Westlake Porter Public Library’s October Calendar of Events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s October 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.

Tuesdays, October 1 and 29 (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, October 1 (6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) Arabic Language Social Hour – Meet other fluent Arabic speakers for informal conversation. Light refreshments provided. Enjoy self-directed conversation and camaraderie. Those attending should be comfortable holding a conversation in the language. Caregivers are welcome to bring their children and can participate in conversation while supervising their child(ren). Please register.

Tuesday, October 1 (7–8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: The Cuban Missile Crisis – A panel consisting of Judge William Vodrey, Judge Ellen Connally and Frank O’Grady will discuss the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 as the United States and Soviet Union faced off. Please register.

Wednesday, October 2 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Rachel Page -“Bat Island” – Join us in kicking off October as three Smithsonian-affiliated scientists teach us about the remarkable world of tropical bats! Please register.

Wednesdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 (5-6 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 4:30.

Wednesday, October 2 (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, October 2 (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 September 25.

Thursday, October 3 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile – Please give blood with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Thursday, October 3 (7-8 p.m.) Women in History: Meet Annie Sullivan! – Women in History Ohio presents Annie Sullivan, best know for being Helen Keller’s teacher. Join us as a historical interpreter shares parts of the life of the woman often deemed “the miracle worker.” Registration begins September 26.

Friday, October 4 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, October 13 (2-3 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love LEGO®? 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.

Saturdays, October 5, 12 and 19 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) Jr. Gamebot – Wanna make video games? Love building with LEGO® bricks? Learn how to create video games using Scratch. Then we’ll bring the action to life as we build and program LEGO® mini robots. Grades 2-5. Registration begins one week before each session.

Saturdays, October 5 and 19 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) Academic Screening – Licensed school based psychologists will host one-on-one academic testing assessments to screen for dyslexia, ADHD, language or auditory barriers, etc. Grades Pre-K-12. Space is very limited and screenings are only academic in nature. Please register each child individually. Academic screenings are made possible through the Accelerated Learning Grant, funded by the ODE and facilitated by Making A Difference Consulting. Registration begins one week before each session.

Saturday, October 5 (1-4 p.m.) Friends of WPPL Present a Fall Fest Party – Join the Friends for visits from costumed characters, surprises, and other fall fun! No registration necessary.

Saturday, October 5 (3-3:45 p.m.) Spooks and Inkwells – Learn the skills to create your own spooky-themed piece of artwork based on one of the 2024 Inktober prompts! Inktober is an annual tradition among professional artists and beginners, to draw something with ink every day during the month of October, based on an official prompt list. Grades 8-12. Registration begins September 28.

Sunday, October 6 (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, October 7 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) H‘owl’ing October Craft Kit Pick Up – Celebrate holidays and other special days in October with some fun crafts. Space is limited. Registration begins September 30. Kits are available until Sunday, October 13, unless other arrangements are made.

Monday, October 7 (Ages 3-5: 10-10:30 a.m.) (Grades K-4: 4:30-5:15 p.m.) Yoga with Ms. Jen! – Calm your body, mind and spirit in this yoga class taught by Ms. Jen, certified yoga instructor! Wear comfy clothes and bring your own mat or towel. Registration begins September 30.

Mondays, October 7 and 21 (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! No registration necessary. Grades 7-12.

Monday, October 7 (7-8 p.m.) Body Snatching and Grave Robbing in 19th Century Ohio – Nineteenth century treasure hunting in Northeast Ohio takes a ghoulish turn in this presentation from Mr. Doug Hulett, a historian and presenter with North Coast Narrative. Please register.

Tuesday, October 8 (4-5 p.m.) Comic Club: Character Creation – Learn how to build an interesting character. Explore, share, and create comics with your friends! Bring your favorite comic book or a comic that you made to share with the group. Grades 2-5. Registration begins October 1.

Tuesday October 8 (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 “The Paris Apartment” by Lucy Foley. 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. Please register.

Tuesday, October 9 (11-11:45 a.m.) Adult Stories and Crafts – Adults with disabilities are invited to laugh, sing and listen to stories, along with a craft or a coloring page. Registration begins October 2.

Wednesdays, October 9 and 23 (7-7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, October 12 (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.

Wednesday, October 9 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Silvia Moreno-Garcia, “The Seventh Veil of Salome” – Join us to free your mind with the highly acclaimed and “New York Times” bestselling and book-award winning author of several novels. Please register.

Thursdays, October 10 and 24 (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, October 10 (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 October 3.

Thursday, October 10 (7-8:30 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This group now meets the second Thursday of every month. This month’s title is “Secret Life of Sunflowers” by Marta Molnar. A limited number of copies will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please register.

Friday, October 11 (4-4:30 p.m.) Read it, Make it @ the Library – We will read one story then make a craft based on the story. Ages 4-7, siblings welcome. No registration required.

Saturday, October 12 (10 a.m.-Noon) Jewelry Junction: All About Pierced Earrings – Learn how to make two different styles of earrings using pearls, stones, or glass beads (supplies and tools included). This program is for adults. Registration begins October 5.

Saturday, October 12 (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.

Tuesday, October 15 (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 necessary.

Wednesday, October 16 (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 House is on Fire” by Rachel Beanland. No registration required.

Wednesday, October 16 – Sunday, October 20: Friends Annual Book Sale – Come find bargains on fiction, nonfiction and children’s books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks. ApplePay, GooglePay, VISA, Mastercard, AmExpress and Discover are all accepted. Hours are as follows:

  • October 16, 4-7 p.m.: Friends preview night – Only for members of Friends. Memberships available at the door
  • October 17, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, October 18, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: Regular sale days
  • October 19, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Half-price sale
  • October 20, 1:15-4 p.m.: Bag sale -bring your own bags.

