Westlake Porter Public Library is pausing in-person programming for an additional two weeks—through January 30—due to the high COVID transmission rate in Cuyahoga County. Scheduled programs may be postponed or take place virtually. Please check our event calendar for updates to specific programs. We will contact those who are already signed up for in-person programs in the next couple of weeks. We also continue to feature quality virtual programming.

Updated: January 10, 2022

Westlake Porter Public Library is pausing all in-person programming until Monday, January 17 due to the high COVID transmission rate in Cuyahoga County. Scheduled programs may be postponed or done virtually. Please check our event calendar for updates to specific programs. If you are currently registered for a program, you will be contacted by the library. ​If transmission rates continue to remain high, programming may continue to be on hold until rates decrease.

Updated: December 29, 2021

Westlake Porter Public Library will require masks for all persons aged 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, to enter and use the library beginning Friday, September 17. This is being done in accordance with the Universal Indoor Masking Advisory issued by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health on Wednesday, September 15. More information about the spread of COVID-19 in Cuyahoga County is available at the Board of Health’s website.

Masks will be available those who do not have one. Drive-up and telephone services are available to anyone not wearing a mask.

Updated: September 16, 2021

With the rate of COVID-19 cases in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties continuing to rise, the Library has continued to evaluate our pandemic safety measures including mask policy. Starting September 7, 2021, the Library will require masks for all persons aged 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, attending an indoor program or utilizing a meeting space with more than 2 people in it. Patrons within the main, open portion of the library will continue to be highly encouraged to wear masks.

Updated: August 31, 2021

Per the recent notice released by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Westlake Porter Public Library strongly encourages all persons, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask inside the library building.

Updated: August 6, 2021

Per current recommendations from the CDC and the State of Ohio, fully vaccinated people do not have to wear a mask to enter Westlake Porter Public Library effective June 2, 2021. We recommend that people continue to wear a mask and maintain social distance inside the library until they are fully vaccinated. Those who feel sick should stay home.

Updated: June 2, 2021

Beginning Thursday, March 18, WPPL will begin distributing BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Tests. Patrons can pick up the tests at the drive-up window. If a patron is unable to pick up a test during regular library hours, contact the library to arrange for a test kit to be left in an after-hours locker. Anyone seeking a test who is feeling sick or showing COVID symptoms should send someone else to pick up a test for them. Users must have a smartphone and a computer with a webcam and internet access to administer the at-home test.

Additionally, WPPL has RTA passes to hand out to anyone who needs one to get to a vaccination appointment.

The State of Ohio has partnered with Abbott and eMed to bring rapid, reliable testing into the home where the result is delivered in minutes. The Ohio Department of Health has secured the purchase of at least 2 million tests that can be self-administered outside of a clinical setting. It is Governor DeWine’s goal to make these tests available and accessible in every Ohio county.

The 15-minute BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for at-home testing in collaboration with a telehealth session. Abbott has selected eMed, a digital health solution, as its telehealth partner. This service for COVID-19 testing prescribes and allows the test to be done rapidly at home with virtual instruction and consultation. A trained telehealth professional guides those being tested through the at-home self-test via video call using the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test and Abbott’s complementary NAVICA mobile app to enable the testing process and display BinaxNOW COVID-19 test results.

General information on BinaxNOW tests – including a demonstration – can be found here.

Updated: March 18, 2021

Westlake Porter Public Library will be re-opening the building for browsing on Friday, January 22, 2021 at 9:00 am. Building capacity will be limited, and patrons are encouraged to limit their time within the building. Face coverings for ages 2 and up and other temporary policies remain in effect. Study rooms and meeting rooms will not be available. Limited Computer Access will continue by appointment only. Drive-up, telephone, and online services will also remain available.

Updated: January 21, 2021

Revised: March 5, 2021

Effective Thursday, November 19, 2020 Westlake Porter Public Library will be offering drive-up window services, telephone services, online programming and limited computer access only. The physical library will be closed for browsing, but open for limited computer access by appointment only. The new, expanded WiFi can be accessed in the parking lot. The health and safety of our patrons and staff are of the upmost importance. This difficult decision to reduce services was made in response to the rising COVID-19 cases locally as well as in response to the Cuyahoga County stay-at-home advisory.

