Libraries

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s March 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.

Wednesday, March 6 (4-5 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Nina Totenberg – You’re invited to an intimate conversation with Nina Totenberg as she talks about her nearly 50-year friendship with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27 (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, March 6 (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.

Wednesdays, March 6 and 20 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, March 9 and 23 (10:30-11 a.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.

Wednesday, March 6 (7-8:30 p.m.) The Final Witness – Paul Landis was a Secret Service agent attached to Mrs. Kennedy’s detail on that fateful day in November 1963. Paul joins us to discuss his new book and what he saw that day in Dallas. Please register.

Storytimes: Caregivers and their children are invited to enjoy rhymes, songs, fingerplays, books and stories together. No registration is required.

Mondays (10 a.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages
Tuesdays (10 a.m.) Toddler Storytime – ages 19-35 months
Wednesdays (10 a.m.) Baby and Me Storytime – ages birth-18 months
Thursdays (10 a.m.) Preschool Storytime – ages 3-5 (not yet in kindergarten)

Saturday, March 9 (10 a.m.) Kindergarten Countdown – Join us as we help your child build kindergarten readiness skills in a program aligned to Ohio’s Early Childhood Standards. This session, we will focus on nutrition. Registration is required.

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.

Tuesday, Feb. 6 (10-11:30 a.m.) Microsoft Word – Learn the basics of Microsoft Word and how to access Northstar Digital Literacy for self-paced online learning. Registration begins Jan. 30.

Tuesday, Feb. 6 (6:30-8 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Valentine Red Crystal Bracelet with Charm – Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a beautiful red crystal bracelet with heart charm. Registration begins Jan. 30.

Tuesday, Feb. 6 (7-8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: MacArthur in Japan After WWII – Judge William Vodrey will discuss General Douglas MacArthur’s role as Supreme Commander for the Allied Forces in Japan’s postwar reconstruction and governance. Please register.

Tuesday, Feb. 6 (7-8 p.m.) Bicycle Friendly Drivers – Learn about how and why bicyclists travel the roadways in the ways they do to develop a shared understanding for all users in this interactive program. Drivers and soon-to-be drivers welcome. This program will be led by an instructor trained by the League of American Bicyclists on how to educate individuals who bike and drive to safely share the road.

Wednesday, Feb. 7 (2-4 p.m.) Discover Your Roots: Learn the Basics of Ancestry Library Edition – Did you know that you can use Ancestry.com in the library free of charge? Find family photos, immigration records, census records and much much more! If you are new to genealogy research, this is a wonderful place to start. Registration begins Jan. 24.

Wednesday, Feb. 7 (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.

In honor of Presidents Day, Feb. 19, President Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, will be at Porter Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to greet the public and to autograph copies of his Gettysburg Address.

Westlake resident Mel Maurer, as Lincoln, will open this event at 11 a.m. with a performance of that historic talk. And do it again at noon. Hear the address as you may have never heard it before – as Lincoln delivered it on Nov. 19, 1863. Dedicating a cemetery for those who lost their lives in the Battle of Gettysburg that July, speaking words that will live on forever.

Just as students return to school after the holiday break, Westlake Porter Public Library is unveiling a new reading challenge: 100 Books Before Graduation. Tailored for students in grades 5-12, the challenge asks them to read 100 books before they graduate.

Students can log their reading at westlakelibrary.beanstack.org, where they can earn badges and entries into grand drawings pulled quarterly. Those who reach 100 books read will earn a WPPL coffee tumbler. The challenge began Jan. 2.

Westlake Porter Public Library is inviting the community to join its annual Winter Reading Challenge from Feb. 1-29. The program is open to all ages from birth to adult. Participants who read for 14 days will receive a completion prize of cozy socks for teens and adults or a fidget toy for children (while supplies last) and two tickets for the grand prize drawing. Those who read for all 29 days will receive four tickets for the grand prize drawing.

Paper logs are available at the library, or you can track your progress on Beanstack at westlakelibrary.beanstack.org. If you already signed up for an account for previous challenges, just sign in to get started. For more information, call 440-871-2600.

