Bring your little ones to stretch, sing, wiggle, and dance!

We will use rhythm instruments and other props to have some fun with music. This program focuses on developing gross motor skills and social skills. We’ll also read a story. All ages are welcome, grown ups are encouraged to participate too!

Westbank Libraries is continuing our partnership with Austin Senior Resource Alliance to present a year-long series of candid conversations with local experts focused on the unique and complex issues facing Austin’s mature homeowners and families. Join us on the third Tuesday of each month at 10:30am at Laura’s Library to be part of the conversation. Check out each month’s topic below:

• January: Aging in Place and Staying Put
• February: The Truth About Probate for Property Owners
• March: The Truth About De-cluttering Your Home
• April: How to Pay for Senior Living
• May: The Truth About Avoiding Homeowner Scams
• June: The Truth About Communicating with Adult Children
• July: The Truth About 55+ Senior Living Options
• August: The Truth About Liquidating the Extra “Stuff”
• September: The Truth About Building, Buying, or Remodeling Your “Last” Home
• October: The Truth About Selling As-Is
• November: The Truth About Living, Dying, and Leaving a Legacy
• December: No Seminar

November: The Truth About Living, Dying, and Leaving a Legacy

As far as we know, no one secretly wishes they could spend their last breaths in a cold, noisy, impersonal hospital room. Most people say that given the option, they prefer to die at home among family and close friends. Despite this wish, however, few take time to plan or organize this major life course event.

Make the commitment to bring a loved one or friend and attend this 90-minute panel event featuring expert panelists who will share the most important things you need to know about living, dying, and leaving a legacy on your terms.

This could quite possibly be one of the most important seminars of the year.

Heartfulness Meditation can help you to live a heart-centered life, manage your emotions, and find inner peace and balance. When we become mindful of our feelings, we can let them inspire us. This practice awakens our potential for a simple, joyful existence.

Want to learn more? Check out the book The Heartfulness Way .

Instructor through Nov. 5:

Arely Sulvarán-Achenbach is a committed practitioner and a certified Heartfulness trainer. She is grateful for the opportunity to show people how to meditate through Heartfulness techniques and supports them in this infinitely beautiful journey of the heart to continue learning, deepening, and integrating their practice into their lives.  She conducts Heartfulness programs in English and Spanish.  She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and son.

Instructor from Nov. 12-Dec. 31:

Ragini Khanjee is a Heartfulness trainer and has been practicing Heartfulness for over 30 years now. She currently serves as the regional coordinator for all Heartfulness initiatives in the Texas region, and organizes the Heartfulness programs at universities, schools, corporations, community centers, and other venues. She loves meditating with people and helping them with their journey of the heart.

Join us as we collaborate and explore the possibilities of Scratch and Scratch Jr. We will have a few computers and tablets available and some optional projects to learn Scratch coding basics. We encourage you to bring your own device to start creating with Scratch!

Scratch is a programming language and environment designed for ages 8 & up that allows you to learn programming basics, create games, animate a story, make music and share your creations. Scratch is free to use with a modern browser:

Desktop:

• Chrome (63+)
• Firefox (57+)
• Safari (11+)

Tablet:

• Mobile Chrome (63+)
• Mobile Safari (11+)

Scratch Jr. is a programming app inspired by Scratch that is designed for children ages 5-7 that also enables them to create their own stories and games while learning basic programming concepts. The free Scratch Jr. App is available on:

•  iPad 2 or later, including all iPad minis, with iOS 7.0 or later installed.
• Android tablet, 7-inches or larger, that are running Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean MR1) or higher
• Chromebooks via the chrome web store

Are you a teen interested in volunteering? Check out the volunteer page for more information.

Get help with all of your technology from a tech-savvy teen. Bring cameras, laptops, questions about social media, apps, or anything else that comes to mind! Our volunteers will provide one-on-one help with all your technology questions.

@ Westbank Library on Sundays from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

@ Laura’s and Westbank Library every Tuesday of the month from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Are you a teen interested in volunteering? Check out the volunteer page for more information.

A storytime for a parliament of night owls of all ages — along with their night owl caregivers! Get comfy in your favorite pajamas, grab your cuddliest sleepy toy, and join in the best bedtime stories ever. The milk and cookies are on us! Offered one Tuesday a month at Westbank from 6 – 6:45 p.m. 

Bring your favorite teddy bear (or other stuffed animal) this month, and we’ll have a “feast” with toy food!

Unlike other physical forms of yoga that use still or slow yoga postures, Laughter Yoga is like kindergarten recess for adults, with lots of eye contact, high energy, movement, and an atmosphere filled with child-like playfulness. We bring joy to the body through lots of laughter, silliness, and deep inhalation and exhalation, which increase the net supply of oxygen to our body and our brain.

Participants of all ages will leave with a few techniques they can begin using immediately to feel energetic, more relaxed, and able to transform frustrations into happy, endorphin filled meditative experiences through Laughter Yoga. Wear clothes that you can move in and that don’t restrict your abdomen. NO YOGA MATS OR PROPS NEEDED.