Westlake Porter Public Library's January calendar of events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s January 2024 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.

Monday, Jan. 1 – Library closed in observance of New Year’s Day

Tuesday, Jan. 2 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Teen Craft Pick-Up – For teens in grades 7-12. Register starting Dec. 26, then stop by and pick up your craft kit starting Jan. 2.

Wednesday, Jan. 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, Jan. 3 (7-8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: 1914 – Europe Goes to War – Join us as Ed Chuhna and Steve Pettyjohn describe how Europe found itself on the brink of war after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and what brought them to this point. Please register.

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

Friday, Jan. 5 (10-10:30 a.m.) Fit4Mom Stroller Strides – Join in for a total-body workout all while engaging little ones in a stroller or baby carrier! This free mini-session is hosted by Kelly from Fit4Moms. This class is safe for pregnant and recently postpartum moms cleared by their doctor to work out (usually 6-8 weeks after delivery). Registration begins Dec. 29.

Friday, Jan. 5 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, Jan. 7 (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.

Saturdays, Jan. 6 and 13 (10:30-11 a.m.) and Wednesday, Jan. 10 (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 to the Wednesday evening session! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

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

Monday, Jan. 8 (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, Jan. 8 (5:30-6:15 p.m.) STEAM Lab – Learn about what caused the last major ice age and the animals that roughed it out and make some unbelievable snow-like slime! Grades 3-4. Registration begins Dec. 31.

Monday, Jan. 8 (6-7 p.m.) Family Literacy Night – Use games, music and art in this interactive family activity incorporating tips you can use at home to boost your child(ren)’s literacy skills. For families with children in Grades K-8. Registration begins Dec. 31.

Monday, Jan. 8 (7-8 p.m.) Legal Issues Affecting Seniors – Elder law attorney Elizabeth Perla will touch on the major legal areas affecting seniors. Bring your questions and get informed! Please register.

Tuesday, Jan. 9 (10-11:30 a.m.) Computer Basics – Learn how to turn on a computer, use a mouse, go online, and access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins Jan. 2.

Tuesday, Jan. 9 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club – Join us in person or on Zoom to discuss "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus. Please register. If you register for the Zoom option, you will receive a Zoom invitation and instructions by email.

Wednesday, Jan. 10 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) Feed the Birds – Learn interesting and unusual facts about our fine-feathered friends, play a “fowl” game, and make a birdfeeder to provide food during the cold winter months. Grades 1-3. Registration begins Jan. 3.

Wednesdays, Jan. 10 and 17 (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, Jan. 10 (6-8:30 p.m.) Heartsaver CPR/AED – Get certified for adult, child, and infant CPR and AED. Email account required. Class led by certified instructors from UH St. John Medical Center. Please register.

Wednesday, Jan. 10 (8-9 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk – Join us as we kick off the New Year by talking to Rebecca Serle about her journey writing epic love stories to span generations. Streamed live. Please register.

Thursday, Jan. 11 (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 Jan. 4.

Thursday, Jan. 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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Thursday, Jan. 11 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This month’s title is "The Reading List" by Sara Nisha Adams.

Saturday, Jan. 13 (2-3:30 p.m.) Winter Foraging Walk with Wildcrafted Tea – Put on your warm clothes, pack your favorite mug, and join us for an afternoon walk! We will meet some plants, learn about winter foraging, and then enjoy a delicious wild tea made of locally gathered plants. This walk will be led by Lorain County Community College adjunct professor Alison McKim. Please dress appropriately, as this class will involve a walk outside. This class will also involve the optional consumption of wild plants which may contain allergens. Please register.

Saturday, Jan. 13 (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Jewelry Crafting: Bracelets – Join us to make your own bracelets! Registration is encouraged and begins Jan. 6, but drop-ins are welcome. Grades 7-12.

Sunday, Jan. 14 (2-4 p.m.) Hand Sewing For Literacy – Learn basic sewing skills and create a sewn project after listening to a short story or informational text connecting these skills to literature and/or a greater understanding of our world. Please register each child individually. Grades 3-5. Caregivers are encouraged to stay for the program to learn the sewing techniques and assist their child(ren). Registration begins Jan. 7.

Monday, Jan. 15 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This month’s title is "All That Is Wicked" by Kate Winkler Dawson. Please register.

Monday, Jan. 15 (7-8:30 p.m.) Maker Monday: Bling in the New Year with Silhouette Cameo – Learn how to use our Silhouette Cameo to make iron-on rhinestone designs. Bring a t-shirt, sweatshirt, tote bag or another piece of fabric. Please register. 

Tuesday, Jan. 16 (4-5 p.m.) Make Your Own Bead Buddy – Drop in and make your own beaded buddy on a keychain! For grades 3-6.

Tuesday, Jan. 16 (7-8 p.m.) World Tour of Cinema: France – join us for a tour of French film history, from the birth of motion pictures through the modern era. Using archival photos, movie posters, trailers, and production stills, we’ll take a chronological look at the long and prestigious history of French films. This program is suitable for anyone 13 years and older. All titles discussed are available at WPPL.