Customers may continue to request materials online by visiting discover.westlakelibrary.org or by calling the library at 440.871.2600. Materials already on hold will be available for pick-up through the drive-up window during regular open hours. Limited computer access appointments can be requested by calling the library at 440.871.2600 x2.

Updated: November 18, 2020

Westlake Porter Public Library is OPEN for browsing and limited seating during regular hours. Face coverings for ages 2 and up and other temporary policies remain in effect. We continue to offer computer use by appointment, drive-up window service, telephone reference, and virtual programs during our regular hours as well. Service for homebound individuals and U.S. passport services have also resumed.

Updated: October 16, 2020

Westlake Porter Public Library will be closing beginning today, September 15, 2020 at 5:00 PM. The Library has been informed that staff members of the library have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, WPPL will remain closed and will reopen at 1 PM on Sunday, September 20. During the closure, browsing and computer use will be suspended. However, the drive-up window on the south side of the building will remain open and many of our scheduled virtual programs will continue. Visit the event calendar to check the status of online programs.

Updated: September 15, 2020

Westlake Porter Public Library will reopen the building for patrons to browse the collection on Wednesday, June 17 at 9 am. At this time, we will cease curbside service in lieu of our drive-up window on the south side of the building. The first hour of the day, 9 -10 am Monday through Saturday, will be set aside for older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.

Because WPPL takes the safety of its patrons and staff seriously, physical distancing guidelines and a continued reduction in some services will be in place to provide a safe environment for everyone. Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the building. The changes and reduction of services listed below stem from the need to continue physical distancing but also to ensure that we can keep the building as clean as possible and have staff focus on keeping high traffic areas sanitized.

Based on recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC, and approved by the County Prosecutor’s Office, all staff and patrons over the age of two will be required to wear a face covering while in the building. Those that cannot wear a face covering can be served through our telephone reference and drive-up window services.

Internet use will remain by appointment only. If an appointment is not made in advance, there is no guarantee a computer will be available.

Meeting Room usage and in-person programs will remain on hold while the state’s ban on mass gatherings of more than 10 people remains in place. We will continue to offer high quality programs virtually through Zoom and our social media platforms.

Areas of the library have been modified to accommodate physical distancing. Patrons will be encouraged to use self-check. You will need to have your library card and PIN to use the self-check stations.

Tables and chairs have been temporarily removed due to the difficulty of ensuring they can be properly sanitized between uses. Magazines will be available for checkout, but newspapers will not be available since they cannot practically be quarantined for three days after use like all other library materials.

Children ages 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and there will be a limit of 80 patrons in the building at any one time.

Portables Gift Shop and the Book Nook will remain closed for the time being. Both are staffed exclusively by volunteers and the funds they raise go directly back to support the library’s mission. The Café will also remain temporarily closed while our “browsing only” and “no food and drink” policies are in place.

While curbside service and computer use have been well received, we know people are anxious to come into the building and browse the collection for themselves. We are excited to welcome the community back to the library and are hopeful that if we all follow these guidelines, we can create an atmosphere that prioritizes safety while also providing access to the collection.

Updated: 6/9/2020

In order to prepare the building and ensure the health and safety of patrons and staff, Westlake Porter Public Library will be delaying the use of computers in the building to Monday, May 18. WPPL apologizes for the delay but wants to take the proper precautions while reconfiguring computer stations and finalizing a cleaning protocol. Curbside service and telephone reference are currently available. Patrons can pick-up materials placed on hold through a contactless process. All returns are to be made in the drive-thru book drop. As always, WPPL appreciates your patience.

Updated: 5/8/2020

Starting Monday, May 11, Westlake Porter Public Library will offer free monthly Homebound Delivery services for Westlake residents who are unable to safely visit the library due to a temporary or permanent condition. All deliveries will be contactless to ensure the safety of our patrons and staff. For more information or to register for our Homebound Delivery service, please contact the Outreach department at 440-250-5448.

