Westlake Porter Public Library’s May Calendar of Events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s May 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.

Thursday, May 1 and 29 (1-1:45 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 April 24.

Thursday, May 1 and Monday, May 19 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile – Please give blood with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Friday, May 2 (4-5 p.m.) and Sunday, May 19 (2-3 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.

Saturday, May 3 (All Day) Free Comic Book Day – Join us to celebrate the day with free comic books in the library lobby while supplies last. Also enjoy a host of activities, raffles and giveaways.

Saturday, May 3 (9:30-11:30 a.m.) How to Love the Way You look in Photos – Learn from a professional how to pose and have others pose and look great in photos. Bring your cell phone and/or camera. Please register.

Saturday, May 3 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) Make Your Own Comic – Drop in to learn from our Youth Services Department, who will be on hand with templates and practical advice to guide you as you make your own comic.

Saturday, May 3  and 31 (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.

Sunday, May 4 (2-3 p.m.) Art Smarts – Explore the works of a well-known artist and then use what you’ve seen to create an art piece of your own! Grades 4-6. This month’s artist is René Magritte. Registration begins April 27.

Monday, May 5 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Summer Artwalk Submissions – Calling all artists ages 0-109! Create a piece of art that celebrates adventure to display in the library’s ArtWalk or in the Youth Services Department. Print out submission the guidelines and form at Westlakelibrary.org/events or pick them up at the Youth Services Desk. Bring the completed form and art piece to the Youth Services Desk no later than May 23. Art must meet all guidelines.

Monday, May 5 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) Magnificent May Craft Kit Pick Up – Celebrate May with some fun crafts. Space is limited. Registration required. Crafts are recommended for ages 3-7. Kits are available until Sunday, May 11, unless other arrangements are made.

Monday, May 5 (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.

Mondays, May 5, 12 and 19 (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.

Tuesday, May 6 (2-4 p.m.) Jewelry Workshop with Evelyn – Bring your jewelry projects, pieces in need of repair, or old jewelry in need of updating. Evelyn will be there with findings to assist you. Registration begins April 29.

Tuesdays, May 6 and 20 (5-6 p.m.) Roblox Arcade (Virtual) – Join us in the Roblox Arcade! We have private servers set up for tweens in grades 4-6 to enjoy some of the most popular games. Registration begins one week before each session.

Tuesday, May 6 (6-7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, May 10 (2-3:30 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 one week before each session.

Tuesday, May 6 (6:30-7:30 p.m.) Confident Motherhood: A Guide to Women’s Health for Moms – Celebrate your journey into motherhood by learning how to strengthen and restore your body! This prenatal and postpartum focused talk offers expert tips on managing common concerns. Please register.

Tuesday, May 6 (7–8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: Fall of the Philippines and the Ed of Empires – Steve Pettyjohn and Ted Prasse will discuss the campaigns and the role of General Douglas MacArthur in the loss of the Philippines and its subsequent retaking. Please register.

Wednesday, May 7 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: David Rosmarin, “Thriving with Anxiety” – Join us for a chat with the Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Program Director at McLean Hospital and Founder of the Center for Anxiety about how we can turn anxiety into strength. His compassionate and evidence-based approach will empower you to use anxiety to thrive. Please register.

Wednesday, May 7 (3-4:30 p.m.) Finding Your Ancestors Using Ancestry.com – This program provides an introduction to Ancestry.com Library Edition and the various resources provided through the database are available to discover who your ancestors are and their roots. There will be time for participants to explore Ancestry.com and begin their own research. Registration begins April 23.

Wednesdays, May 7, 14, and 21 (3-4:30 p.m.) Teen Snacktivity – Who says you can’t play with your food? On Wednesdays after school, drop by the Teen Lounge for a snack related activity. Enjoy the process then eat the results. Grades 6-12.

Wednesday, May 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.

Thursday, May 8 (7-8 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This month’s title is “Still Life” by Sarah Winman. A limited number of copies will be available at the Circulation Desk. No registration required.

Friday, May 9 (4–4:45 p.m.) Fun Science Friday: Our Solar System – Our sun has a family of planets. Come discover the four rocky inner planets and four outer gas giants of our solar system. For ages 4-6, up to kindergarten. Registration begins May 2.

Saturdays, May 10, 17 and 24 (10:30-11 a.m.) and Wednesday, May 21 (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 session! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. No registration required.

Saturday, May 10 (10:30 a.m.-Noon) Medicare: Ins and Outs – Do you need accurate, unbiased information about Medicare? Attend a program by OSHIIP, the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, to learn the “ins and outs” of Medicare.

