Westlake Porter Public Library's May calendar of events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s May 2023 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, May 3 (1-2 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Britt Hawthorne – Are you committed to building an antiracist family environment for your children? Let Britt Hawthorne, a nationally recognized teacher and advocate, as well as author of "Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide" be your guide. Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesday, May 3 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Horror Film Club – Join us for another creepy classic from the Vault! New members are welcome, but children under 13 must be with an adult. Please register.

Wednesday, May 3 (7-8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: The Korean War – This will be an unconventional program about a forgotten war that wasn’t officially a war and technically hasn’t ended. We would love to hear from veterans of the Korean War and members of the Korean community about their experiences and memories of wartime Korea. Please register.

Wednesdays, May 3, 10 and 17 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, May 6 and 13 (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.

Thursday, May 4 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Friday, May 5 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read it, Make it @ the Library – Make a craft based on a story, read aloud. For children in PreK-1st grade, siblings welcome. Please register.

Saturday, May 6 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) Free Comic Book Day – Join us to celebrate Free Comic Book Day! WPPL continues our partnership with Carol & John’s Comic Book Shop to give out free comic books in the lobby all day while supplies last.

Saturday, May 6 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Make Your Own Comic – Want to learn how to make your own comic? Stop by for a drop-in session with staff from the library’s Youth Services Department.

Saturday, May 6 (10 a.m.-noon) Basic Sewing Machine Techniques – Bring your sewing machine and we’ll teach you how to use it! Start small with a pre-cut doll clothing project that will show you techniques to make a simple pair of pants and blouse. Please register.

Saturday, May 6 (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, May 7 (2-4 p.m.) Anime Club – A great club for anime and manga lovers! All otaku and newbies welcome! Grades 7-adult.

Sunday, May 7 (2-3 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? Bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. Room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.

May 8-May 22 – Summer ArtWalk Submissions – Calling all artists ages 0 to 109! Create a piece of art that celebrates kindness and friendship to display in the library’s Artwalk or in the Youth Services Department this summer! Guidelines and submission form can be found at westlakelibrary.org. Bring completed form and art piece to the Youth Services Desk no later than May 22.

Mondays, May 8 and 15 (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!

Tuesday, May 9 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) STEAM Club: Pollination – Join Mrs. K as we investigate the life cycle of butterflies and bees, along with their important job of pollination! Discoveries will be made through hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Grades 1-2. Please register.

Tuesday, May 9 (6-7 p.m.) Wild Edibles – Join Lorain County Community College adjunct professor Alison McKim to learn about foraging wild edibles from your own back yard, from their edible and healing properties to how to identify them using multisensory methods. Please register.

Tuesday, May 9 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person AND Virtual) – Join us to discuss "Hidden Valley Road" by Robert Kolker. The discussion will be held in person and on Zoom simultaneously. Please register. If you register for the Zoom option you will receive an invitation and instructions by email.

Wednesday, May 10 (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 Middle Eastern Cuisine!

Wednesday, May 10 (8-9 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Jena Friedman, Not Funny (Virtual) – Join us for a virtual author talk with comedian and writer Jena Friedman. Streamed live. Please register.

Thursday, May 11 (4-5 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – 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. Registration begins May 4. Participants must provide an email address to receive Zoom instructions.

Thursday, May 11 (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, May 11 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – Join us to discuss "Killers of a Certain Age" by Deanna Raybourn. Participants will need to obtain their own copies of the title.

Sunday, May 14 (2-4 p.m.) Stuffed Animal Hospital – Bring a soft toy of any kind that needs to be repaired and learn basic sewing techniques to make your friend as good as new. Grades 1-5. One of the best things we can do for our planet is limit the amount of waste that we produce. By fixing stuffed animals and dolls, participants will keep these toys out of the landfill while practicing sewing skills. Caregivers are welcome and encouraged to attend with students. Registration begins May 7.

Monday, May 15 (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 with disabilities. Registration begins May 8.

Monday, May 15 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Magical Creature Craft Kit Pick Up – Unicorns, fairies, and dragons...oh, my! Have some fantastical fun making these magical creature crafts. Registration begins May 8.

Monday, May 15 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – Join us to discuss "The Killer Across the Table" by John E. Douglas. A great way to discover new and classic true crime writing. Please register.

Monday, May 15 (5:30-6:15 p.m.) STEAM Lab: Pollination with Goober the Bee! – Learn about pollination and common pollinators you can spot in your backyard, and make a mini carpenter bee habitat! Grades 3-4. Registration begins May 8.

Tuesday, May 16 (7-8:30 p.m.) Author Visit: Vince Guerrieri, Weird Moments in Cleveland Sports – Cleveland has had its fair share of weird, odd, and random occurrences in sports. Join local author and journalist Vince Guerrieri as he shares some of these moments from his new book. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Please register.

Wednesday, May 17 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "Vanderbilt" by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Thursday, May 18 (11 a.m.-noon) Fundraising for Your Nonprofit Presented by Candid – Are you new to nonprofits or just want to brush up on your fundraising skills? Join Davod Holmes for a series of informative workshops on the grantseeking process. Please register.

Friday, May 19 (4-4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday: Pollination – Join Mrs. K as we investigate the life cycle of butterflies and bees, along with their important job of pollination! Discoveries will be made through hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Registration begins May 12.

Saturday, May 20 (11-11:45 a.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.

Saturday, May 20 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Courtney Summers, I’m the Girl – Spend an hour with the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of several bestselling Young Adult novels. Please register.

Saturday, May 20 (2-4 p.m.) Make It, Take It! – Stop by the Youth Services Department to complete a featured craft. Grades PreK-2. While supplies last.

Saturday, May 20 (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, May 21 (3-3:30 p.m.) Paint Play – We will explore ways to play with paint. Please wear clothes that can get messy! If weather permits, we will paint outside! Ages 3-8. This program is for children with disabilities and their typical peers.

Monday, May 22 (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, May 22 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Monday, May 22 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday: Making Music with Technology – Are you a musician who’s into computers? Learn what you can use to find sheet music online, practice, record yourself, mix songs, play with MIDI, and perform live. Please register.

Tuesday, May 23 (10-11:30 a.m.) Microsoft Excel & Introduction to Northstar – Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Please register.

Tuesday, May 23 (11-11:30 a.m.) Adult Storytime in the Garden – Join us in the reading garden for stories, songs, and fun! For adults with developmental disabilities. In the event of poor weather, this event will be held in the storytime room. Please register.

Tuesday, May 23 (7-8:30 p.m.) Battle Fatigue: Finding Your Way Back to Freedom – Occupational therapist Andrea Patrick describes her journey from battle fatigue to freedom again, after serving two tours in Iraq. Please register.

Wednesday, May 24 (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 May 24 and must be done by May 31. Pick-up is June 7-10.

Wednesday, May 24 (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. Please 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. 

Thursday, May 25 (10-11:30 a.m.) iPhone & iPad User Group – Do you own an iPhone or tablet? Bring it with your questions (or tips!) to this guided user group. Please register.

Thursday, May 25 (4-5 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – 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. Registration begins May 4. Participants must provide an email address to receive Zoom instructions.

Friday, May 26 (4-5 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? Bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. Room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.

Saturday, May 27 (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.

Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29 – Library Closed in Observance of Memorial Day

Wednesday, May 31 (7-8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Summer Edition – 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.

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