Westlake Porter Public Library's October calendar of events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s October 2023 calendar of events. All programs are subject to change. Please check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Instagram (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates.

Wednesdays, Oct. 4 and 11 (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, Oct. 4 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Horror Film Club – Join us for another creepy classic from the Vault! New members are welcome; children under 13 must be with an adult. Please register.

Wednesdays, Oct. 4 and 11 (7-7:30 p.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Children are welcome to wear their pajamas and bring along a stuffed animal. Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

Thursday, Oct. 5 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Friday, Oct. 6 (11:15-11:45 a.m.) Yoga with Ms. Jen! – Calm your body, mind, and spirit in this yoga class taught by a certified yoga instructor. Wear comfy clothes and bring your own mat or towel. Ages 2-6, siblings welcome. Please register.

Friday, Oct. 6 (4-4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday – Get ready for some nocturnal learning about the only mammals that fly. Bats can be useful by eating over 1,000 mosquitoes an hour! Discoveries will be made with hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. For ages 4-6, up to kindergarten. Please register.

Saturday, Oct. 7 (11 a.m.-noon) Body Rhythm – Develop gross & fine motor skills, creative expression & thinking, social interaction, problem solving, cooperative play, rhythm, & rhyming skills by exploring sound through percussive instruments. Ages 3-9. Please register each child attending.

Saturday, Oct. 7 (2-4 p.m.) Make It, Take It! – Stop by Youth Services to complete a featured craft. While supplies last. PreK-Grade 2.

Saturday, Oct. 7 (2-3:30 p.m.) Photography Walk – Patrons with disabilities are invited to meet at Clague Park for a walk to take nature photos. The library will provide devices for participants, but you may use your own if you prefer. All ages. Please register.

Saturday, Oct. 7 (3-4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator then create a project inspired by their art. For children with disabilities and their typical peers. Grades 1-3. Please register.

Saturday, Oct. 7 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) String Instrument Petting Zoo – Watch a narrated performance of "The Story of Ferdinand" set to melodies from "Carmen" then participate in an instrument petting zoo, learning how to touch, feel and hold a real stringed instrument. Ages 3-5, siblings welcome. Please register.

Sunday, Oct. 8 (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.

Sunday Oct. 8 (2:30-3:15 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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Monday, Oct. 9 (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, Oct. 9 (10:30 a.m.-noon) Medicare Basics – Join us for an educational event and learn about your options surrounding Medicare. Presented by licensed insurance brokers.

Monday, Oct. 9 (3-5 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, Oct. 9 (6-8:30 p.m.) First Aid & Stop the Bleed – This program combines the Heartsaver First Aid and Stop the Bleed classes. Class led by certified instructors from UH St. John Medical Center. Register at uhems.org/event-search.

Monday, Oct. 9 (7-8 p.m.) Planning: LGBTQ+ Families and Individuals – Financial planning for LGBTQ+ individuals and families has unique challenges, from understanding the importance of beneficiary designations to differences in planning for married individuals, partners and families. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 10 (11 a.m.-noon) Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia – Learn basic information everyone needs to know about memory loss issues and what they mean for all of us. Presented by the Alzheimer's Association. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 10 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Rick Steves – In this entertaining, information-packed slideshow lecture, guidebook author and TV host Rick Steves will teach you the secrets of safe, smart, and inexpensive travel in Europe. Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 10 (4:30–5:15 p.m.) STEAM Club – Get ready for some nocturnal learning about the only mammals that can fly. Bats can be useful by eating over 1,000 mosquitoes an hour! Discover scientific principles with hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Grades 1-2. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 10 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club – Join us to discuss "Black Cake" by Charmaine Wilkerson. 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, Oct. 11 (7-8:30 p.m.) Adult ADHD 101 – ADHD in adults looks very different from ADHD in children. Learn the symptoms, treatment options, and how to explain a diagnosis to family and coworkers. Please register.           

Thursday, Oct. 12 (10-11:30 a.m.) Internet and Email Basics with Introduction to Northstar – Learn the basics of the Internet, using email and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Please register.

Thursday, Oct. 12 (4-5 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – Join us in the Roblox Arcade! We have private servers set up for tweens in grades 4-6 to enjoy some of the most popular games. Registration begins one week before each session.

Thursday, Oct. 12 (6:30-8 p.m.) 3D Printed Earrings – Learn the basics of 3D design while creating one-of-a-kind earrings. Earring creations will be printed in the Makerspace and will be available to pick up a week after the program. Registration begins Oct. 5.

Friday, Oct. 13 (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.

Sunday, Oct. 15 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – Open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome!

Monday, Oct. 16 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Monster Mash Craft Kit Pick Up – Have fun making some not-so-scary creature crafts. Kits are available for pick up until Oct. 22, unless other arrangements are made. Registration begins Oct. 9.

Monday, Oct. 16 (9:30-10 a.m.) My First Autumn – Celebrate your baby's first autumn with a simple fall themed craft. For babies 0-18 months with a caregiver. Registration begins Oct. 9.

Monday, Oct. 16 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – "Nothing But the Night: Leopold & Loeb and the Truth Behind the Murder That Rocked 1920s America" by Greg King and Penny Wilson. Please register.

Monday, Oct. 16 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday: SketchUp Free – Learn the basics of how to use SketchUp Free to create 3D models of things you want to build! Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 17 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Moonlight Lantern Festival Supply Pick Up – Reserve the supplies your family needs to join in the third annual Moonlight Lantern Festival! All ages. Registration begins Oct. 10.

Tuesday, Oct. 17 (1-1:45 p.m.) Stretches and Smiles – Let's stretch together! Learn some fun ways to calm active bodies and minds, leading to smiles all around. Ages 3 and up with disabilities and typical peers. Registration begins Oct. 10.

