Westlake Porter Public Library’s January Calendar of Events

Following is Westlake Porter Public Library’s January 2026 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, January 1 – Library Closed for New Year’s Day

Sunday, January 4 (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, January 4 (2-3:30 p.m.) and Tuesday, January 6 (6-7:30 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.

Monday, January 5 (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 December 29.

Mondays, January 5, 12 and 26 (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.

Tuesday, January 6 (7–8:30 p.m.) World at War Forum: Guadalcanal Campaign – Final Victory – In the final part of our Guadalcanal programs Steve Pettyjohn and Bob Pence will describe the final weeks of the battle in the lead up to victory in February 1943. Please register.

Wednesday, January 7 (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, January 7, 14, 21, and 28 (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 p.m. Grades K-4.

Wednesday, January 7 (6-6:30 p.m.) Meet Your Makerspace! – What is the Makerspace? What can you make? Come and learn all about the equipment available and what is required to use it! Registration begins December 31.

Wednesday, January 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, January 8 and Monday, January 26 (1-7 p.m.) American Red Cross Bloodmobile – Please give blood with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Thursday, January 8 (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, January 8 (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, January 8 (7-8:15 p.m.) Thursday Night Book Discussion – This month’s title is “The Book Club for Troublesome Women” by Marie Bostwick. A limited number of copies will be available at the Circulation Desk. No registration required.

Saturdays, January 10, 17 and 24 (10:30-11 a.m.) Family Storytime – Join us for rhymes, songs and play! Ages 2-6 with a caregiver. No registration required.

Sunday, January 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, January 12 (10-10:45 a.m.) STEAM Ahead: Snowflake Science – Come and explore the science of snowflakes and other states of matter. Discover how water changes from a solid to a liquid and back again! Make new discoveries through hands-on experiments, active participation and a simple take-home project. Ages 4-6, up to Kindergarten. Registration begins January 5.

Monday, January 12 (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. Please register.

Monday, January 12 (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, January 13 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: David Brooks, “How to Know a Person” – David Brooks is one of the nation’s leading writers and commentators, a New York Times op-ed columnist, The Atlantic writer, PBS NewsHour regular, and bestselling author of “The Second Mountain,” and “The Road to Character.” Please register.

Tuesday, January 13 (6:30-8 p.m.) Microsoft Office: an Overview – Learn the basics of Microsoft Office! Explore Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in this beginner-friendly overview of the popular software suite. Registration begins January 6.

Tuesday, January 13 (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.

Tuesday January 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 “Tuck Everlasting” by Natalie Babbitt. 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.

Wednesdays, January 14 and 21 (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, January 14 10 (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 January 7.

Wednesday, January 14 (7-8:30 p.m.) Environmentalism Book Club – This month’s title is “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson. Please register.

Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 25 (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.

Monday, January 19 (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 January 12.

Monday, January 19 (1-2 p.m.) True Crime Book Club – This month’s title is “A Serial Killer’s Daughter,” by Kerri Rawson. Please register.

Monday, January 19 (6-8 p.m.) Vision Board Workshop: Manifest Your Dreams for 2026 – Create a unique vision board to capture your vision and inspiration for 2026! Magazines, craft supplies, and a white poster board will be provided to kickstart your creativity. Registration begins January 12.

Monday, January 19, Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21 (6-8 p.m.) High School Study Café – Exams are on the way! Come study at the library. Snacks and study spaces will be available in the Youth Services Department for students. Grades 9-12.

Monday, January 19 (7-8 p.m.) Tax Planning for Retirement – Tax planning changes through the four stages of retirement. Learn the critical tax question you must answer BEFORE retiring. Presented by Dave Herwerden of WestPoint Wealth Management, LLC. Please register.

Tuesday, January 20 (2-3 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Julia Hotz, “The Connection Cure” – Join us online to discuss nature, art and service as medicine with Julia Hotz, journalist and award-winning author of “The Connection Cure.” Streamed live. Please register.

Tuesday, January 20 (7-8:30 p.m.) Jane Russell and Cleveland’s Forgotten Champions – Dennis Sutcliffe returns to the library to discuss the connection between Hollywood star Jane Russell and her Hall of Fame husband, Bob Waterfield, of the Cleveland Rams and their 1945 NFL championship. Please register.

Wednesday, January 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 “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Hentry. No registration required.

Thursdays, January 22 and 29 (4:30-6:30 p.m.) Homework Help – Sometimes learning is just hard. It helps to practice school skills with someone who has been through it too. Teen volunteers are standing by for drop-in homework help. Grades 1-6.

Saturday, January 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. No registration required. Ages 4-7 with a caregiver, siblings welcome.

Tuesday, January 27 (3:30-7:30 p.m.) Teen Scene Movie Night: Master Builders’ Edition – After school in the Teen Lounge, come watch everyone’s favorite toy brick building franchise on the big screen. Popcorn and candy while supplies last. No registration required. Grades 5-12.

Tuesday, January 27 (6-7 p.m.) Breakout: Wizard Castle – You have found a wizard’s treasure chest, but it’s protected by several powerful spells. Work together, solve the clues, and release the magic! Grades 3-6. Registration begins January 20.

Tuesday, January 27 (6-8 p.m.) Jewelry Junction: Valentine’s Day Bracelet and Earrings – Make a beautiful Valentine’s Day bracelet and earrings using glass beads, crystals, pearls and silver heart findings. Registration begins January 20.

Wednesday, January 28 (7-8 p.m.) Virtual Author Talk: Liz Moore, “The God of the Woods” – Join us online for secrets and second chances with Liz Moore, “New York Times” bestselling and award-winning author of “The God of the Woods” and “Long Bright River.” Streamed live. Please register.

Wednesday, January 28 (7–8 p.m.) Adult Creative Writing Group: Celebrate the Year of the Horse – 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.

Thursday, January 29 (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.

Saturday, January 31 (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 Summertime Fun! For children ages 5 and up. Registration begins January 24.

Saturday, January 31 (2-4 p.m.) Make It, Take It! – Stop by Youth Services to complete a featured craft. While supplies last. No registration required. Not available for pickup at the drive-up window. PreK-grade 2.

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