April events at Westlake Porter Public Library

Wednesdays, April 8 and 15 (10:15 & 11 a.m.) Let’s Sing and Dance! – Sing and move to the music with Miss Nancy! For children ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Please arrive early to receive a ticket at the Preschool Desk.

Wednesdays, April 8 and 15 (4-5:30 p.m.) and Thursdays, April 9 and 16 (6:30-8 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by the Youth Services Department each Wednesday and sign your child up for a 10-minute reading time with a reading therapy dog! Bring your own book or choose one of ours. Registration begins each Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. and each Thursday at 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 9 (2-4 p.m.) Movies @ Your Library! – Join us for a movie matinee! When a criminal plot threatens the hi-tech metropolis of San Fransokyo, robotics whiz Hiro Hamada leaps into action with his tech-savvy friends and his robot companion Rated PG. Please register.

Thursday, April 9 (7 p.m.) Non-Fiction Book Discussion – The April selection is "A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story" by Qais Akbar Omar.

Thursday, April 9 (7-8 p.m.) Snazzy Headband Holders! – Need a cool place for your headbands and ponytail holders? Make and take a great headband holder! Grades 5-8. Please register.

Thursday, April 9 (7-8:30 p.m.) The True Story of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln – In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death, the terrible fate of the president at the hand of an assassin's bullet and the events leading up to it will be discussed. Please register.

Friday, April 10 (Family Session: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.; Preschool: 11:30 a.m.) and Saturday, April 11 (Family: 9:30 a.m.; Preschool: 10:30 a.m.) Music Therapy & More – A board-certified music therapist will lead families in a fun and exciting music-making class. Children and their caregivers will play instruments, sing and move to music. Caregivers will receive a handout with ideas and resources, and can  speak to the therapist about how to carry over the music therapy experiences into the home! Registration is required. Visit connectingforkids.org or call 440-250-5563.

Friday, April 10 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) iPad Users Group: Social Media – Listen to a brief iPad topic then share tips and techniques with other iPad users. Must bring your iPad with you. Registration required.

Friday, April 10 (1-2:30 p.m.) Fantastic Friday – Fantastic Friday is a great day for homeschoolers! Every month we’ll explore a new topic with related activities. Ages 6-12. Please register.

Friday, April 10 (2-3:30 p.m.) Poetry Discussion Group – April is National Poetry Month. Join us to discuss your favorite poems. Bring 3 poems to read out loud and discuss. Please register.

Friday, April 10 (4-5 p.m.) House of Readers – Participate in reading discussions, crafts and more in this book club for children in grades 1-3 with special needs and their typical peers. Please register.

Saturday, April 11 (10-11 a.m.) Android Tablet Group: Hoopla – Learn how to use Hoopla on your Android tablet. Must bring your Android-based tablet with you. Must also have an email account, WPPL library card, and access to Google Play. Please register.

Saturday, April 11 (10:30-11 a.m.) Mother Goose on the Loose! – An interactive storytime featuring simple books, rhymes, songs and movement. For ages birth-3 with an adult caregiver.

Saturday, April 11 (2-3p.m.) Phineas and Ferb Party – We will play party games, air guitar, bingo and watch a "Phineas and Ferb" episode. Ages 7-9. Please register.

Saturday, April 11 (4-5 p.m.) Full STEAM Ahead – Each session will explore a different aspect of STEAM learning. April = Science. Grades 3 & 4. Please register.

Sunday, April 12 (1:30-3 p.m. AND 3:30-4:45 p.m.) Drop Everything and Read Day: Book Jeopardy – Celebrate with a game of Book Jeopardy. Not interested in playing? Browse our book swap. Bring in your old books to trade for some of ours! Registration required for Jeopardy game.

Sundays, April 12 and 19 (2-4 p.m.) Chess Club – Hone your chess skills or learn how to play the game. Recommended for kids ages 8+, but all ages are welcome to attend. If you have a chess set, please bring it with you.

Sunday, April 12 (2-4 p.m.) Westlake Reads – Join us for an afternoon of games, crafts and special activities as we celebrate the thrill of reading. This event is for all ages. No registration required.

Monday, April 13 (2–3 p.m.) Active Minds – Memory is not a finite resource. This class will show you how to improve your recall before it fades with techniques like repetition, association and visualization. The video portion will be followed by practice games. Please register.

Mondays, April 13 and 20 (3:45-5:30 p.m.) Teen Lounge – Need a place to hang out after school? Come to WPPL's Teen Lounge on Monday afternoons! We've got computers, video games, board games, snacks, and more! Grades 7-12.

Tuesday, April 14 (10 a.m.-noon) Career Transition Center: Networking Effectively – Learn how to build and maintain business relationships that will assist you throughout your career.

