Westlake Porter Public Library’s October Calendar of Events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s October 2025 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 October 1 (10:30-11:15 a.m.) and Thursday, October 2 (1:30-2:15 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.

Wednesday, October 1 (2-3 p.m.) Downsizing and Decluttering – Having too much stuff can impede people from relocating or getting health care into their homes. This engaging presentation explores why stuff is so important for some people and teaches practical, easy-to-follow tips on downsizing and decluttering. Presented through the AARP Speakers Bureau. Please register.

Wednesday, October 1 (3-5 p.m.) Teen Crafternoon – One Wednesday of each month stop by and enjoy a calming afternoon of crafting. Grades 5-12. No registration required.

Wednesdays, October 1, 15, 22 and 29 (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. Grades K-4. Sign up starts at 4:30 p.m.

Mondays and Wednesday beginning October 1 (5:30-7:30 p.m.) Citizenship Classes – Learn about United States history, government and geography, your rights and responsibilities as a United States citizen, and how to participate in democracy. Participate in naturalization preparation + N-400 review. You will also receive English instruction. Contact The Hope Center for registration.

Wednesday, October 1 (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 1 (7–8:30 p.m.) Douglas Macarthur—Hero, Villain, Egomaniac? – Douglas MacArthur is a controversial military leader, to say the least. Some love him, some hate him. Judge Ellen Connally and Professor David Goldberg join us to discuss his legacy. Note: This WAWF session is on a different night of the week. Please register.

Thursday, October 2 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile – Please give blood with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Thursday, October 2 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key, “Nuestra América” – Join us in conversation with Smithsonian professionals as they highlight inspiring stories of Latinos throughout history, as well as their incredible contributions to the Unites States. Please register.

Thursdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 (4:30-6:30 p.m.) Elementary Homework Help – Sometimes homework is just hard. It helps to practice with someone who has been through it too. Teen volunteers are standing by to offer drop-ins homework help for elementary students, Grades 1-4.

Thursday, October 2 (6-7 p.m.) Breakout: Zombies – Westlake is overrun with zombies! Work together, solve the clues, and save the city! Grades 3-6. Registration begins September 25.

Saturday, October 4 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) ACT Practice Test: Paper Version – Want to get in some practice before taking the ACT? Sylvan Learning will be here to simulate the exact environment for taking the paper version of the ACT. Bring your own calculator and a #2 pencil. Grades 8-12. Registration begins September 27.

Saturdays, October 4, 11 and 25 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. No registration required.

Saturday, October 4 (2-3 p.m.) and Wednesday, October 15 (4-5 p.m.) Brick Builders – Do you love Legos©? Then bring your ideas and imagination to Brick Builders! Bricks provided. No registration is required, but room capacity is limited. First come, first served. Ages 5-12.

Sunday, October 5 (2-3 p.m.) Chess Club – Drop in and hone your skills or learn how to play chess in this casual, non-competitive club. Some sets provided, but feel free to bring your own. Grades 1-4.

Sunday, October 5 (2-3 p.m.) Friends Membership Meeting & Sensational 60s Music Program – Following a brief meeting, join the Friends of the Library for a program exploring the tunes and tales of a groovy generation! Please register.

Monday, October 6 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Oddball October Craft Kit Pickup – Celebrate October with some fun crafts. Space is limited. Registration required. Kits are available until Sunday, October 12, unless other arrangements are made. Crafts recommended for ages 3-7.

Monday, October 6 (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 September 29.

Mondays, October 6, 20 and 27 (3-5 p.m.) Teen Lounge – Need a place to hang after school? Come to WPPL’s Teen Lounge on Monday afternoons. Enjoy some video games, board games, snacks and more. No registration required. Grades 7-12.

Monday, October 6 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) Spooks and Inkwells: Draw Every Day in October – Can you draw every day for a month? Let’s make a spooky and unique illustration randomly chosen from a prompt list! Supplies will be provided. Grades 2-4. Registration begins September 29.

