Westlake Porter Public Library’s July Calendar of Events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s July 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, July 1 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Suma’s Scavenger Hunt Begins – Pick up Suma’s Scavenger Hunt game at the Youth Services Desk during the month of July and win completion prizes! Grades K-4.

Tuesday, July 2 (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 June 25.

Wednesdays, July 3, 10, 24 and 31 (11-11:30 a.m.) Read Together Inclusive Summer Reading – When we read together, we can accomplish so much more! Make the Summer Reading Challenge work for you in this program designed for those who struggle with reading with a goal of finishing the Summer Library Challenge. We will read together, update our logs, make crafts and even make friends when we Read Together! No registration required.

Wednesday, July 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, July 3 (6:30-8 p.m.) Makerspace Foundations: CNC Orientation – Attend an orientation to learn the basics of using the CNC router and become a verified user of the machine. Registration begins June 26.

Thursday, July 4 Independence Day – Library Closed

Friday, July 5 (4–4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday – Pond life: Join Mrs. K as we explore the life cycle of frogs and discover why they are fabulous amphibians. For ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Registration begins June 28.

Saturday, July 6 (11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.) and Thursdays, July 11 and 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.

Saturday, July 6 (2-4 p.m.) Make It, Take It! – Stop by Youth Services to complete a featured craft. While supplies last. PreK-Grade 2. No registration required.

Saturday, July 6 (2-4 p.m.) Women in History: Clara Barton – Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” Clara Barton nursed and aided soldiers at the front during the American Civil War. After the war Clara became the president of the American Red Cross, a position she held for twenty-two years. Join us as an historical interpreter from Women in History comes to tell us about Clara Barton’s life in this exciting and informative performance. Please register.

Saturday, July 6 (3–4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Registration begins June 29.

Sunday, July 7 (2-3 p.m.) Art Smarts – Learn about a well-known artist and then use what you’ve seen to create an art piece of your own. Grades 4-6. Registration begins June 30.

Monday, July 8 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Jolly July Craft Kit Pick Up – Celebrate holidays and other special days in July with some fun crafts. Space is limited. Registration begins July 1.

Monday, July 8 (10–10:30 a.m.) Music Monday – Develop pre-reading skills with music, movement and rhythm through stories, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-6 with a caregiver, siblings welcome. No registration required.

Monday, July 8 (7-7:45 p.m.) Mr. Molecule’s Outer Space Adventures! – Launching from Spaceship Earth, Mr. Molecule takes young audiences on a rocket ride to learning, from molecules to the Milky Way. Registration begins June 30.

Tuesday, July 9 (Noon-1 p.m.) Makey Makey – Create a banana piano, play video games with Play-Doh, and use your fellow humans to play the bongos with Makey Makey, which can turn any conductive material into a keyboard! Grades 7 and up. Registration begins July 2.

Tuesday, July 9 (2-2:30 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Kate DiCamillo “A Visit to Deckawoo Drive with Mercy Watson” – Newbery Medal winning author DiCamillo will share the stories behind the creation of her early chapter book series, the original Mercy Watson, and the follow up series “Tales from Deckawoo Drive.” Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, July 9 (2-2:30 p.m.) “Mercy Watson” Viewing Party – Join us to watch Kate DiCamillo’s virtual visit celebrating the publication of the last Meryc Watson book. Simple crafts will be available, and will be geared towards grades PreK-2. All ages. No registration necessary.

Tuesday, July 9 (3:30-5 p.m.) Teen Anime Club – Are you a teen who loves anime and manga? Watch a few episodes, play games, and have fun with your friends at Teen Anime Club! No registration necessary. Grades 7-12.

Tuesday, July 9 (6:30-8 p.m.) 3D Printing for Quilters – Celebrate STEAM Week by integrating 3D printing and quilting. Use Tinkercad to learn the basics of 3D design and create your own one-of-a-kind quilting template. Basic computer skills required. Age 18 and up. Space is limited. Registration begins July 12.

Tuesday, July 9 (7-8:30 p.m.) Tuesday Evening Book Club (In Person AND Virtual) – Join the WPPL Tuesday Evening Book Club in person or on Zoom to discuss “Of Women and Salt” by Gabriela Garcia. 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.

Wednesday, July 10 (11 a.m.-Noon) Fight the Fall: Tips, Tricks and Techniques – Join Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers of Westlake for a discussion on how to stay on your feet and prevent falls. Learn how to keep yourself safe as you age.

Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 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.

Wednesdays, July 10 and 24 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays, July 13, 20 and 27 (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! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. No registration required.

