Upcoming Programs
Join us at Laura’s Library for an art exhibit by Ute Dittemer. Ute works with acrylics and mixed media in her pieces, which include landscapes, nature, and other-worldly themes. As a young child she spent long winter hours with a sketch pad and colored pencils drawing princesses and horses. Going to the library for art books was a must. Forms and colors captured her interest in later years.
Ute Dittemer hails from Ludwigshafen, Germany. She immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Austin, where she met her husband Mike, at Barton Springs. They lost their home in 2008, and became homeless. In 2018 they were accepted to Community First, where Ute makes use of the art studio. They love being part of a community that provides caring support for people in need.
A Reception will be held November 18, from 2 -4, also at Laura’s.
Are you an artist interested in exhibiting your work at the library? Visit our Art at Laura’s page to find out more, see past shows, and submit your samples.
Join us for the 4th Annual Winter Reading Challenge!
Come into either library location to pick up your log/schedule for the Winter Reading Challenge! Participants receive a $5 gift card to Westbank Library’s Jeanne’s Book Store. All ages are encouraged to participate, including grown-ups! Turn your log in by January 10th.
Click here for a printable version of the winter reading log.
We will also have a guessing jar at each location December 21st – January 8th!
Event Highlights:
11.26 Teddy Bear Pajama Storytime – 6pm, Westbank
12.1 Neighborhood Gathering – 11am-1pm, Westbank
12.6 Teen Winterfest – 4:45pm, Laura’s
12.8 Gingerbread Cookie Decorating – 11am, Laura’s
12.8 4th Annual Screening of Elf – 1pm, Laura’s
12.11 Family Night: Seed Bead Ornaments – 6pm, Westbank
12.15 Holiday Storytime – 12:30pm, Westbank
12.18 Family Night: Meditation & Glitter Snow Jars – 6pm, Westbank
12.19 Storyteller Bernadette Nason: A Christmas Carol – 10:30am, Laura’s
12.19 Discovery! Holiday Luminaries – 4:30pm, Laura’s
12.31 Noon Year’s Eve – 11am, Laura’s
The Macklin Room at Westbank is closed from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
If you’d like to inquire about using a meeting room, please see our Meeting Room Policies.
The Discovery program offers hands-on exploring for young learners in many different topics, including science, literature, technology, and more. Designed for elementary-aged kids curious about the world. Come each week and discover something new!
Recommended for ages 5 & up.
Do you like to build? We will have different building materials out to play with and explore. Come let your imagination take shape with blocks, LEGOS, and other fun constructive toys.
Prime of Life Yoga™ focuses on the contemporary teachings of yoga for Westerners, especially benefiting men and women 40 years and beyond. Safe, conservative and user friendly, this is an intelligent approach focusing on moving with the breath in dynamic and static movements, which helps to make the body mind connection as well as warming up the joints and muscles. Modifications are demonstrated to suit the individual. This creates a noncompetitive atmosphere which is more comfortable for everyone.
Lisa Galizia is a Registered Yoga Teacher® with the Yoga Alliance and a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Galizia teaches group and custom private yoga and wellcoaching. For more information, please visit beecaveyoga.com.
The Serenium at Laura’s is closed from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
If you’d like to inquire about using a meeting room, please see our Meeting Room Policies.
¡Hola, Hola! Spanish Storytime for All Ages is designed to empower parents to read simple Spanish books at home and foster a love of Spanish language and Hispanic culture through singing, traditional circle games, rhythm instruments, puppets, and stories. You do not need to have any Spanish language skills to participate. All skill levels are welcome. Come early or stay after to enjoy the beautiful playground and picnic area just outside the door and make new amigos!
It’s the holiday season! Download Señora Ann’s Holiday Songbook here.
Ms. Benson has been leading parent/child Spanish programs for over 15 years in south Florida and now in Austin. She has a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Bilingual Education from the University of Texas, an International Montessori degree as well as certifications in early childhood music. Ms. Benson has years of experience teaching in bilingual classrooms and Spanish immersion preschools. Click here to learn more about “Somos Amigos” (in English, “We’re Friends”), Ms. Benson’s music based early childhood program.
Join Ms. Leah for Storytime every Thursday. This program develops early literacy skills through story sharing, music, and crafts or activities. All ages welcome!
The Macklin Room at Westbank is closed from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
If you’d like to inquire about using a meeting room, please see our Meeting Room Policies.
The Commons at Laura’s will be closed from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
If you’d like to inquire about using a meeting room, please see our Meeting Room Policies.
Library News
Seasonal Programs
The pear trees that our community planted alongside the Westbank Library parking lot seven years ago burst into flame this week in glorious shades of crimson, apricot, and gold, heralding the most colorful change of seasons I have seen [...]
A Generous Community
If you have lived in our area for any length of time, you will have seen Emily. For twelve years, white-haired Emily, who was homeless, stood at the corner of Bee Cave Road and 360 waving down motorists for a [...]
Creating Neighborhood
This past spring, we ran a survey and hosted five community conversations to learn more about what kind of community people want to live in. One of the ideas that kept cropping up in the responses was that of neighborhood. [...]