Trinidad Library January programs boost family support and access

This morning the Trinidad Carnegie Public Library hosts Storytime Sound Adventure for Tuesday Tots at 10:00 am, kicking off a month of free family-oriented programs and civic services for the Trinidad community. The library’s January calendar runs through the month and into February, with scheduled activities that serve children, adults and residents seeking legal help.

Alongside today’s toddler program, the library will hold New Year’s Glitter Slime for school-age children at 1:00 pm on Jan. 14 and a monthly STEM Exploring Days session at 3:00 pm on Jan. 16 aimed at school-aged learners. Book Bandits, a book-to-movie club for 5th–7th graders, meets at 1:00 pm on Jan. 17. These hands-on, no-cost activities provide after-school stimulation and connection at a time when families in Las Animas County face winter weather, tight budgets and limited extracurricular options.

On Jan. 15 Colorado Legal Services will offer the Las Animas legal clinic from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm by appointment. Providing accessible legal help in a rural county addresses a critical social determinant of health: legal stability around housing, benefits and family matters that can directly affect physical and mental well-being. The clinic’s presence at a community hub like the library reduces transportation and cost barriers that often keep people from seeking help.

Adult winter reading registration opens Jan. 19, with program details and prize drawings listed on the library’s calendar. The library board will meet Jan. 27 at 4:00 pm, an opportunity for residents to attend, weigh in on services and shape local priorities. Taken together, the calendar reflects the library’s dual role as a cultural and civic anchor for Trinidad and surrounding parts of Las Animas County.

Public health and equity are woven through these offerings. Regular programming for children supports early literacy and STEM exposure at no cost to families, narrowing gaps that begin in early grades. The legal clinic links people to resources that can improve housing security and access to benefits, which in turn affect health outcomes. For older adults or caregivers, the library provides social connection that can mitigate isolation during long winter months.

Our two cents? Bring the kids, bundle up for winter trips downtown, and call or stop by the library to reserve spots for programs and the legal clinic early. Signing up for the adult winter reading program on Jan. 19 is an easy way to stay engaged and support community wellbeing this winter.