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.

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.

Westlake Porter Public Library’s board of trustees has named Westlake residents Lauren Golick and Peter Schindler to fill positions open due to a trustee’s resignation and an expiring term.

Golick will step into the unexpired term, starting with the December board meeting. She will serve for three years. Schindler will fill the term that expires on Dec. 31, and will serve for seven years.

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s December 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.

Wednesday, Dec. 20 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Wednesday, Dec. 20 (7-8 p.m.) Christmas with Charles Dickens – Join us for an evening with Charles Dickens! Largely Literary Theater Company co-founders Sara Showman and Mark Dawidziak present selections from "A Christmas Carol" and other seasonal favorites by Charles Dickens. Please register.

Friday Dec. 22 (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. Please register.

Saturday, Dec. 23 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime - Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

Sunday, Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 25 – Library closed in observance of Christmas

Wednesday, Dec. 27 (7-8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: New Year Edition – Wrap up the year with an evening of writing! Creativity is more than putting pen to paper. It’s about breaking away and trying something new! Please register.

The Friends of Bay Village Library will be holding our winter book sale in the library meeting room from Saturday, Dec. 2, through Monday, Dec. 4. Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m., and Monday is $2 bag day from 9 a.m.-noon. Bags are provided by FOBVL.

There will be both fiction and non fiction books for adults, as well as books for kids and teens, puzzles and CDs. The address of the library is 27400 Wolf Road but there is no access from Wolf. You will need to enter off of Dover Center by the Play in Bay Park or off of Lake Road onto Bryson Lane.  

Contact the library at 440-871-6392 with any questions.

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s November 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, Nov. 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 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.

Wednesdays, Nov. 8 and 15 (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 sessions! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. 

Wednesday, Nov. 8 (6-8 p.m.) Create a Canvas Bag with Your Family Name – Design a name monogram in heat transfer vinyl for a canvas bag using Cricut Design space. A member of our Maker Space staff will teach you how to design a monogram in Cricut Design Space and provide an overview of the Cricut and heat press. Follow up with an appointment to print your design in our Maker Space! All supplies are provided. Please register.

Wednesday, Nov. 8 (7-8:30 p.m.) Declutter with Devon – Join Devon Fegen-Herdman in this inspirational program to help you reclaim your space, leading to a more organized and peaceful existence. The most common clutter challenges and tips to overcome them will be discussed.

Thursday, Nov. 9 (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, Nov. 9 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche – "Get Good With Money and Reach Your Financial Goals" with the New York Times bestselling author! Streamed live. Please register.

Thursday, Nov. 9 (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. Please register.

Thursday, Nov. 9 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) A Salute to Veterans Crafts & Cookies – Celebrate Veterans Day creating greeting cards paying tribute to local veterans in appreciation of their services. Then make a patriotic craft to take home after enjoying a sweet snack. Please register.

The partnering libraries in Cuyahoga County officially launched the Cuyahoga Reads program this past summer! The program encourages every child throughout our county to read each day.

In order to achieve that goal, we are asking adults to join the challenge too! Talk to the young peo­ple in your life and neighborhood about what they are reading. Encour­age them to participate in one of the literacy programs offered through Making a Difference Consulting at your local public library. To track reading, find a program, or learn more, visit us online at cuyahogareads.org.

Learn more about taking care of your health and that of your loved ones at Westlake Porter Public Library’s annual health fair on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 1-4 p.m. The fair will include health screenings, health programs, information from various health groups, and a prize drawing.

“Chair Yoga” will take place from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Certified yoga instructor Jen Nebraska will guide participants in this gentle form of yoga done while sitting. Though seated, it still offers the benefits of yoga. From 2:30-3:30 p.m., Matt Gesicki from the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will lead a discussion about “Understanding Mental Illness.” Registration is required for both programs – please visit westlakelibrary.org/events for additional information.

