Jefferson Constitution, many of which were adapted into the new Colorado Constitution.

Colorado had reason to commemorate Thomas Jefferson, who did so much for the expansion of the United States and the opening of Western lands. Today, our state has a different name, but we still remember our third President through the name of Jefferson County.

You can read more about Jefferson Territory in the Colorado Magazine, available from our library. Here you can find a reprint of the Jefferson Constitution (November 1935), Governor Robert W. Steele's reminisces (March 1937), and other articles on the history of Jefferson Territory (July 1924 and July 1961).

Finally, you can learn more about Thomas Jefferson, whose birthday is coming up this Saturday, April 13, by visiting the new and limited-time Jefferson's Bible exhibit, currently on view at the History Colorado museum.

Holocaust Awareness Week

2013-04-09T10:28:00.001-06:00

This week, April 7-14, is Holocaust Awareness Week, which the Colorado General Assembly will be commemorating with SJR13-026. The Joint Resolution will be heard on the Senate floor this Thursday, April 11, and following Senate passage will move to the House. Holocaust Awareness Week remembers the 11 million people who died in the Holocaust, at least 6 million of whom were Jewish, and strives to create awareness so that they are never forgotten, and also so that such genocide can be prevented in the future. You can watch the General Assembly's proceedings live as they offer speeches and tributes in rememberance of Holocaust victims and survivors. The Colorado Channel will broadcast the proceedings live on Thursday morning, but they will also be archived on the website for future access.

What Does Colorado Mean to You?

2013-04-08T12:09:00.002-06:00

The State of Colorado has launched a new website, http://makingcolorado.gov/, that seeks input from Coloradans as part of the state's branding campaign. The site invites anyone to "share a photo or tweet that represents what Colorado means to you. It can be...anything at all. Your submission will be added to the library our designers will use to create Colorado's new look and feel." The submissions are posted on the website, so you can browse and see what Colorado means to others. Additionally, the website outlines the phases that the project will go through: "inspire," (the current phase of collecting ideas), "collaborate," (the design process), "vote," (where citizens can vote on what designs they like best), and "generate" (applying the design). Help brand our state by getting involved today.

Child Abuse Prevention Month

2013-04-04T10:42:00.002-06:00

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which the Colorado State Legislature recognized with SJR13-024. The Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment's Child Abuse and Neglect manual tells us that children who are abused are more likely to grow up to abuse their own children. Therefore, it is important to stop this circle of abuse. Other resources available from the State of Colorado include the Child Maltreatment Fatality Report; Child Abuse and Prevention; Child Abuse and Neglect Cases in the Colorado Courts; and Preventing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect. Help children lead happier, healthier lives by being aware of the signs and factors of child abuse and neglect.

Administrative Segregation of Inmates

2013-04-03T08:35:00.001-06:00

The topic of administrative segregation (also sometimes known as solitary confinement) in correctional facilities has been receiving renewed focus due to recent events. The Colorado Dept. of Corrections (DOC) has published several studies on administrative segregation and its effects on inmates. Information from DOC includes:

*This publication deals specifically with the new law that allows inmates time off of their sentence for time served in administrative segregation. You can view the original Act for SB11-176 here.

Amendment 64 Implementation

2013-04-01T16:06:00.000-06:00

The State of Colorado has recently released its Task Force Report on the Implementation of Amendment 64, Regulation of Marijuana in Colorado. This task force, created through Executive Order B2012-004, "was asked to identify the legal, policy and procedural issues that need to be resloved, and to offer suggestions and proposals for legislative, regulatory and executive actions that need to be taken, for the effective and efficient implementation of Amendment 64 -- the constitutional amendment authorizing the use and regulation of marijuana in the State of Colorado."

Auto-Pedestrian Accidents

2013-03-28T10:36:00.000-06:00

During the past month the news has been filled with reports of auto-pedestrian accidents in Denver. Although it seems like there have been an unusually high number recently, is this really the case? According to the Colorado Dept. of Transportation (CDOT), there were 47 pedestrian fatalities in 2009; 36 in 2010; and 45 in 2011. These numbers are actually down from 2006 and 2007, when there were 59 and 58 pedestrian fatalities, respectively. (Data from the 2012 Transportation Safety and Traffic Engineering Annual Report).

What can you do to help keep yourself and your family safe, and keep others from harm? See CDOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety page for information. Teachers of children in the primary grades can use CDOT's pedestrian safety lesson plans to teach kids about safety; see also CDOT's Safe Routes to School program site for more information about keeping young pedestrians safe. And if you're the one behind the wheel, make sure you learn about watching out for pedestrians on the road. See CDOT's Share the Road program site for more information.

Digital Learning in Colorado

2013-03-26T10:22:00.005-06:00

The Colorado Dept. of Education (CDE) and the Colorado Children's Campaign have teamed up to study the effects of and opportunities for K-12 digital learning in Colorado, as required by HB12-1124. The result is Digital Learning in Colorado, which examines the benefits of digital learning and how it affects student achievement and academic growth. The study also looks at ways to expand opportunities for high-quality digital learning experiences to all Colorado students. For more of the latest research on digital/online learning in our state, see the CDE Office of Online and Blended Learning's reports page.

Colorado Dinosaur Information for Kids

2013-03-25T10:14:00.003-06:00

Many, if not most, children go through a "dinosaur phase" where they can't learn enough about the giant prehistoric creatures. But I had to smile at the story in Friday's Denver Post about a 9-year-old boy who is so interested in dinosaurs that he applied for the job of chief curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science! He didn't get the job, of course, but the museum rewarded him with the title of Honorary Curator for a Day.

If you have a budding paleontologist at home, our library has several publications of interest from the Colorado Geological Survey that are great for all ages. Dinousaurs in Our Backyard is an interactive CD-rom that will teach kids (and kids at heart) about the fossils of Dinosaur Ridge, located right outside of Denver and a great place to take youngsters on a field trip. Additionally, the little ones will enjoy Darin and Denise Discover Denver's Dinosaurs and Other Denizens of Deep Time, written especially for kids. And if your miniature scientists are begging to visit other dinosaur sites, Dinosaur Remains in Colorado from the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Preservation can give you some ideas for where to go. Also, the CGS's special publication 35, Colorado's Dinosaurs, provides maps to fossil sites along with other information on our state's prehistoric creatures.

Offenders with Mental Illness

2013-03-21T10:03:00.000-06:00

One of the significant problems faced in Colorado's criminal justice system is what to do with offenders who have mental illnesses. The General Assembly revisits the issue annually in their interim Legislative Oversight Committee for the Continuing Examination of the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness who are Involved in the Criminal Justice System. Click here for their most recent report. Our library also has all of the committee's previous reports online; search our web catalog for prior years' reports.

Additionally, the Colorado Dept. of Corrections has released a new report, Offenders with Mental Illness. The Colorado Dept. of Public Safety has also published several reports on the subject, including Colorado's Juvenile Justice State Plan for Youth with Mental Health Issues and Co-Occurring Disorders, which focuses specifically on juvenile populations.