Tuesday, Jan. 16 (7-8:30 p.m.) Remembering the Holocaust – Jan. 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Join us as we view and discuss the 2013 film "A Promise to My Father," in which survivor Israel Arbeiter returns to Plock, Poland, to search for items he had buried in the basement of his family home before the Germans arrived. He also visits several concentration camps where his family members were interned and died. Please register.

Tuesday, Jan. 16 (7-8 p.m.) Intro to Sewing – See a demo on how to thread the bobbin and needle on our Singer Heavy Duty sewing machine in the Makerspace! Patrons 18+ will also have the chance to try their hand at sewing on a practice sheet with staff help. Registration begins Jan. 9.

Wednesday, Jan. 17 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "I’ll Be You" by Janelle Brown. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Wednesday, Jan. 17 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) Sensory Workshop – Let’s make ... connections, friends, cool stuff! In each session you’ll make something to take home with you! For children ages 8-12 with disabilities and typical peers. Please register.

Thursday, Jan. 18 (6:30-7 p.m.) Music is My Jam – Explore music with shakers, rhythm sticks and more! For children with disabilities, ages 2-7, with a caregiver; siblings are welcome. This program will encourage gross and fine motor movements while playing with instruments and moving to music. This program is led by a librarian, not a therapist and is not a substitute for music or other therapy.

Friday, Jan. 19 (4-4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday – Explore the science of snowflakes and other states of matter. Discover how water changes from a solid to a liquid and back again. 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, Jan. 20 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) SAT Practice Test – Want to get some practice in before taking the SAT? Sylvan Learning will host a simulated version of the test to help students prepare. Computers will be provided. Bring your own calculator. Please register. Results session will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, 10-11 a.m.

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

Saturday, Jan. 20 (3-4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Please register.

Sunday, Jan. 21 (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, Jan. 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, Jan. 22 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Monday, Jan. 22 (2-4 p.m.) Remembering the Holocaust – Jan. 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Join us as we screen the 2019 film "The Last Survivors," which chronicles a year in the lives of four Holocaust survivors, who were all children during the Second World War, living in the UK, as they embark upon personal and profound journeys. Please register.

Monday, Jan. 22 (6-7 p.m.) Family Literacy Night – Use games, music and art in this interactive family activity incorporating tips you can use at home to boost your child(ren)’s literacy skills. For families with children in Grades K-8. Please register.

Monday, Jan. 22 (7-8 p.m.) Managing Financial and Tax Issues as Elder Caregiver – Les Szarka will present “Managing Financial and Tax Issues when Caring for Elderly Loved Ones.” Please register.

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

Tuesday, Jan. 23 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Rajiv Nagaich – Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster? – Start your New Year off right and learn how to avoid the hidden traps in retirement planning. Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, Jan. 23 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) STEAM Club – Come and explore the science of snowflakes and other states of matter. Discover how water changes from a solid to a liquid and back again! Discover scientific principles with hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Grades 1-2. Please register.

Tuesday, Jan. 23 (6:30-8 p.m.) Craft Supply Swap – Do you have craft supplies you no longer use? Or are you looking to start a new hobby and looking for supplies? Bring your gently used or like-new craft supplies to the Makerspace to swap or donate. If you have any questions as to acceptable items, please email makerspace@westlakelibrary.org.

Saturday, Jan. 24 (10:30-11 a.m.) and Wednesday, Jan. 27 (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 to the Wednesday evening session! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

Wednesdays, Jan. 24 and 31 (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.

Thursday, Jan. 25 (1-2:30 p.m.) Did You Know You Speak Latin? – Examine English words and trace their Latin origins and derivations. No prior Latin knowledge required. This is the first in a series of six classes. Attend all or some. Please register.

Thursday, Jan. 25 (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 Jan. 4.

Thursday, Jan. 25 (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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Friday, Jan. 26 (4-5 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.

Sunday, Jan. 28 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – Open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome.

Monday, Jan. 29 (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, Jan. 29 (7-8 p.m.) Social Security Administration Informational Presentation – Brandon Smith, Public Affairs Specialist at the Social Security Administration, will present on, and answer questions regarding Social Security.

Tuesday, Jan. 30 (10-11:30 a.m.) iPhone and 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. Registration begins Jan. 23.

Tuesday, Jan. 30 (11-11:45 a.m.) Adapted Art – Adapted Art features fun, interactive, and easy art projects, for families with children ages 2-5 with disabilities. We may get messy, so dress accordingly!

Tuesday, Jan. 30 (2-3 p.m.) Dr. Robert Lustig: Metabolical – Dr. Lustig, is a neuroendocrinologist, with expertise in metabolism, obesity, and nutrition. He is one of the leaders of the current “anti-sugar” movement that is changing the food industry. Please register.

Wednesday, Jan. 31 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Discovery Box (Sign Up) – Register for WPPL’s personalized subscription box service. For teens in grades 7-12. Pick up your Discovery Box starting Feb. 7.

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