Tuesday, Oct. 17 (6-7 p.m.) Academic Screening – Licensed school based psychologists will be available to set up one-on-one academic testing assessments to screen for dyslexia, ADHD, language or auditory barriers etc. Preschool to 12th grade. Space is very limited and dependent on the requested screenings for each child. Please register each child individually.

Wednesday, Oct. 18 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "The House on Vesper Sands" by Paraic O’Donnell. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Wednesday, Oct. 18 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Ruth Ware – Join us as we chat with the New York Times bestselling author of "The Woman in Cabin 10" and "The It Girl" as she discusses her new book, "Zero Days." Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesdays, Oct. 18 and 25 (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, Oct. 18 (6:30-7:15 p.m.) Ready, Set, Kindergarten! – Children ages 4 and 5 are invited to rotate through skill stations in preparation for making the leap into Kindergarten. Early Literacy Initiative Program. Ages 3-9. Please register.

Friday, Oct. 20 (11:30 a.m.-12:15 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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Friday, Oct. 20 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read it, Make it @ the Library – Make a craft based on a story, read aloud. For children in PreK-grade 1, siblings welcome. Please register.

Saturday, Oct. 21 (11 a.m.-noon) Body Rhythm – Develop gross & fine motor skills, creative expression & thinking, social interaction, problem solving, cooperative play, rhythm, & rhyming skills by exploring sound through percussive instruments. Ages 3-9. Please register each child attending.

Saturday, Oct. 21 (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, Oct. 22 (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.

Monday, Oct. 23 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Spice It Up! Take Home Kit: Paprika – Sign up for a kit that will contain a sample of the featured spice, a handout with background on the spice and suggested uses, and a couple of recipes! Please register.

Monday, Oct. 23 (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Photography Walk – Adults with disabilities are invited to meet at Clague Park for a walk to take nature photos. The library will provide devices for participants, but you may use your own if you prefer. Please register.

Monday, Oct. 23 (2-4 p.m.) Burlap Covered Books Fall Craft – Embellish old books to create a soft textured stack to complement your home decor. Space is limited. Adults only. Each participant will be provided with 2 hardcover books, burlap and mod podge. Please register.

Mondays, Oct. 23 and 30 (3-5 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, Oct. 23 (5:30-6:30 p.m.) STEAM Lab: Electrifying Frankenstein – Learn about the invention of electricity and its uses, and the science behind one of our favorite monsters! Grades 3-4. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 24 (9:30-9:50 a.m.) Stories and Signs – Enjoy an interactive storytime while learning a few words in sign language! Ages 0-3. Siblings welcome.

Tuesday, Oct. 24 (10-11:30 a.m.) Android Smartphone and Tablet User Group – Do you own an Android smartphone or tablet? Bring it with your questions (or tips!) to this guided user group. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 24 (6-8 p.m.) Majestic Candle Making – Learn from a professional candle maker how to make and decorate a 3-ounce all-natural crystal candle for Halloween. No experience necessary. Please register.

Tuesday, Oct. 24 (7-8 p.m.) College Prep Series #2: Creating a Strong Activities List (Virtual) – Learn some tips for creating a strong activities list for your college application. Please register. Program presented Via Zoom.

Tuesday, Oct. 24 (8-9 p.m.) Moonlight Lantern Festival – Experience the 4th annual Moonlight Lantern Festival on the ArtWalk. Lanterns will remain lit until dawn and will be accessible from the library building until 9 p.m. Lantern display rain date is Oct. 26.

Wednesday, Oct. 25 (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 Oct. 18.

Wednesday, Oct. 25 (7-8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Gothic 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! This meeting will focus on Gothic poets. Please register.

Thursday, Oct. 26 (4-5 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – Join us in the Roblox Arcade! We have private servers set up for tweens in grades 4-6 to enjoy some of the most popular games. Registration begins one week before each session.

Thursday, Oct. 26 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: John Irving – Join us for an intimate conversation with John Irving as he chats about not only his most recent novel, "The Last Chairlift," but also about his prolific body of work and lifetime spent writing. Please register.

Saturday, Oct. 28 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

Saturday, Oct. 28 (1-2 p.m.) Read with a Witch – Drop in and ask to read with the "witch" in Youth Services. For children ages 2-6 with a caregiver. Listen to the book "Room on the Broom" by Julia Donaldson read by a staff member.

Saturday, Oct. 28 (2-3 p.m.) Bring Your Own Book Club – Bring your favorite horror-themed Young Adult book to share with the group, get a preview of new YA books in the WPPL collection and enjoy some trivia questions (with prizes). For readers in grades 7-12.

Sunday, Oct. 29 (2-4 p.m.) Patch It, Don't Trash It! – Bring a piece of clothing of any kind that needs to be repaired and learn basic sewing techniques to extend the wearability of your favorite clothes! Grades 1-5. Registration begins Oct. 22.

Sunday, Oct. 29 (2-4 p.m.) Documentary Film Club – Each meet-up we'll watch a different documentary with a discussion of the topics afterward. For the October meeting, we'll be exploring an appropriately spooky topic. Selected films will be rated up to PG-13. Program is intended for those 13 years old and up. Please contact the library for specific film titles.

Monday, Oct. 30 (7-8:30 p.m.) Insights Into the Unknown: An Evening with Investigator Greg Feketik – Take a trip into the world of ghosts, spirits and hauntings with speaker, author, and investigator Greg Feketik. Based on his two books, "Insights into the Unknown" and "Roads into the Unknown." Please register.           

Tuesday, Oct. 31 (4-5 p.m.) Breakout! Zombie Laboratory – Westlake is overrun with zombies! Work together, solve the clues, and find the cure! For grades 7-12. Registration begins Oct. 24.

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