Westlake Porter Public Library will celebrate the upcoming partial solar eclipse with programs, including "Shadows and Sunshine: Exploring the Eclipse," an eclipse viewing party, and "2017 Solar Eclipse Viewing with Google Cardboard." The eclipse will occur on Oct. 14, starting at 11:49 a.m., be at totality at 1:07 p.m. and end at 2:28 p.m.  

"Shadows and Sunshine" will take place on Friday, Oct. 13, with two different sessions: a 1-1:45 p.m. session for ages 4-6 (up to kindergarten) and one at 2-2:45 p.m. for Grades 1 and 2. At both, children will learn about the eclipse and make a pinhole camera obscura (a device used to safely view an eclipse) out of a cereal box. Registration begins Oct. 6.

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.

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.

After almost 10 years as branch manager of the Bay Village Branch library and 20 years with the Cuyahoga County Public Library, I will be leaving my perch to start the next chapter of my career as the director of the Rocky River Public Library.

It’s been an amazing decade for me getting know the fantastic Bay Village community filled with dedicated community leaders, families that encourage the love of learning, students looking to study and socialize afterschool, and active seniors attending our programming. It's been a fulfilling and fun time and I have so many great memories and experiences I'll be taking with me from our BAYarts book discussions at the Fuller House, to Cahoon in June, Destination Bay, Teen Zones, One School One Book, and day-to-day conversations with library customers.

Westlake Porter Public Library invites local residents to get to know their neighbors at a Community Welcome Fair on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 1-4 p.m. The Fair is a way for neighbors of all backgrounds to come together and build strong connections with the community.

A variety of local cultural groups and businesses will be on hand to share their stories, traditions and food, including Horizon ATA and Karate, JK Kang Taekwondo, The Almutairi Family – Learn About Saudi Arabia, Westlake Chinese School, the West Cleveland Muslim Association, Council on Islamic Relations, The Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants, the Nut Shop and the International Community Council/Worldwide Intercultural Network.

Wednesday, Sept. 20 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "The 39 Steps" by John Buchan. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. 

Wednesday, Sept. 20 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Adam Alter – Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author Adam Alter about his new book, "Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most." Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesdays, Sept. 20 and 27 (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, Sept. 20 (7-8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Fall 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 poetry in celebration of Fall. Please register.

Wednesday, Sept. 20 (7-8 p.m.) Alfred Hitchcock: His Greatest Films – Join us for a spine-chilling presentation on director Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock was a master director of mystery movies with surprise endings in the early and middle parts of the 20th Century. Please register.

Wednesdays, Sept. 20 and 27 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, Sept. 23 and 30 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime - Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Children are welcome to wear their pajamas and bring along a stuffed animal for Wednesday evening storytime! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver.

Thursday, Sept. 21 (11 a.m.-noon) Fundraising for Your Nonprofit – Are you new to nonprofits or just want to brush up on your fundraising skills? Join David Holmes of Candid for a series of informative workshops on the grant seeking process. Please register.

Thursday, Sept. 21 (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. To register please visit westlakelibrary.org or uhems.org/event-search.

Friday, Sept. 22 (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, Sept. 23 (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.

Saturday, Sept. 23 (1-3 p.m.) Jazz Up Your Accessory – Learn from an artist how to jazz up your hat, handbag, shoes, or tote. Bring your own accessory and we will help you jazz it up. All materials included except the item you bring to decorate. Please register.

CHILDREN

Storytimes: Caregivers and their children are invited to enjoy rhymes, songs, fingerplays, books and stories together. No registration is required.

Mondays (10 a.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages
Tuesdays (10 a.m.) Toddler Storytime – ages 19-35 months
Wednesdays (10 a.m.) Baby and Me Storytime – ages birth-18 months
Thursdays (10 a.m.) Preschool Storytime – ages 3-5 (not yet in kindergarten)

Saturday, Sept. 9 (10 a.m.) Kindergarten Countdown – Join us as we help your child build kindergarten readiness skills in a program aligned to Ohio’s Early Childhood Standards. This session, we will focus on water. Registration is required.