Tuesday, April 14 (7-8:30 p.m.) Digging with Dean's – Dean’s Greenhouse will provide you with important information about vegetable gardening to get you started on growing healthy, tasty vegetables for you and your family in 2015. Please register.

Tuesday, April 14 (7-8 p.m.) State of the Library – Join Library Director Andrew Mangels for the 2014 Annual Report and a look at what’s ahead for 2015.

Tuesday, April 14 (7 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Discussion – In April we’ll discuss "Boy, Snow, Bird" by Helen Oyeyemi.

Wednesday, April 15 (6:30-8:45 p.m.) Cuyahoga West Genealogical Society – Genealogical Show and Tell

Wednesday, April 15 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Club: How to Digitize Your Records and Cassettes – Join us for a demonstration on how to digitize your records and cassettes using modern software, and learn exactly how you can do it at home! This club explores Maker Movement projects monthly. Please register.

Thursday, April 16 (12-1:30 p.m.) Small Busine$$ Lunch & Learn – Learn the legal issues concerning the hiring of employees, some of the best ways to train them and how to bring out their maximum productivity. Bring your lunch; coffee provided. Please register.

Thursday, April 16 (3:45-5:45 p.m.) Tabletop Gaming Group – Board games! Card games! RPGs! Stop by for an afternoon of playing tabletop games with other gamers! Games will include Munchkin, Settlers of Catan, Forbidden Island, and MORE! Grades 7-12.

Thursday, April 16 (4-5 p.m.) Magic Tree House Book Club – Do you already love the Magic Tree House Adventures or are you curious to find out what the fuss is all about? Join us for one of the Magic Tree House books, discussion and craft related to the book. Grades K-2. No registration required.

Friday, April 17 (10-10:45 a.m.) Come Play With Me! – Open playtime with age-appropriate toys. Teaches sharing and socialization. For children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! Registration begins April 10.

Friday, April 17 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) and Saturday, April 18 (2-3:30 p.m.) Parent Discussion Group – Meet other parents as we discuss childhood development topics with a local expert. April 17 Topic: It’s Not All About the Diagnosis; April 18 Topic: Stepping Stones to Successful Writing. Free child care is available; registration required at connectingforkids.org or 440-250-5563.

Saturday, April 18 (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Secure Paper Shredding – All Ohio Secure Shred will confidentially and permanently destroy two boxes of your personal documents. Located in the library parking lot.

Saturday, April 18 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) Sensory Storytime – Join us for a storytime for children ages 3-7 with special needs and their parents/caregivers. The program includes interactive stories, rhymes, songs and movement activities, followed by 30 minutes of play. Registration begins one week before each session.

Saturday, April 18 (11 a.m.-noon) The Pop Tarts – Hey, kids! Get ready to Twist, Jerk and Swim! Slip on your go-go boots and head on back to the '60s for some groovy retro entertainment. For all ages. Free tickets will be available in Youth Services starting April 11 and are limited to six per adult.

Saturday, April 18 (2-3 p.m.) Junior Brick Builders! – Let's build with Duplos! Bring your imagination and we'll provide the bricks. Ages 3-6.

Sunday, April 19 (1-1:45 p.m.) Meet-Ups! – Join us for video games, socialization and play among children in grades 1-5 with special needs with their caregivers. Registration begins April 12.

Sunday, April 19 (2-3:30 p.m.) Boredom Busters! – Games, crafts, puzzles and more! All ages. Children under age 9 must be accompanied by an adult.

Monday, April 20 (1:30–2:45 p.m.) Start Skyping – Learn more about using Skype to keep in touch with far-away family and friends, through video, voice and messaging. Bring your own devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.). Please register.

Monday, April 20 (3:45-5:30 p.m.) Teen Lounge: Money Smart Week! – Special This Week: We'll have all the supplies available to make duct tape wallets in honor of Money Smart Week! Teens in grades 7-12 only!

Monday, April 20 (7-7:45 p.m.) Accidental Art – Mistakes can often be turned into beautiful art – come make your own accidental artwork! Grades 1-5. For typical peers and students with special needs with a caregiver; siblings welcome. Registration begins April 13.

Monday, April 20 (7-8:30 p.m.) Investors' Interest Group: Retirement Investment Strategies – In this workshop, we will discuss the four critical areas of concern when managing your retirement investments. A workbook is provided for evaluating your own personal retirement situation. Please register.

Tuesday, April 21 (10 a.m.-noon) Career Transition Center: Success with LinkedIn Groups – Learn techniques to better utilize LinkedIn group members to help you meet people who can assist your search.

Tuesday, April 21 (10-11:30 a.m.) Pinterest Basics – This lecture-based session is focused on the basics of using Pinterest followed by an open Pinterest lab.