Mondays, October 6, 13, and 20 (7-8:30 p.m.) Intro to EMBA (Entrepreneurial MBA) – In this three-session program, participants will gain valuable insight on how to grow their revenue and outreach. Upon completing all sessions, a Certificate of Completion will be issued. Registration begins September 29.

Tuesday, October 7 (6-8 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Leather Bracelet and Wire Bracelet – Make a leather bracelet using silver, gold, copper, and/or glass beads and wire, and a wire bracelet using large beads. Registration begins September 30.

Tuesday, October 7 (10-11:30 a.m.) and Sunday, October 26 (1-2:30 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 30.

Tuesdays, October 7-November 4 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Public Speaking Boot Camp: A Five-Week Program Designed by Toastmasters International – Presenters from a local Toastmasters club will use the “Speechcraft” program to help you improve your ability to give presentations for professional and personal purposes. For adults and teens grades 9 and up. Registration begins September 30 for all sessions.

Wednesday, October 8 (3:30-5 p.m.) After School in the ‘Space – Tweens and teens are welcome in the Makerspace to create a project with the Makerspace equipment! Participants must have a signed user agreement from a parent or guardian on file. For ages 11-15. Registration begins October 1.

Wednesday, October 8 (7-8:30 p.m.) Environmentalism Book Club – This month’s title is “Archipelago of Hope” by Gleb Raygorodetsky. Please register.

Wednesdays, October 8 and November 12 (7–8 p.m.) Family Literacy Night – Join us for an engaging read aloud with Maggie Eaton followed by a variety of fun activities that foster a love of reading and support literacy for the whole family. Grades K-3. Registration begins October 1.

Thursdays, October 9 and November 13 (5-6 p.m.) Social Hour for Teens with Autism – This social hour is a safe and fun space for teens and young adults with autism who are currently enrolled in high school to meet and hang out! There will be snacks and games. We are pleased to partner with the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities as a Library Facilitator location. WPPL thanks the Cuyahoga County Board of DD for their grant to accomplish a year of inclusive programming. No registration required.

Thursday, October 9 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This month’s title is “The City and its Uncertain Walls” by Haruki Murakami. A limited number of copies will be available at the Circulation Desk. No registration required.

Thursday, October 9 (7-8:30 p.m.) Trivia Night: Spooky Scary Trivia – Spooky and sweet Halloween trivia full of tricks and treats! Register solo or in teams of 2-5. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team. Please register.

Thursday, October 9 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Leigh Bardugo, “Six of Crows” – Join us online for a discussion with the author of the wildly popular Young Adult novel, “A Six of Crows.” Please register.

Saturday, October 11 (2-4 p.m.) Fall Community Cultural Crafts – Stop by Youth Services and create crafts highlighting a few of the holidays taking place during the fall season around the world. While supplies last. Ages 5 and up. No registration required.

Sunday, October 12 (2-3:30 p.m.) Hand Sewing for Literacy: You and Me – Adults and children in grades 3-5 learn basic sewing skills together then work collaboratively to create a single sewn project after listening to a short story connecting these skills to literature. Please register each child individually. One adult may accompany up to three children. This program is for an adult with a child in grades 3-5. Registration begins October 5.

Monday, October 13 (10:30-11 a.m.) Little Yogis – Stretch, breathe, and move through fun poses that build balance, focus, and joy in this yoga session for children up to age 5 with a caregiver. Please bring a yoga mat or towel. Ages 0-5. Presented by certified yoga instructor Jen Nebraska. Registration begins October 6.

Monday, October 13 (7-8 p.m.) Earth “kind” Meetup Group – Meet with other veg/plant-based- curious individuals to discover new flavors, new foods and more ways to be kind to yourselves and to our earth. This group will meet most months on the second Monday of the month. Various topics will be discussed. No registration required.

Tuesday, October 14 (9:30-9:50 a.m.) Stories and Signs – Enjoy an interactive storytime while learning a few words in sign language! No registration required. Ages 0-3, siblings welcome. No registration required.

Tuesday, October 14 (10-11 a.m.) The Classic Radio Hour: Hermit’s Cave (1937) – Did you listen to these classic radio programs when they aired? Or are you new to the medium? Either way, we hope you’ll tune in for a trip down Memory Lane. We hope you’ll join us for this Halloween treat! Please register.