Sunday, May 11 (1-2 p.m.) Ba-Dum-Tsh – Learn how to punctuate your humor with a “sting,” the short drum fill played after telling a joke using the Makerspace’s drum set and sound recording booth. Registration begins May 5,

Sunday, May 11 (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, May 12 (7-8 p.m.) Financial Aid and College Savings – Join us for an interactive discussion with Dan Trotter of Edward Jones regarding financial aid and college savings. Bring your questions! Registration begins April 12.

Monday, May 12 (7-9 p.m.) Grant at Appomattox: An Interactive Journey with Dr. Curt Fields – Experience the Appomattox Campaign through the eyes of history when Dr. Curt Fields, as Ulysses S. Grant, delivers an interactive presentation blending vivid storytelling and historical insight. Dr. Field is the nation’s foremost Ulysses S. Grant living historian. This event is co-sponsored by the Library and the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable. Please register.

Tuesday, May 13 (10-11 a.m.) The Classic Radio Hour: Inner Sanctum Mysteries (1941) – This month we’re venturing behind the creaking door with our host, Raymond, for Inner Sanctum Mysteries (1941-1952). This series regaled fans with tales of terror and mystery (and some humor, as well). Please register.

Tuesday, May 13 (1:30-4 p.m.) Heartsaver CPR/AED – Get certified for adult, child and infant CPR and AED. Email account required. Class led by certified instructors from UH St. John Medical Center. Please register.

Tuesday, May 13 and 27 (3-5 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! Grades 7-12. No registration necessary.

Tuesday May 13 (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 Six” by Loren Grush. 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.

Tuesday, May 13 (7-8:30 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.

Wednesday, May 14 (6-7 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Liann Zhang – “Julie Chan is Dead” – Grab your popcorn, grab your friend and join us for a propulsive conversation with author Liann hang as she chats about her debut thriller. Please register.

Wednesday, May 14 (7-8:30 p.m.) Environmentalism Book Club – This month’s title is “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, combining Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants. Please register.

Thursday, May 15 (12-1 p.m.) Osteoporosis and Bone Health for All Ages – May is Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month. Join us for a presentation on Osteoporosis and Bone Health for All Ages with Dr. Maria Antonello from MetroHealth. Please register.

Saturday, May 17 (2-3 p.m.) May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i – Learn about the contemporary Hawai’ian May Day celebration with a lei-making craft and an interactive hula demonstration by Manivic’s Dance Company. Grades K-4. No registration required.

Monday, May 19 (1-2 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This month we’ll discuss “Innocent Man” by John Grisham. Please register.

Monday, May 19 (7-8 p.m.) Long Term Care Planning – Dave Herwerden of WestPoint Wealth Management, LLC will discuss planning for long term care before retirement. Please register.

Tuesday, May 20 (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.

Wednesday, May 21 (1-2 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Rachelle Bergstein, “The Genius of Judy” – You’re invited to an online conversation with bestselling author Rachelle Bergstein as she chats about her newest book, which takes a look at Judy Blume’s life, work, and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic – and controversial – young adult novels.  Please register.

Wednesday, May 21 (2-3 p.m.) Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion – The Wednesday Book Group meets the third Wednesday of each month. This month’s title is “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith. No registration required.

Thursday, May 22 (3-4 p.m.) Intro to Google Workspace – Take a tour of Google Workspace, a suite of free, web-based productivity apps that can replace paid office software. Learn how to collaborate and share files with others using the Google ecosystem. Registration begins May 15.

Thursday, May 22 (7-8 p.m.) Journaling for Mental Wellness – Learn how journaling can be a helpful tool for mental wellness with Nina Liu-Guechev of Ellie Mental Health in Westlake. Please register.

Saturday, May 24 (2-4 p.m.) Memorial Day Buttons – This Memorial Day learn how to operate our Makerspace’s button machine and create commemorative pinback buttons from a collection of contemporary and historical designs. No registration required.

Saturday, May 24 (2-2:30 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.

Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26 Library Closed in observance of Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 27 (6-8 p.m.) Introduction to Knitting – Learn the basics of knitting with this introductory class! Attendees will learn the knit and purl stitches and how to cast on and cast off. No experience necessary. Materials provided. Adults only. Registration begins May 13.

Wednesday, May 28 (7–8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Spring is in Bloom – 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! Age 16 and up welcome. Please register.

Saturday, May 31 (3-5:30 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Spring Fling Necklace and Earrings – Design and make a beautiful spring necklace and earring set using crystals and silver or gold findings. Registration begins May 24.

Saturday, May 31 (2-3:30 p.m.) What Is That Black Box in Mecca? – Join us for an informational presentation on Hajj, the yearly Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This program is presented by the West Cleveland Muslim Association (WCMA). Registration begins May 2.

Saturday, May 31 (3-4 p.m.) Illustration Creation – Learn about a featured illustrator and then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. This month’s artist is Lita Judge. Registration begins May 24.

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