Westlake Porter Public Library's March calendar of events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s upcoming calendar of events. All programs are subject to change. Please check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Twitter (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates. 

Wednesday, March 8 (4-4:45 p.m.) Ready, Set, Kindergarten – Children ages 4 and 5 are invited to rotate through skill stations in preparation for making the big leap into Kindergarten. Please register.

Wednesdays, March 8 and 15 (4:30-6 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by Youth Services to sign up for a 10-minute reading time with a therapy dog. Sign up starts at 4 p.m. Recommended for grades K-4.

Wednesdays, March 8, 15 and 22 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, March 11 and 18 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! For families with children ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Siblings are welcome.

Wednesday, March 8 (7-8 p.m.) Cookbook Discussion: Talk About Your Favorite Recipe! – Pick a cookbook from our library shelves, and bring a dish to share! This meeting will focus on Irish foods! Please register.

Wednesday, March 8 (7-8 p.m.) One Community Reads Book Discussion – Join us for a special discussion of Andrea Elliott’s book "Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in an American City." Participants are responsible for procuring a copy of the book to prepare for this discussion. Please see a staff member if you’d like us to assist you in doing so. Please register.

Thursday, March 9 (10-11:30 a.m.) iPhone & iPad User Group – Do you own an iOS smartphone (iPhone) or tablet (iPad)? Bring it with your questions (or tips!) to this guided user group. Please register.

Thursday, March 9 (3:30-4:30 p.m.) Roblox Arcade – Love Roblox? Then join us in the Roblox Arcade! We have some private servers set up for Tweens in grades 4-6 to hang out with their friends and enjoy some of the most popular games via Zoom. Join us in person on online. Please register.

Thursday, March 9 (6:30-7:15 p.m.) Adapted Storytime – Join us for this storytime designed for children who may not be successful in a typical storytime. Content is geared toward ages 3-7. Please register.

Thursday, March 9 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This month’s title is "The Echo Wife" by Sarah Gailey. The group meets the second Thursday of odd months. Participants will need to obtain their own copies of the title. 

Friday, March 10 (4:15-5:15 p.m.) Inclusive Storytime and Craft with Author Lindsay Bonilla – Join us for an inclusive storytime followed by a craft session with children's author Lindsay Bonilla. For children with disabilities and typical peers, ages 3-10. Lindsay Bonilla is the author of the picture books "Polar Bear Island," winner of 2018 Parent's Choice Silver Award, and "I Love You With All Of My Hearts," which was featured in The Wall Street Journal. Please register.

Saturday, March 11 (1-2 p.m.) Pokémon Fun! – This will be a time to view and trade cards, do a craft (if desired), and play a Pokémon Bingo game. Feel free to bring your cards! Ages 6-11.

Sunday, March 12 (2-3 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? Then bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. No registration required, but room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.

Sunday, March 12 (2-4 p.m.) Anime Club – A great club for anime and manga lovers! All otaku and newbies welcome! Grades 7-adult.

Monday, March 13 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Spring Crafts Pick-Up – Celebrate Spring with some fun crafts! Kits are available for pick up through 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, unless other arrangements are made. Please register.

Monday, March 13 (1-2 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: David Epstein – You’re invited to a conversation with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein as he chats about his most recent book, "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World." Streamed live. Please register.

Mondays, March 13 and 20 (3:30-5:30 p.m.) Teen Lounge – Need a place to hang after school? Come to WPPL’s Teen Lounge on Monday afternoons! Video games, board games, snacks and more!

Monday, March 13 and Wednesday, March 22 (6-8:30 p.m.) HeartSaver CPR/AED – Get certified for adult, child, and infant CPR and AED. Class led by certified instructors from UH St. John Medical Center. Visit uhems.org/event-search to register. Email account required. Participants under the age of 14 must have a parent or legal guardian in class. If any questions, contact the instructors at uh4cpr@gmail.com. 

Mondays, March 13, 20 and 27 (7-8:30 p.m.) Simple Steps for Starting a Business – Join us for sessions 3-5 of this five-part series exploring the many facets of starting a business. The sessions will explore Marketing Plans, Financial Plans and Funding Your Business. Presented by SCORE Cleveland. Please register.

Tuesday, March 14 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) STEAM Club: Our Solar System – Join Mrs. K as we explore our sun’s family of planets. Discover the rocky inner planets and outer gas giants through hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Grades 1-2. Please register.

Tuesday, March 14 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person AND Virtual) – Join the WPPL Tuesday Evening Book Club in person or on Zoom to discuss "The Maid" by Nita Prose. The discussion will be held in person and on Zoom simultaneously. Please register. If you register for the Zoom option you will receive a Zoom invitation and instructions by email.

