Upcoming Programs
Joyce LaBaw began her artistic journey after retiring from three decades of working as a mechanical engineer. Her work includes acrylic abstracts, landscapes, and portraiture. Often drawing inspiration from local Texas scenery, she strives to capture beauty that is compelling and resonates with the viewer. She is grateful to have the opportunity to create, explore, and exhibit her art.
Joyce’s work has been shown at the Bass Concert Hall, as well as various business venues in Austin. In addition to painting, Joyce works part-time as a CAD designer. She is also a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children), and maintains an aquaponic system to raise tilapia for Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Find out more about her work on her website: http://www.joycelabaw.com/.
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.
As life brings its inevitable ups and downs, whether they be large or small, learn how to bring new awareness and perspective to these changes in this weekly book group facilitated by Elizabeth Hoisington.
This group will be discussing There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem by Wayne W. Dyer. Book discussion will continue for 13 weeks, covering a chapter per week:
- 9.10 & 9.17: Chapter 1
- 9.24 & 10.15: Chapter 2
- 10.22 & 10.29: Chapter 3
- 11.5 & 11.19: Chapter 4
- 11.26 & 12.3: Chapter 5
Elizabeth Hoisington is a meditation facilitator, dedicated to assisting people in the journey of mindfulness. She has practiced meditation for the past 17 years, facilitates a weekly mindfulness meditation at the Westbank Library, Mindful Eating Workshops at the YMCA, in addition to yearly Children’s Mindfulness Programs in local Austin. Some former clients include The Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Freescale, Central Health, and various health facilities.
Elizabeth brings mindfulness meditation into the workplace as well as having a private practice in Austin, where she works with clients on an individual basis. Elizabeth attended the University of Santa Monica, receiving a Masters in Spiritual Psychology. Prior she attended the University of Colorado receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts. Additionally Elizabeth has been through the 8-week University of Massachusetts/MBSR (Mind-Based Stress Reduction) Course, and Certified through the Mindful Schools for K-12.
The Macklin Room at Westbank is closed from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
If you’d like to inquire about using a meeting room, please see our Meeting Room Policies.
Make Mondays fun days! Meet up with your friends at the world’s best play date. Your kids can play with each other, make new friends, use their imaginations, and just be kids. Fun for all, and no clean-up for you – a great way to start your week!
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. All ages are welcome, grown ups are encouraged to participate too!
Westbank Libraries is partnering 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 fourth 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: The Truth About Living to be 100
- February: The Truth About Probate for Property Owners
- March: The Truth About Decluttering Your Home
- April: The Truth About “Advance Care Planning”
- 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
The Truth About Building, Buying or Remodeling Your “Last” Home
Retirees often elect to build, buy, or remodel shortly after retirement expecting this house to be “the last home” they will ever own. Fast forward 5, 10, or even 15 years and what was meant to be the “last house” is no longer equipped for current needs.
In this month’s seminar, we will share key considerations when building, buying, or remodeling to stay put into old age. Learn more about affordable accessibility and universal design features, remodel ideas, resale considerations, and cost saving strategies.
Our 20-minute lunchtime meditation is an opportunity to relax, breathe, and de-stress. Meditation can sometimes bring up emotions, and participants are invited to stay and share those experiences with the group following the meditation if they choose.
Elizabeth is a meditation facilitator, dedicated to assisting people in the journey of mindfulness. She has practiced meditation for the past 17 years, facilitates a weekly mindfulness meditation at the Westbank Library, Mindful Eating Workshops at the YMCA, in addition to yearly Children’s Mindfulness Programs in local Austin.
Elizabeth brings mindfulness meditation into the workplace as well as having a private practice in Austin, where she works with clients on an individual basis. Elizabeth attended the University of Santa Monica, receiving a Masters in Spiritual Psychology. Prior she attended the University of Colorado receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts. Additionally Elizabeth has been through the 8-week University of Massachusetts/MBSR (Mind-Based Stress Reduction) Course, and Certified through the Mindful Schools for K-12.
Led by long-term volunteer Jane Dunham, this book club reads and discusses literary fiction (with an occasional non-fiction book thrown in). In addition, each year the group reads a classic and a book by a Texas author. Join the group on the last Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. at Westbank Library. This group is on hiatus in November and December.
2018 Selections:
- January – Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
- February – The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
- March – Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller
- April – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
- May – Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
- June – The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- July – A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
- August – The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
- September – A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
- October – The Yokota Officer’s Club by Sarah Bird
Calling all gamers! Leave your quarters at home and join us for our monthly video game meet up at Laura’s Library! We’ll have a Switch for chucking Koopa shells at your friends in Mario Kart, a PS3 to spam fireballs in Street Fighter, and two Wiis for some old school fun. We’ll also have a six-station Minecraft LAN party.
No need to register!
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 tech-savvy teens will provide one-on-one help with all your technology questions.
@ Westbank Library on Sundays from 12 p.m. – 2 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.
Library News
Keeping Ourselves Moving
The library is a great place to have fun, hanging out with friends and neighbors while playing and getting a bit of exercise! Sheng Zhen Every Saturday, acupuncturist and Qi Gong instructor Thomas Najar leads Sheng Zhen, a seated [...]
Our digital library is growing
Our digital library is growing. In a community that reads as much as ours does, it is not surprising that we are seeing about 60 new users on Overdrive each month, with checkouts of ebooks and downloadable audios numbering [...]
Welcome Teens
We love the start of a new school year at the library. Our Westbank location, located across from the high school as it is, sees a stream of students flow from that campus to ours every afternoon at 4:15. [...]