Thursday, July 11 (11 a.m.-Noon) WPPL’s Annual Egg Drop – Celebrate engineering during STEAM week with your design for the egg drop. Building starts at 11 a.m. in the Dover Room. Join us at noon in the library lobby for the official egg drop. No registration necessary.

Thursday, July 11 and Monday, July 22 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile

Thursdays, July 11, 18 and 25 (5-5 p.m.) Code Camp – Join us for coding with the Fiero platform, an online software program that teaches you how to code through hundreds of tutorials and dozens of real-world projects. Every participant will need a valid email address and password. If you have already created a Fiero account, your child must have the login information, or you will need to log them in at the start of each session. For grades 4-6. Registration begins July 3.

Thursday, July 11 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This group now meets the second Thursday of every month. This month’s title is “The Bandit Queens” by Parini Shroff. A limited number of copies will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please register.

Friday, July 12 (11 a.m.-Noon) Super Readers – What is your super strength? Increase vocabulary, fluency, and sight words by incorporating art, poetry, creative writing and more with a Marvel and DC comics theme. Grades 1-3. This program series is made possible through the Accelerated Learning Grant, funded by the Ohio Dept. of Education, and facilitated by Making A Difference Consulting. Registration begins July 3.

Friday, July 12 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, July 21 (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.

Saturday, July 13 (11 a.m.-Noon) Yoga @ the Pavilion: Slow Flow Yoga – Join us for an outdoor session of Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga with certified instructor Jen Nebraska. Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga is a form of Vinyasa Yoga that links the breath, movement, and poses together. This slow flow class combines a relaxed atmosphere with a therapeutic pace, which is unique for a Vinyasa session. Please bring your yoga mat. If inclement weather, the indoor location will be the Porter Room.

Saturday, July 13 (2-2:30 p.m.) Sidewalk Art! With Sniff the Rainbow Monster – Join Sniff the Rainbow Monster in the Reading Garden as we read a book about rainbows and summer fun and make chalk art creations! Grades K-4. Chalk will be provided. Please dress accordingly. Rain date is Saturday, August 10. You will be notified and automatically registered for the rain date event, if necessary.

Sunday, July 14 (2-3 p.m.) Come Play With Me – Open playtime for children ages 2-5 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! No registration required.

Monday, July 15 (1-2:30 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This club meets the third Monday of every month except June and December. This month’s title is “American Kingpin” by Nick Bilton. Please register.

Monday, July 15 (6:30-7:30 p.m.) Foundations of Investing – Building your investor IQ starts with understanding the basics. Whether you are new to investing or want a refresher, our presentation will help you learn about the importance of developing a strategy, the impact of asset allocation, and ideas for focusing on what you can control with your finances. Presented by Dan Trotter & Dustin Kuhlman of Edward Jones. Please register.

Tuesday, July 16 (2-2:30 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Max Brallier, “The Last Kids on Earth” (Virtual) – Join us to talk with New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier about “The Last Kids on Earth,” both the book series and the animated series on Netflix. Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, July 16 (2-2:30 p.m.) “Last Kids on Earth” Viewing Party – Join us to watch Max Brallier’s virtual author visit and learn how he came up with the different monsters and villains as well as the unique ways that Jack and his friends figure out to defeat them. No registration required.

Wednesday, July 17 (10 a.m.-Noon) Meet the Minis of Tender Touch Equine Inc. – This inclusive event will give children and adults with disabilities and their peers an opportunity to meet and interact with these tender and gentle miniature registered therapy horses who have visited over 50 area schools, nursing homes, and community events. All ages. Registration begins June 17.

Wednesday, July 17 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – The Wednesday Book Group meets the third Wednesday of each month. This month’s title is “The Dog of the North” by Elizabeth McKenzie. No registration required.

Wednesday, July 17 (2-2:45 p.m.) Bluey Pawty – Celebrate all things Bluey! Join us for stories, games, crafts, and more! Ages 2-6. Registration begins July 6.

Wednesday, July 17 (2-4 p.m.) Discover Your Roots: Learn the Basics of Ancestry® Library Edition – Did you know that you can use Ancestry® in the library free of charge? Learn the basics of using the free library edition of the popular reference for genealogy, Ancestry.com®. 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. Please register.

Wednesday, July 17 (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Summer Jewelry Crafting: Earrings and Charm Necklaces – Join us to make your own earrings and charm necklaces. For crafters in 7-12th grade. Registration begins July 10 and is encouraged, but drop-ins are welcome.

Thursday, July 18 (10-10:30 a.m.) Music with Mr. Tim – Sing and learn pre-literacy and developmental skills, and appreciate the joy of music in this class taught by Mr. Tim, BS in Music Education. Ages 3-6, siblings welcome. Please register each child attending. This program is hosted outside in our Pavilion, please dress accordingly. In case of inclement weather, we will meet in the Storytime Room. Registration begins July 11.