ADULTS

Tuesday, Sept. 12 (6 p.m.) Library For All: Adapted Adult Program – Join us for fun, adapted programs featuring stories, art, music, and more, specifically designed for adults with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Adults (18+) of all abilities are welcome.

Westlake Porter Public Library has passed its recent audit, which means auditors found no weaknesses or deficiencies in the library’s financial management and record-keeping. In addition, the library was found to be in compliance with the laws, regulations, contracts and other agreements it is required to meet. This continues the library’s longstanding record of successful audits.

“Our Finance Department works very hard to make sure the library is a good steward of the funds entrusted to us by the community, and the rest of the staff do a great job following the fiscal procedures Finance has put in place,” said Library Director Andrew Mangels. “So this result does not surprise me at all.”

Westlake Porter Public Library is currently accepting applications for a position on the board of trustees that starts Jan. 1, 2024. The opening will fill a position available due to a board member’s term ending and will expire in 2030.

The board is composed of seven members and has primary responsibility for approving library policies, setting the budget, hiring a director and fiscal officer and advocating for the library. Terms are seven years with a maximum of two terms. Library board meetings are held monthly, usually on the third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the library.

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s August 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.

Tuesday, Aug. 15 (4-5 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Robert Jones Jr. – Join us for an engaging hour online with New York Times bestselling author Robert Jones Jr. as he discusses his debut and award-winning novel, "The Prophets." Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, Aug. 15 (4-5:30 p.m.) Let's Play Board Games – Featured game: Azul. Revisit old favorites and explore new ones with other board game enthusiasts! For grades 7-12.

Wednesday, Aug. 16 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Wednesday, Aug. 16 (7-8 p.m.) Welcome to the Twilight Zone: A Largely Literary Theater Company Production – Join Mark Dawidziak and Sarah Showman of the Largely Literary Theatre Company for an uncanny evening in the "Twilight Zone"! Mark is also the author of the book "Everything I Know I Learned in the Twilight Zone." There will be copies of his book for sale after the event. Please register.

Thursday, Aug. 17 (2-4 p.m.) You and Me Wire-wrapped Sea Glass & Shell Pendants – Have a lot of shells and beach glass? You will wire wrap a pendant, shells and beach glass using silver or gold-plated wire. This class is for an adult and teen or tween together. Supplies included. Registration begins Aug. 10.

Friday, Aug. 18 (9:15-9:45 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. Registration begins one week before each session.

Friday, Aug. 18 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, Aug. 27 (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, Aug. 19 (10:30 a.m.-noon) Medicare Ins and Outs – Do you need accurate, unbiased information about Medicare? Attend a program by OSHIIP (Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program) volunteer counselor, Jim Langan, to learn the "ins and outs" of Medicare. OSHIIP is a free service through the Ohio Department of Insurance. Please register.

The friends of Bay Village Library will be holding our summer book sale in the library meeting room from Saturday, Aug. 12, through Monday, Aug. 14. Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m., and Monday is $2 bag day from 9 a.m.-noon. Bags are provided by the Friends.

There will be both fiction and non-fiction books for adults, as well as books for kids and teens, puzzles and CDs. The address of the library is 27400 Wolf Road but there is no access from Wolf. You will need to enter off of Dover Center Road by the Play in Bay park or off of Lake Road onto Bryson Lane. Contact the library at 440-871-6392 with any questions.

Westlake Porter Public Library’s annual STEAM Week will take place July 9-15. STEAM Week focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and math in a variety of ways while helping kids prepare for the coming school year. All week long the library will feature blog posts on its website about the STEAM disciplines, as well as a variety of programs for all ages.

The schedule includes:

Sunday, July 9 (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. For elementary students and tweens. Please register.

Sunday, July 9 (2-3 p.m.) Roblox Arcade – 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.

Monday, July 10 (7-8 p.m.) Freddy Fossil’s Dino Show – With his amazing life-like dinosaur puppets and eye-popping ancient fossils, Freddy Fossil helps kids discover fascinating answers to their most interesting questions. It’s pre-hysterical family fun! Please register.

