Westlake Porter Public Library's July calendar of events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s July 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.

Thursday, July 6 (10-11:30 a.m.) Computer Basics & Introduction to Northstar – Learn how to turn on a computer, use a mouse, go online, and access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Please register.

Thursday, July 6 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Thursday, July 6 (2-3:30 p.m.) Teen Crafternoons – For teens in 7th-12th grades. Join us for some in-person crafting!

Fridays, July 7 and 14 (1-3 p.m.) Movies @ Your Library – Enjoy a feature-length newly released DVD or favorite family classic. Contact Youth Services for specific titles.

Saturdays, July 8, 22 and 29 (10:30-11 a.m.) and Wednesdays, July 12 and 19 (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.

July 9-15, STEAM Week – See accompanying article for event listing.

Tuesday, July 11 (11-11:45 a.m.) and Monday, July 17 (4-4:45 p.m.) Super Readers – What is your super strength? Increase vocabulary, fluency, and sight words while using a Marvel and DC Comic theme and incorporating art, poetry, creative writing and more! Grades K-3. Registration begins one week before each session.

Tuesdays, July 11 and 18 (2-2:30 p.m.) Reading Buddies – Partner with one of our teen reading buddies to practice your reading skills and share your favorite stories. Grades 1-3. Registration begins one week before each session.

Tuesday, July 11 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person AND Virtual) – "The Paris Library" by Janet Skeslien Charles. 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.

Wednesdays, July 12, 19 and 26 (4:30-6 p.m.) Bow Wow Books – Stop by Youth Services to sign up for a 10-minute reading time with a reading therapy dog. Sign up starts at 4 p.m. Dogs will stay for 10 minutes past the last registered reader or 1-1/2 hours, whichever comes first. Recommended for Grades K-4.

Wednesday, July 12 (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 Greek dishes. Please register.

Thursday, July 13 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – "More Than You’ll Ever Know" by Katie Gutierrez. Participants will need to obtain their own copies of the title.

Friday, July 14 (9:15-9:45 a.m.) Yoga with Ms. Jen! – Calm your body, mind, and spirit in this yoga class taught by Ms. Jen, certified yoga instructor! Wear comfy clothes and bring your own mat or towel. Ages 2-6, siblings welcome. Registration begins one week before each session.

Friday, July 14 (11-11:45 a.m.) Party with Pete – Calling all Pete the Cat fans! Put on your favorite shoes and head over for a Pete the Cat storytime! Storytime will feature silly stories, songs and a craft or two! Ages 3-6. Registration begins July 7.

Friday, July 14 (9-11 p.m.) Movies Under the Stars – Enjoy a feature length newly released DVD or favorite family classic. Contact the library for the specific title. Movie will begin at dusk so feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Snacks are okay to bring. Building restrooms will be accessible. Caregivers must stay with their children. Rain venue is the Porter Room inside the library. All ages.

Saturday, July 15 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Charles Soule – You’re invited to an inspiring chat with New York Times bestselling author Charles Soule as he talks about his newest book, "The Endless Vessel," which explores the way we’re all connected – and what can happen when we lose our capacity for joy. Streamed live. Please register.

Sunday, July 16 (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. Registration begins July 9.

Sunday, July 16 (2-2:45 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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Monday, July 17 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Summer Fun Craft Kit Pick-up – Celebrate summer with some hot (and cool) crafts. Kits will be available until July 23.

Monday, July 17 (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, July 17 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This month’s title is "The Other Dr. Gilmer" by Benjamin Gilmer. Please register.

Monday, July 17 (2-3 p.m.) Bring Your Own Book Club – For readers in grades 7-12. Bring your favorite Young Adult book in the Distopian genre to share with the group, get a preview of new YA books in the WPPL collection and enjoy some trivia questions (with prizes).

Monday, July 17 (7-8 p.m.) Investors' Interest Group – Join Chuck Conrad of Szarka Financial to learn about financial planning for the Sandwich Generation – those who are raising kids and taking care of aging parents. Please register.

Tuesday, July 18 (10-11:30 a.m.) Microsoft Excel with Introduction to Northstar – Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins July 11.

Tuesday, July 18 (1-2 p.m.) College Application Essay Success (Virtual) – Talya from College Calm with Talya will be with us via Zoom to go over the process of writing a great personal essay to go with your college application. Join Talya to learn some tips and tricks. Registration begins July 11.

Tuesday, July 18 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) STEAM Club: Starry Sky – Together we will explore the night sky, discover some constellations, and make our own telescopes. Discoveries will be made through hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Grades 1-2. Registration begins July 11.

Tuesday, July 18 (7-8:30 p.m.) Author Visit: Claire McMillan – Join Cleveland-area author Claire McMillan as she discusses her new fiction title, "Alchemy of a Blackbird." Please register.

Wednesday, July 19 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Wednesday, July 19 (5:30-6:15 p.m.) STEAM Lab: When Dinosaurs Ruled the World! – Learn about dinosaurs and their prehistoric environments and make a mini dinosaur habitat night light! Grades 3-4. Please register.

Thursday, July 20 (1-2 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Ethan Kross (Virtual) – Join us for a virtual author talk with Ethan Kross, a word-class psychological scientist who has written one of modern history’s most definitive guides to self-talk, "Chatter, The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters." Streamed live. Please register.

Thursday, July 20 (2-3:30 p.m.) Teen Crafternoons – For teens in 7th-12th grades. Join us for some in-person crafting!

Thursday, July 20 (6:30-7:15 p.m.) and Friday, July 28 (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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Fridays, July 21 and 28 (1-3 p.m.) Movies @ Your Library – Enjoy a feature-length newly released DVD or favorite family classic. Contact Youth Services for specific titles.

Friday, July 21 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, July 30 (2-3 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos? 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.

Saturday, July 22 (10-11 a.m.) Yoga @ the Pavilion – Join certified yoga instructor Jen Nebraska for an all-levels session of outdoor yoga at the Pavilion. Please bring your own yoga mat and towel. Please register.

Sunday, July 23 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – Open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome!

Monday, July 24 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Tuesday, July 25 (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.

Tuesday, July 25 (2-2:30 p.m.) Reading Buddies – Partner with one of our teen reading buddies to practice your reading skills and share your favorite stories. Grades 1-3. Registration begins one week before each session.

Tuesday, July 25 (3-5 p.m.) Let's Make Slime! – Drop in and make your own slime in this fun, hands-on activity!

Tuesday, July 25 (4-5 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Erika Sanchez – Please join us for a chat with Erika Sanchez about her newest work, "Crying in the Bathroom." Please register.

Wednesday, July 26 (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.

Friday, July 28 (9:15-9:45 a.m.) Yoga with Ms. Jen! – Calm your body, mind, and spirit in this yoga class taught by Ms. Jen, certified yoga instructor! Wear comfy clothes and bring your own mat or towel. Ages 2-6, siblings welcome. Registration begins one week before each session.

Friday, July 28 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read it, Make it @ the Library – Make a craft based on a story that’s read aloud. For children in PreK-1st grade, siblings welcome. Please register.

Saturday, July 29 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Art Festival – This free event features dozens of artists, food and drink, and music throughout the day. Park next door at Westlake Elementary School.

Saturday, July 29 (2-4 p.m.) Family Gaming Event – Battle it out video game style with this family-friendly gaming event with both retro and modern gaming consoles. Sure to bring out some friendly competition! Grown-ups are encouraged to attend with their children. Pizza and snacks provided. Grades 2 and up.

Sunday, July 30 (2-4 p.m.) Anime Club – A great club for anime and manga lovers! All otaku and newbies welcome! Grades 7-adult.

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