Thursdays, July 18 (1-3 p.m.) and July 25 (1-2:30 p.m.) Teen Crafternoons – Stop by and get creative using various art and craft supplies. Friends in grades 7-12 welcome. No registration necessary.

Thursday, July 18 and Saturday, July 20 (3-4 p.m. – Session II) Oh My Gears – Discover how drive and follower gears function and explore how changing gear sizes can impact the distribution of work. Presented by Young’s Art Studio, this program helps to build a strong STEAM foundation in a fun, engaging way. There are four total dates offered between two sessions. Session II registration opens on July 11, and you will automatically be registered for both July dates. Children are encouraged to attend all sessions, but you can indicate when registering which sessions they are able to attend. Grades 3-5.

Friday, July 19 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) Jump, Skip, and Twirl – Join us at the Friends Pavilion to have fun with our jump ropes, hula-hoops, and a chalk obstacle course. Learn new jump rope rhymes, practice your hula-hoop technique, and test your skills on our obstacle course. Ages 5-10, siblings welcome. No registration required.

Friday, July 19 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read It, Make It @ the Library – We will read one story then make a craft based on that story. For children ages 4-7. Siblings welcome. No registration necessary.

Saturday, July 20 (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. No registration required.

Sunday, July 21 (2–4 p.m.) Anime Club – A great club for anime and manga lovers! All otaku and newbies welcome! Grades 7-Adult. No registration required.

Monday, July 22 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Tween Craft Kit – Register beginning June 17, then stop by Youth Services starting at 9 a.m. for a Tween craft kit! For tweens in grades 5-7.

Tuesday, July 23 (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. No registration required.

Tuesday, July 23 (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 July 16.

Tuesdays, July 23 and 30 (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 23 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Elizabeth Acevedo, Learning the Power of Poetry – You’re invited to learn about the power of poetry with Elizabeth Acevedo. In this exciting author conversation and Q&A, Acevedo will provide a short reading from her National Book Award winning and “New York Times” bestselling novel-in-verse, “The Poet X.” Please register.

Tuesday, July 23 (7-8:30 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. No registration required.

Wednesday, July 24 (2-4 p.m.) Let’s Make Slime – Drop in at the Friends Pavilion and make your own slime in this fun, hands-on activity! Grades K-6.

Thursday, July 25 (3-4 p.m.) Youthbiz Academy – Compete for a cash prize while learning entrepreneurial skills including making an elevator pitch, creating and designing business logos and more. Grades 7-8. This program series is made possible through the Accelerated Learning Grant, funded by the Ohio Department of Education, and facilitated by Making A Difference Consulting. Please visit cuyahogareads.org for more information. Registration begins July 18.

Friday, July 26 (4:30-5:30 p.m.) Sensory Calming Bottle Craft – These personalized little bottles will help calm you. They are a fun way of relieving tension and regulating emotions. Ages 10 and up. Registration begins July 19.

Saturday, July 27 (2-3:30 p.m.) Name Keychain 3D print – Ever tried your hand at 3D printing? Learn the basics of Tinkercad and make a 3D printed name keychain! Design will take place in class and be printed later. Makerspace staff will call you when it is ready to be picked up. For teens and adults. Registration begins July 20.

Sunday, July 28 (2-4 p.m.) Patch It, Don’t Trash It – Bring a piece of clothing of any kind that needs repaired and learn basic sewing techniques to extend the wearability of your favorite clothes! 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 July 20.

Monday, July 29 (1-3 p.m.) Mini Summer Games 2024: An Inclusive Mini Summer Olympics – Drop in and go for the gold! Special mini-Olympic games for fun and movement. For children with disabilities and their typical peers. Games will be geared toward children ages 3-8. No registration required.

Tuesday, July 30 (2–3 p.m.) Dan Santat: Graphic Novels Are Life! – Join this year’s winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature as he inspires tweens and teens to tell their own stories through graphic novels. Please register.

Tuesday, July 30 (4-6 p.m.) International Friendship Day: Bracelets – Celebrate International Friendship Day by creating friendship bracelets in the Makerspace. Bring your bestie and drop in from 4-6!

Wednesday, July 31 (7–8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Adventure Edition – Creativity is more than putting pen to paper. It’s about breaking away and trying something new! This month will feature poems about adventure and journeys. Please register.

Wednesday, July 31 (7-8 p.m.) The Music of Tony Bennett – Join “The Doc of Rock,” Dr. Joel Keller, as we celebrate the life and music of Tony Bennett and sample some of his most popular songs. Please register.

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