Tuesday, October 14 (3-4 p.m.) Tech Bytes: Android Help Session – Have quick questions about your Android device? Need help with basic features or navigation? Join our Help Session for a casual drop-in opportunity to learn and share tips! No registration required.

Tuesday, October 14 (7-8 p.m.) Let’s Talk! Spanish Language Social Hour-¡Hablemos! Hora Social en Español – Meet other fluent Spanish speakers for informal conversation. Register to join.

Tuesdays, October 14 and 21 (6:30-8 p.m.) Mending Basics: How to Shorten Jeans – Learn how to shorten your own jeans using the sewing machine in the WPPL Makerspace! Participants will also learn the basics of using a sewing machine, including loading a bobbin, threading a sewing machine, and adjusting stitch length and tension. Participants should bring their own jeans. Registration begins October 7.

Tuesday October 14 (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 “All the Sinners Bleed” by S.A. Colby. 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, October 15 (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 Death of Mrs. Westway” by Ruth Ware. No registration required.

Thursday, October 16 -Sunday, October 19 Annual Friends’ Book Sale – Find plenty of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks. Three rooms, plus the Book Nook, will be filled to the brim! Hours are: Thursday, October 16, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. • Friday, October 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Saturday October 18, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Half-price sale) • Sunday, October 19, 1:30 – 4 p.m. (Bag Sale). Plus, the preview sale for Friends members on Wednesday, October 15 from 4-7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 15 (7-7:30 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. No registration required. Grades 1-3, siblings welcome.

Thursday, October 16 (3-4 p.m.) Tech Bytes: iPhone and iPad Help Session – Have quick questions about your iPhone or iPad? Need help with basic features or apps? Join our Help Session for a casual drop-in opportunity to learn and share tips.

Thursday, October 16 (6:30-8 p.m.) Porter Pumpkin Party – Celebrate all things pumpkin with crafts, games, and more! This inclusive pumpkin party features activities for children and families of all abilities. This event may get noisy. Limited sensory kits will be available. Families are encouraged to ask for one and/or bring one. We are pleased to partner with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a Library Facilitator location. WPPL thanks the Cuyahoga DD for their grant to accomplish a year of inclusive programming. No registration required. Grades PreK-5.

Saturday, October 18 (11-11:45 a.m.) Adapted Weekend Fun – Let’s have fun together in an interactive program especially for children who may not be successful in a typical library program. In each session we may explore toys, sensory elements, music and movement, or do a craft. This month’s theme is Farm!. For children ages 5 and up. Registration begins October 11.

Saturday, October 18 (2-4 p.m.) Craftapalooza – Come to the library and help us clean out our craft closet. A variety of make-it and take-it crafts will be available at the Youth Services desk. Not available for pick-up via the drive-up window. No registration required. All ages.

October 20–26 Spice it Up! Take Home Kit: Caraway – Sign up for a kit containing a sample of the featured spice and a handout with background on the spice and suggested uses! Registration begins October 13. Kits can be picked up at the library drive up window from October 20–26 during business hours.

Monday, October 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 with a caregiver, siblings welcome. No registration required.

Monday, October 20 (1-2 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This month’s title is “Death in the City of Light,” by David King. Please register.

Monday, October 20 (4:30-5:15 p.m.) Tinkering with Tinkercad – Explore 3D design with Tinkercad! Learn the basics, start a project, and return to the Makerspace later to finish. No printing during the session. Grades 3-6. Registration begins October 13.

Tuesday, October 21 (10 a.m- Noon) Advocacy Series: Reel Abilities Film Festival – “My Own Normal” – Watch the film “My Own Normal,” with a panel discussion following. Great for adult audiences, including parents of adults with disabilities. Sensory space will be available in the Craft Room as well as access to the Universal Changing Table. Please register.

Tuesday, October 21 (6-8 p.m.) Craft Club – Join us at our craft club meeting! Bring a craft and hang out with members of the community. All crafts and skill levels welcome. No registration required.