Tuesday, March 14 (7-8:30 p.m.) You Think You Know the Queen: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II – Julie Koenig, a lifelong Royal watcher, shares her insight and knowledge into the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II. Please register.

Wednesday, March 15 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "Take My Hand" by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Thursday, March 16 (11 a.m.-noon) Fundraising for Your Nonprofit – Are you new to the nonprofits or just want to brush up on your fundraising skills? Join us for a series of workshops that offer tips and techniques on the grantseeking process. This month’s topic is Introduction to Finding Grants. Remaining workshops will be held on May 18, Sept. 21 and Nov. 16. Please register.

Saturday, March 18 (2-3 p.m.) Learn About Ramadan (Really, Not Even Water?) – Curious about the month of Ramadan and how millions of people fast for 30 days in the month of Ramadan? Join us for an informational session and enjoy cultural treats from around the world! This program is presented by the Westside Cleveland Muslim Association (WCMA). Please register.

Saturday, March 18 (2-4 p.m.) Stories in Shadow – Learn about the art of shadow puppetry, watch a performance, and make your own shadow puppets to take home. For students in grades 2-5. Registration begins March 11.

Monday, March 20 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Fine Motor Fun Kit Pick-Up – Pick up this fun kit and practice fine motor skills at home! For children ages 3-7. Registration begins March 13.

Monday, March 20 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club: "A Killer by Design" by Ann Burgess – A great way to discover new and classic true crime writing. Please register.

Monday, March 20 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday:Smart Home Devices – Learn about Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home and Nest, plus other smart home devices. Please register.

Tuesday, March 21 (10-11:30 a.m.) Microsoft Excel and Introduction to Northstar – Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins March 14.

Tuesday, March 21 (4-5 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Jernard A. Wells – A talk that will leave you starved for more! Join us as we chat with celebrity chef Jernard Wells about his newest cookbook, "Southern Inspired." Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, March 21 (7-8 p.m.) Young Adult Book Club: "Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist" by Rachel Cohn – Those unable to attend in person can join us simultaneously via Zoom. Please register. Books available in Youth Services.

Wednesday, March 22-29 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Discovery Box (Sign Up) – Register for WPPL’s personalized subscription box service. For teens in grades 7-12. Registration begins on March 22 and must be done by Wednesday, March 29. Pick up begins April 5.

Wednesdays, March 22 and 29 (4:30-6 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by Youth Services to sign up for a 10-minute reading time with a therapy dog. Sign up starts at 4 p.m. Recommended for grades K-4.

Wednesdays, March 22 and 29 (7-7:30 p.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! For families with children ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Siblings are welcome.

Friday, March 24 (4-4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday: Our Solar System – Join Mrs. K as we explore our sun’s family of planets. Discover the rocky inner planets and outer gas giants through hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Please register.

Saturday, March 25 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Why Technical Analysis? – Learn how TA (technical analysis) creates a context for viewing and understanding current market behavior, which is most useful for trend-following strategies. Presented by Lou Floyd, AAII (American Association of Individual Investors) Cleveland Chapter Leader. Please register.

Saturday, March 25 (3-4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator and then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Please register.

Sunday, March 26 (2-3 p.m.) Art Smarts – Explore some works of a well-known artist and then use what you’ve seen to create an art piece of your own! Grades 4-6. Please register.

Monday, March 27 (10-10:30 a.m.) Music Monday – Develop pre-reading skills with music, movement and rhythm through stories, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-6.

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

Tuesday, March 28 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Pam Jenoff – Join us online for an exciting trip through time as we chat with the New York Times bestselling historical fiction author about her newest book, "Code Name Sapphire"! Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesday, March 29 (7-8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group – Join us for an hour of creative writing prompts to inspire you to start and keep writing. Creativity is more than putting pen to paper. It’s about breaking away and trying something new! Please register.

Thursday, March 30 (2-4 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Bracelets, Bracelets, Bracelets – Learn to make 3 different styles of bracelets: A strung, wire-wrapped, and charm bracelet using wire and chain, glass beads, and pearls. Registration begins March 23.

Thursday, March 30 (4-5:30 p.m.) Let’s Play Board Games! – Play a featured game with other board game enthusiasts. Revisit old favorites and explore new ones! Grades 7-12.

Thursday, March 30 (6:30-7:15 p.m.) Baseball Card Night! – Stop by the Storytime Room for a baseball card themed evening! Learn about cards and go home with some, too! Bring some to swap if you want. All ages. This is an inclusive event for people of all abilities who happen to love baseball and baseball cards.

Thursday, March 30 (7-8 p.m.) 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s – Join the Alzheimer’s Association to learn how to recognize common signs of Alzheimer’s, how to approach someone about memory concerns, and the importance of early detection. Please register.

Friday, March 31 (4-5 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? Then bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. No registration required, but room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.

To register for any of the programs, please visit westlakelibrary.org/events.