Upcoming Programs
Laura’s Library is proud to host a unique art show featuring work by students from Valley View Elementary. With tempera and acrylic paints on canvas and paper, students used unconventional tools to create the pieces in this exhibit.
Please join us for a reception on September 15, 2:30 – 4:00.
Julie Cimino is an art educator at Valley View Elementary School. One of Ms. Cimino’s professional goals is to support Valley View’s special needs community. Last school year she set a plan in motion to develop assistive tools and technology to allow and encourage students with limited fine and gross motor skills to create art. This led to a partnership with UT graduate engineering students. The grad students worked collaboratively to create solutions that allow students to express their artistic selves with the help of adaptive tools.
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.
The Commons at Laura’s will be closed from 12:00 until 1:30 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!
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
September: 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.
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 .
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
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.
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.
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.
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