Thursday, October 17 (5-8 p.m.) CNC Acrylic LED Lamp Carving – Learn to use V-Carve and the CNC router to customize a color changing LED acrylic lamp! Computer skills required. Attendees will receive CNC verification as if they had attended the ordinary CNC orientation. Registration begins October 10.

Saturday, October 19 (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Fall Jewelry Making – Looking for a stylish gift idea for someone special (or yourself)? Join us for a fall earring and bracelet making program. All supplies provided. For teens grades 7-12. Please register.

Sunday, October 20 (2-2:30 p.m.) Read With a Witch – Come to a special interactive storytime, where we will act out the story “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson together using props and costumes. Grades 1-3, siblings welcome. No registration necessary.

Sunday, October 20 (2-3 p.m.) Teen Advisory Board Meeting – Are you interested in helping to plan events for the library? Join the Teen Advisory Board! Join us for our first Teen Advisory Board meeting of the year! Grades 7-12. Application required.

Monday, October 21 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Tween Craft Kit – Register beginning October 14, then stop by Youth Services starting at 9 a.m. for a Tween craft kit! For tweens in grades 5-7.

Monday, October 21 (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 “The Devil’s Rooming House” by M. William Phelps. Please register.

Monday, October 21 (7-8 p.m.) Long Term Care Planning – Presented by Dave Herwerden of WestPoint Wealth Management, LLC. In this educational talk you’ll learn: What long-term care is, and where it’s provided, strategies to pay for long term care, key features and government incentives for long-term care insurance, and how Medicare and Medicaid factor in. Registration begins September 21.

Tuesday, October 22 (2-3 p.m.) Lori Gottlieb: “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” – Join us for a conversation with the author, a therapist and a therapy patient, whose book offers a deeply personal yet universal tour of our hearts and minds and provides the rarest of gifts: a boldly revealing portrait of what it means to be human.

Tuesday, October 22 (6-7:30 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: You and Me Necklace Making – Make a necklace with your teen or tween using crystals, pearls, and/or stones. Adorn your necklace with a charm. This program is for an adult with a teen/tween 11 years or older. Registration begins October 15.

Wednesday, October 23 (6-8:30 p.m.) Adult ADHD 101 – ADHD in adults looks very different from ADHD in children. Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist Jeffrey Jack from the Cleveland Clinic will provide an overview of what ADHD is, what it looks like in adults, when to seek treatment, and how to help others understand the challenges associated with this condition. Please register.

Wednesday, October 23 (7-8:30 p.m.) Using Fashion to Date Family Photos – Knowing a little bit about fashion trends and styles can help narrow down when those hard-to-date family photographs were taken. Using resources available in the library and online, librarians Chad Statler and Bonnie Laessig, will guide you through how you can begin to narrow down those hard to date photos. Registration begins September 23.

Thursday, October 24 (10-11 a.m.) Introduction to Finding Grants – Discover what funders are looking for in nonprofits seeking grants and how to find potential funders in this introductory course presented by David Holmes of Candid. Registration begins September 24.

Thursday, October 24 (6-8 p.m.) Porter Pumpkin Party – Celebrate all things pumpkin with crafts, games, and more! Grades Pre-K-5. No registration necessary.

Thursday, October 24 (6-8:30 p.m.) Heartsaver First Aid & Stop the Bleed – This program combines First Aid and Stop the Bleed into one class led by certified instructors from UH St. John Medical Center. Email account required. Participants under the age of 14 must have a parent or legal guardian with them in class. Please register.

Friday, October 25 (4–4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday – Life cycle of a Pumpkin: How does a pumpkin grow and change? Come and explore the life cycle of a pumpkin! For ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Registration begins October 18.

Saturday, October 26 (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, October 26 (3–4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. Registration begins October 19.

Sunday, October 27 (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 October 20.

Sunday, October 27 (2-3 p.m.) All Abilities Playdate – An open playtime for children of all abilities ages 2-7 with a caring adult. Siblings welcome! Developmentally appropriate toys and a sensory station will be provided for open, imaginative, nonjudgmental play. No registration required.

Sunday, October 27 (3-5 p.m.) Women in History: Golden Age of Hollywood – Women in History brings you the renown Gossip Mavens, Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, as they take you on a journey through the Golden Age of Hollywood. (Sorry, no hair pulling allowed!)​ So much gossip! So little time! Registration begins September 23.

Monday, October 28 (10–10:30 a.m.) Music Monday – Develop pre-reading skills with music, movement and rhythm through stories, songs and rhymes. Ages 2-6. No registration required.

Monday, October 28 (6-8 p.m.) Dungeons and Dragons 101 – Learn how to play this role-playing game and discover its benefits for neurodivergent individuals. Nina Liu-Guechev of Ellie Mental Health will provide an overview of this role-playing game and how it can be quite therapeutic! All gaming equipment will be provided! Ages 12 and up. Please register.

Tuesday, October 29 (7–8 p.m.) Creative Writing Group: Gothic Edition – Creativity is more than putting pen to paper. It’s about breaking away and trying something new! Age 16 and up welcome. Please register.

Wednesday, October 30 (7-8 p.m.) The Tell-Tale Play: A Largely Literary Theater Performance – Join Mark Dawidziak and Sara Showman of the Largely Literary Theater Company for a thrilling performance of some of the greatest works of the Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. Copies of Dawidziak’s book, “A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe,” will be available for purchase following the presentation. Please register.

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