Tuesday, April 21 (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) League of Women Voters – Featured speaker: Kristin Vessey, issue specialist on water and fracking for the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Tuesday, April 21 (7-8:30 p.m.) The Six Elements of Real Wealth – Life coach Joan Washburn will help you discover the keys to harmony and joy if you’re dreaming of a life beyond just a career. Please register.

Wednesdays, April 22 and 29 (10:15 & 11 a.m.) Let’s Sing and Dance! – Sing and move to the music with Miss Nancy! For children ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Please arrive early to receive a ticket at the Preschool Desk.

Wednesday, April 22 (2 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – The April selection is "The Tilted World" by Tom Franklin.

Wednesdays, April 22 and 29 (4-5:30 p.m.) and Thursdays, April 23 and 30 (6:30-8 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by the Youth Services Department each Wednesday and sign your child up for a 10-minute reading time with a reading therapy dog! Bring your own book or choose one of ours. Registration begins each Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. and each Thursday at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Technical Analysis of World Financial Markets – Please join John Sawczak for a presentation about world financial markets. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 22 (7-8 p.m.) Earth Day Celebration! – Celebrate Earth Day with a cool science experiment, an earth-friendly craft and an Earth Day-themed snack. Ages 8-12. Registration begins April 15.

Wednesday, April 22 (7-8:30 p.m.) Secrets of Effective Couponing – Learn how to maximize your savings online and in stores using coupons and other discounts. Please register.

Thursday, April 23 (4-5 p.m.) Magic Tree House Book Club – Do you already love the Magic Tree House Adventures or are you curious to find out what the fuss is all about? Join us for one of the Magic Tree House books, discussion and craft related to the book. Grades K-2. No registration required.

Thursday, April 23 (6:30-8:45 p.m.) Westlake Historical Society – Eric Hansen will portray Jack Miner in honor of Jack's birthday.

Friday, April 24 (10 a.m.-noon) Porter's Fiber Fanatics – A time for needlecrafters to share, solve problems, and show off.

Friday, April 24 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) and Monday, April 27 (6:30-7:15 p.m.) Sensory Storytime – Join us for a storytime for children ages 3-7 with special needs and their parents/caregivers. The program includes interactive stories, rhymes, songs and movement activities, followed by 30 minutes of play. Registration begins one week before each session.

Friday, April 24 (1:30-3 p.m.) Money Smart for Older Adults – Senior citizens are often targeted by crooks. Find out how you can avoid scams, fraud and more. Please register.

Friday, April 24 (4-5:30 p.m.) Weirder Science – Learn science while having fun! Our interactive after-school science program teaches fundamental principles in an entertaining format. Students will participate in hands-on experiments that they can reproduce at home. Please note program change: Participants must be in grades 5-8. Registration begins April 17.

Saturday, April 25 (2-4 p.m.) Carryout Crafts – Stop by the Youth Services Department to see what each day’s featured craft is! Tables will be set up with all of the supplies needed.

Saturday, April 25 (3-5 p.m.) Mad 4 Manga – Each month we watch a different Anime series and talk about our favorite Manga. Sometimes we even throw in some crafts, Manga drawing or Japanese treats! Grades 7-12.

Sunday, April 26 (2-3:30 p.m.) Dangerous Book for Boys Club – Are you looking for something dangerous, but not too dangerous? We will be playing games, conducting experiments and having fun inspired by the Dangerous Book for Boys. For children ages 9-11. Registration begins April 19.

Sunday, April 26 (2-4 p.m.) Chess Club – Hone your chess skills or learn how to play the game. Recommended for kids ages 8+, but all ages are welcome to attend. If you have a chess set, please bring it with you.

Monday, April 27 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Tuesday, April 28 (10 a.m.-noon) Career Transition Center: Using Twitter for Job Search – Take this quick introduction to learn how to use Twitter in your job search.

Tuesday, April 28 (10-11 a.m.) Prezi Basics – Prezi is a cloud-based presentation tool that can be used as an alternative to PowerPoint. See a demonstration and learn how to create an account.

Tuesday, April 28 (7-8:30 p.m.) Eliot Ness' Cleveland: Prohibition, Beer and the Torso Murders – Eliot Ness transformed Cleveland from the most dangerous city in the country to a national safety award winner ... But a serial killer was still lurking in the shadows! Travel back to the time when Cleveland had bootleggers, speakeasies and unsolved crimes.

Wednesday, April 29 (7-8:30 p.m.) Parent Discussion Group – Meet other parents as we discuss childhood development topics with a local expert. Topic: Solutions for Picky Eaters and Problem Feeders. Free child care is available; registration required at connectingforkids.org or 440-250-5563.

Thursday, April 30 (7-8:30 p.m.) Zentangle for Beginners – Zentangle is a new, easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. Registration required.

To register for any of the programs, please call 440-871-2600 or visit signup.westlakelibrary.org:8080.