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.

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.

CHILDREN

Storytimes: Caregivers and their children are invited to enjoy rhymes, songs, fingerplays, books and stories together. No registration is required.

Mondays (10 a.m.) Family Storytime – for all ages
Tuesdays (10 a.m.) Toddler Storytime – ages 19-35 months
Wednesdays (10 a.m.) Baby and Me Storytime – ages birth-18 months
Thursdays (10 a.m.) Preschool Storytime – ages 3-5 (not yet in kindergarten)

This summer – on Fridays at noon – join us for Stories on the Porch. Bring a blanket and enjoy stories on the front porch and then chalk the walk. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch or visit Food Truck Friday. Weather permitting.

Kids in grades 1-6 can get ready for summer bicycling at Westlake Porter Public Library’s Bike Rodeo on Saturday, June 10, from 1-3 p.m. The Bike Rodeo will include safety checks by the Westlake Police Department and Village Bicycle Cooperative, a “rodeo” showcasing participants’ bicycle-handling skills, and more.

Participants must sign up for specific times to go through the safety checks and rodeo course, which will take about 30 minutes. The last slot will be at 2:30 p.m. Each child must also bring a helmet and a bike in good condition and working order. Those who successfully demonstrate their skills in the bike rodeo will earn a certificate. Parents/guardians must attend with their children. Those who do not have a helmet will not be allowed to participate in the rodeo.

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, June 21 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – This month’s title is "The Displacements" by Bruce W. Holsinger. A limited number of books are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Wednesdays, June 21 and 28 (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, June 21 (5:30-6:15 p.m.) STEAM Lab: Glow Bright with Bioluminescent Fish! – Learn about some of the most unusual deep sea fish and make an anglerfish pop-out card! Grades 3-4. Please register.

Thursday, June 22 (10-10:30 a.m.) My First Summer – Celebrate your baby's first summer with a simple handprint crab craft. For babies 0-18 months with a caregiver. Please register.

Thursday, June 22 (3-4 p.m.) Breakout: Internet Apocalypse! – A hacker is planning to delete the internet! Work together, solve the clues, and save the day! For grades 7-12. Please register.

Thursday, June 22 (5:30-6:30 p.m.) Open Heart: A Conversation with Dr. Akil Taher – Meet Dr. Akil Taher, the author of "Open Heart: The Transformational Journey of a Doctor who, After Bypass Surgery at 61, Ran Marathons and Climbed Mountains." Please register.

Greater Cleveland libraries, including Westlake Porter Public Library, are joining together to help young people in Greater Cleveland who have fallen behind in their literacy skills due the COVID-19 pandemic in a new program called Cuyahoga Reads.

Building on the success of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s Cleveland READS challenge to read 10 million minutes in 2023, Cuyahoga Reads will begin June 2023 and continue through December 2024. The program will focus on forming positive and consistent reading habits, fostering a love for reading, and equipping young people and families in Greater Cleveland with the literacy skills necessary for their future success.

Westlake Porter Public Library and the Friends of Porter Public Library will have a community dedication celebration for the Friends Programming Pavilion on Sunday, June 4, from 2-4 p.m. In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will be refreshments, including a Kona Ice truck, children’s activities, and music from CJ the DJ.

The Friends Programming Pavilion was created as an outdoor programming and activity space and named for the Friends in honor of their 50th Anniversary in 2022 and their generous donation toward its construction. It will be used for library programs but can also be reserved by community groups. The library’s meeting room policies and procedures apply.

The dedication will take place weather permitting. In the case of rain it will be moved to Sunday, June 11.

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s early June 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, June 1 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Friday, June 2 (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.

Saturday, June 3 (10:30-11 a.m.) Wednesday, June 7 (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 welcome.

Saturday, June 3 (1-2 p.m.) Pokémon Fun! – 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, June 4 (2-4 p.m.) Anime Club – For anime and manga lovers! All otaku and newbies welcome. Grades 7-adult.

