Octopus Coffee Inc. leases Central Library location from Mesa County Libraries  

Octopus Coffee Inc. leases Central Library location from Mesa County Libraries    Mesa County Libraries and Octopus Coffee Inc. have reached an agreement that allows the coffee vendor to begin serving beverages and food from a hut at Sixth Street and Grand Avenue in Grand Junction. The lease agreement lets Octopus Coffee place a hut […]

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Celebrate National Library Week!

This week is National Library Week, April 10-16, a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. Whether you’re a “regular” or haven’t been in the library in a LONG time, stop by your favorite library branch and say hello! We’d love to know: What […]

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National Volunteer Week

Mesa County Libraries and the Literacy Center depend on hundreds of volunteers to provide great services to the community. National Volunteer Week (also National Library Week!) from April 10 – April 16 gives us an opportunity to thank our volunteers for being an integral part of our organization. In 2015 alone, library volunteers and Literacy […]

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Everything She Forgot

In Everything She Forgot, Margaret Holloway’s life is literally cracked up when she is in a multi-car pileup one winter evening.  Trapped in her burning car, she is rescued by a disfigured man who breaks the window and pulls her out of the car right before it explodes.  Although she is not hurt seriously, the […]

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Author Spotlight: Emma Virján

 Author Spotlight: Emma Virján   Emma Virján is a wonderful author who writes wonderful books and has a wonderful personality to match (not to mention a wonderfully red, big wig). Around the middle of March, 2016 she took some time to talk to me about her character named Pig as well as herself. Here’s what I […]

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Grand Valley Orchards in the 19th Century

Western Colorado is known for fruit production, especially in the area of Palisade. In the past there were a variety of orchards spread throughout our region. Once the land was irrigated agriculture picked up quickly and by 1892 there were quite a few fruit growers in the valley. Peach, apricot, apple, and cherry trees were plentiful […]

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The Uintah Railway

In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s mining was an important part of the economy of the western United States. Several coal mines operated in the Grand Valley and western Colorado’s role in the mining industry was just beginning to emerge. During this time in Eastern Utah a rare mineral called Gilsonite was being mined. […]

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Graphic: Mesa County Libraries logo

Crime in Early Grand Junction

    No one will accuse early Grand Junction of being Tombstone or Dodge City, but early issues of the Grand Junction News reveal that the Grand Valley had its share of Old West crime. On November 25, 1882, the News reported that William Wencel of Grand Junction was robbed and shot to death in […]

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The Taylor Quarry

The Gateway area is home to a variety of historical and archaeological sites. If you travel through the region you’ll probably notice a variety of structures related to mining, ranching, and homesteading. Divide Road will take you up above Unaweep Canyon and through the Uncompahgre National Forest. If you look off to the side of Divide […]

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