Tuesday, October 21 (6:30-7:30 p.m.) Digital Transfer Stations: Analog to Digital – Did you know you could digitize your old, physical media at the library? Attend this session to learn about our Digital Transfer Stations and how they can help you convert your records, slides, VHS, cassette tapes and more into modern, compatible formats. Registration begins October 14.

Wednesdays, October 22 and 29 (3-4 p.m.) Snacktivity – Who says you can’t play with your food? Drop by the Teen Lounge for a snack-related activity. Enjoy the process then eat the results. All snacks will be assembled and consumed in the Craft Room. While supplies last. Grades 5-12. No registration required.

Wednesday, October 22 (7-8:30 p.m.) Ghosts of the Civil War: Shades of Blue and Gray – Join Mark Dawidziak and Sara Showman of the Largely Literary Theater Company for a series of ghostly tales, just in time for Halloween! They’ll bring the Civil War to life through ghost stories! Literary selections include pieces by Walt Whitman, Ambrose Bierce, and Emily Dickinson. Please register.

Thursday, October 23 (7-8 p.m.) Nostalgic Showcase Presents: Halloween’s History in Cartoons – Halloween has provided the backdrop of some of our favorite cartoons! Join Cat in this deep dive on the history of Halloween and watch some spooky cartoons, too! Refreshments will be provided. No registration required. Grades 8-Adult.

Wednesday, October 22 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Malala Yousafzai – “Finding My Way” – You’re invited to join us online and be one of the first to hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai. Please register.

Thursday, October 23 (9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Crocheted Necklace and Earrings – Create a beautiful 3-strand crocheted necklace and earrings using silver, copper or gold-plated wire, crystals, and pearls. Registration begins October 16.

Thursday, October 23 (10-11:30 a.m.) Intro to Project Budgets – Learn the basic elements of how anyone can draft a project budget for a grant proposal with confidence.  Presented by David Holmes of Candid. Please register.

Thursday, October 23 (1-1:30 p.m.) Hear Me Roar: Storytime with Strength – This cross-generational program connects patients with Parkinson’s with our community by sharing stories, songs and movement in this interactive storytime. Ages 2-6, siblings welcome. Registration begins October 16.

Saturday, October 25 (1-2 p.m.) Pokémon Fun! – This will be a time to view and trade cards, do a craft, battle your librarian, or play a Pokémon Bingo game. Feel free to bring your cards!  Ages 6-11. No registration required.

Saturday, October 25 (3-4:45 p.m.) Short Story Workshop – Listen to a book read aloud by one of our librarians, learn literary terms, then write a short story! This month’s theme is Not-So-Spooky Monsters. No registration required. Grades 1-4.

Saturday, October 25 (4-5 p.m.) New Parent Engagement Session – Join us at the library for an engaging session designed for new parents and caregivers! Enjoy a brief storytime and then learn all about the programs and services that the library offers. The session will wrap up with open playtime— perfect for children to explore and socialize while parents connect. No registration required.

Sunday, October 26 (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 27 (6:30-8 p.m.) Artificial Intelligence: Unlocking the Future – Step into the fascinating word of artificial intelligence. Please register.

Tuesday, October 28 (7-8:30 p.m.) Women in History Presents Betty Ford – Women in History presents Betty Ford, the wife of President Gerald Ford. She was a proponent of the Equal Rights Amendment and was open about her personal struggles in life including substance abuse. Please register.

Wednesday, October 29 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Philippa Gregory – “Boleyn Traitor” – Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesday, October 29 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) Birth, Death and Rebirth in the Cosmos: An Evening with the Great Lakes Astrophotography Society – Join the Great Lakes Astrophotography Society for a night under the autumn skies! Explore the life cycle of celestial objects and how the universe is a story of endless transformation. Ages 10 and up. Registration begins September 29.

Wednesday, October 29 (7–8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Gothic Edition – Join us for an hour of writing prompts to inspire you to keep writing. Creativity is more than putting pen to paper. It’s about breaking away and trying something new! For adults and teens age 16 and up. Please register.

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