Sunday, June 4 (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.

Westlake Porter Public Library challenges all ages to find their next adventure by reading or listening to books each day this summer! The library’s annual Summer Library Challenge begins June 1 and continues through Aug. 1. This year’s theme is “All Together Now” which is about spreading kindness, friendship, and unity. In addition to reading for 40 days, participants are asked to perform two acts of kindness. There will be activity rewards and the library will also offer a variety of special programs, including the annual STEAM WEEK (July 9-15).

Westlake Porter Public Library’s parking lot will be closed for resealing and striping from 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30. There will be no access to the drive-up book drops while the parking lot is closed. The library will be closed on May 28 and 29 in observance of Memorial Day, making it an ideal time for performing the annual maintenance. The re-sealing and re-striping will be done weather-permitting.

Bob Plantz received the 2023 Myrna Chelko Volunteer Award from Westlake Porter Public Library during an April 16 volunteer recognition event. The award is given annually to the volunteer who best demonstrates the spirit of volunteerism exemplified by its namesake, Myrna Chelko. Friends of Porter Public Library’s Vice President Jennifer Cirincione was also recognized for guiding the group’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Plantz has served as a member of the board of trustees for 20 years and received the Ohio Library Council’s Trustee Award of Achievement in 2014. He is also the President of the Library Foundation board of trustees, which has been revived and grown both financially and in membership under his leadership. Plantz is co-chair of the library’s 2023 levy campaign and served as chair of the 2018 levy campaign.

Bay Village Antiracism Network invites you to frequent our Little Free Library at 27902 West Oakland Street to "Read in Color"!

Dedicated to bringing diverse characters and stories we hope you will borrow, share and donate books that broaden our understanding of various cultures and life experiences.   New titles include "Flossie and the Fox," which tells us how brave little Flossie outsmarts a fox and teaches us to not buy into a bully’s self-importance. Will she successfully deliver her basket of eggs to Miz Viola? Or will the fox's bravado be intimidating to our heroine?

Another tale, "Brick by Brick, Ladrillo a Ladrillo," shows us how Luis’ bilingual family shares their dreams as Papi builds their new home brick by brick in both Spanish and English.

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.

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.

Westlake Porter Public Library introduced a new Free Little Art Gallery inside the library.

Similar to the free little libraries concept, people of all ages and abilities can make small pieces of art and place them in the gallery, or they may take a piece of art, or both.

Learn more at westlakelibrary.org/art-exhibits.

Friends, colleagues and community members celebrated Bay Village Branch librarian Barbara Isaacs on April 28 as she worked her last day before retiring.

Starting as a page at the Berea Branch in 1990, Barb worked her way through the Cuyahoga County Public Library system with stops in Strongsville, Parma, the Administrative Offices, and finally to Bay as the Branch Services Librarian Supervisor in 2008.

Barb played a key role in launching the new building's Innovation Center, and was responsible for many of the library's programs during her tenure.

Best wishes for a happy and relaxing retirement!

Westlake Porter Public Library and the Friends of Porter Public Library will celebrate the grand opening of the new Makerspace and recently moved Book Nook Used Book Store on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Included will be demonstrations of the equipment in the Makerspace, giveaways, and cookies.

The new Makerspace is the result of input gathered from the community in a space study conducted by the library in 2021. It is located in the lobby in the former café space and is a creative recording, design, and fabrication space that allows library patrons the opportunity to access a variety of professional and innovative tools and software. It expands the library’s traditional role of providing access to content to providing tools for content creation.

The Friends of Bay Village Library will hold a three-day book sale on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, April 30, from 1-5 p.m.; and bag morning on Monday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. As always, there will be no pre-sales. Bags will be provided by the friends for bag morning.

The sale includes fiction and nonfiction books, puzzles, movies and music for adults, teens and kids. The address of the library is 27400 Wolf Road but there is no access from Wolf. You will need to enter off of Dover Center by the Play in Bay Park or off Lake Road onto Bryson Lane. Contact the library at 440-871-6392 with any questions.