Updated: 5/6/2020

Westlake Porter Public Library will begin Curbside Pickup Service on Thursday, May 7. Patrons may pick up available holds during the library’s regular hours. Holds for materials can be placed online using our catalog, or by calling the library. Patrons must wait until they receive an available hold pickup notification via email, text, or phone before coming to the library.

To pick up holds, park in one of the marked curbside pickup spaces in front of the building, call the Library and provide your name and parking spot number. A library staff member will bring out your holds and place them in the trunk of your vehicle. A space for Bike-up and Walk-Up patrons will also be provided.

The drive-up book drop will remain open. Materials must be returned in the book drop to allow safe handling and a period of quarantine.

Updated: 5/5/2020

On behalf of Porter Public Library Board of Trustees and Staff, thank you for your patience while our building has been closed to comply with the State of Ohio’s Stay-At-Home Order. This past Monday, April 27, Governor DeWine laid out a plan for businesses and organizations to reopen. On Tuesday the Board of Trustees approved the Library’s plan to begin bringing back in-person services while ensuring we continue to be mindful of the health and safety of both our patrons and staff.

The Library will begin reopening procedures starting the week of May 3. Curbside service and telephone reference will begin later that week, with an official start date to be announced. WPPL staff will begin cleaning the building and preparing materials for circulation. When curbside service begins, patrons will be able to pick up new or existing holds by parking in one of several parking spaces in front of the building. Patrons will then be able to call the library and provide their name and parking spot number. A WPPL staff member will bring out the materials in a plastic bag and place them in the trunk of the patrons’ vehicle. Any materials returned to the Library will be quarantined for 72 hours.

Curbside service and telephone reference services are the first part of a gradual plan to reopen Westlake Porter Public Library. The second part will consist of opening the building for computer use on Tuesday, May 12. Patrons will call the library to reserve a computer for a specific time and day. Patrons reserving a computer must have a library card, no guest passes. There will be a limit of one person to a computer but there may be exceptions for two family members working together.

The final step in reopening WPPL will be opening the entire building. The timeline for this final step will occur in accordance with guidelines laid out by state and local governments in order to ensure the safety of WPPL patrons and staff. 

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Andrew Mangels
Director, Westlake Porter Public Library

Updated: 4/29/2020

In the interest of public safety and to follow the guidelines provided by Governor DeWine, Westlake Porter Public Library is targeting April 30, 2020 to reopen. WPPL will continue to evaluate the situation and take the recommendations of Local, State and Federal Government and Health Agencies into consideration when making any decisions regarding the library’s closure. Programming, events and meetings originally scheduled through April 30 are also canceled.

​We are certainly aware of how much people rely on their public library for reading, listening, and viewing materials as well as Internet connections and meetings spaces. However, we believe the risk of helping to spread the virus, even with proper social distancing practices in place, is too great to reopen at this time. We appreciate your continued understanding and we look forward to opening as soon as it is safe to do so.

Please continue to visit this page for updates. WPPL provides access to digital content such as ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video and much more. Visit our Download & Stream and Shelter in Place pages for resources. Remember to like WPPL on Facebook and follow WPPL on Twitter at for live and streaming content such as storytimes, recommendations and more!

Updated: 4/1/2020

Westlake Porter Public Library is cancelling all programs, storytimes, meeting room reservations, and outreach services effective Friday, March 13 through Sunday, April 5 in order to limit the spread of Coronavirus or COVID-19. Study rooms will be limited to a maximum occupancy of two people. Regular library activities will resume on Monday, April 6.

The library will remain open. However, WPPL advises patrons not to visit the library if they are sick or at risk of contracting the virus.

Patrons can still make use of the library’s digital content, the drive-thru pick-up, drop-off and the after-hours lockers. WPPL also has a new mobile app available for download from the App Store or Google Play Apps.

Please visit the CDC or the Ohio Department of Health for more information about the Coronavirus.

Updated: 3/12/2020