Summer Reading Club 2021

Check out the awesome prizes you can win at the Westbank Library for Summer Reading Club. 

A Night At the Library Mystery: Choose your own adventure

Click here  to try your luck at escaping the library!

Monthly Craft

Pending 

Join us online and pick up the supplies in the branch the week before!

Ages: 9 and up

Registration Required

Story Time

Dates to be announced 

Join us for stories, songs, puppets, finger plays, and maybe some dancing!

Ages: Preschool 

Tuesdays

10:15am - 10:45am

DROP IN

Baby Time

Dates to be Announced

Enjoy special bonding and play time with your baby. This program features bookc, circle time, puppets, songs and rhymes.

Ages: 0 - 18 months 

Thursdays

10:15am - 10:45am

DROP IN

Saturday Kitchen Story Time

Dates to be announced

Fun for the whole family! Come to the library to share stories, talk to puppets, bounce around to silly songs, and make a craft! Join us the last Saturday of the month until April.

11:00am - 12:00pm   

Online 

LEGO Club!

Join us every third Wednesday of the month starting in October.

Build amazing LEGO creations in a busy, creative, and fun atmosphere! LEGO will be provided. 

Ages: 5 and up

3:30pm - 4:30pm

DROP IN

Earth Kids

Join us the first Wednesday of the month from October to December.

Earth Kids unite! This program will feature fun, eco-friendly projects, crafts and learning. Projects will be announced closer to the date.

Ages:  6-12

Registration Required 

Parent-Child Mother Goose

Dates to be announced

Parents will learn fun ways to interact with their child during this two hour oral early literacy program. Snack time and play time are included in each session. In partnership with The Clubhouse Childcare Centre, and funding by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Ages: Newborns - 4 years of age. 

Every Friday

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

For more information and to register, please contact Sheree at 250-762-4476.

Learn to Knit and Crochet

Dates to be announced

Join our dedicated group of knitting ladies to learnt he useful arts of knitting and crochet. Good for beginner and intermediate crafters. 

Ages: 7 years and older please

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Register in person, by phone, or online.

100 Books to Read Together Before Kindergarten

The Okanagan Regional Library is pleased to announce a wonderful way to make sure your child enjoys some of the best children’s books available at the library! Pick up your copy of 100 Books to Read Together Before Kindergarten.

Adult Trivia

Coming soon!

Westbank Cook Book Club

April - from "Jenna Rae Cakes and Sweet Treats: Over 100 recipes for the modern baker" 

Click here to place a hold on this book today!

Early Grey Cupcakes - Makes 16 cupcakes

Bring the coffee shop home with these decadent cupcakes inspired by Earl Grey tea. We infuse both the cupcake batter and the buttercream with steeped Earl Grey tea for a bold and fragrant flavour that is comparable to a London fog - warm Earl Grey tea paired with vanilla and just the right amount of sweetness.

Earl Grey Reduction:

• 3 cups whipping (35%) cream
• 1 cup loose leaf Earl Grey tea, more for garnish

Earl Grey cupcakes:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into cubes
• 1/3 cup egg whites (about 2 eggs)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup whole (3.25%) milk
• 1/4 cup Earl Grey reduction
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Earl Grey buttercream

• 1 batch vanilla buttercream (page 296)
• 1 cup Earl Grey reduction

Earl Grey Reduction instructions: 

1. In a small saucepan, bring the cream and tea to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced by about half.
2. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the mixture into an airtight container. Cover and refrigerate to cool. Discard the solids. Store the Earl Grey Reduction in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. 

Earl Grey Cupcakes instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 2 cupcake pans with 16 cupcake liners
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on low speed for 1 minute. Add the butter and mix for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until the mixture has the texture of wet sand. Do not overmix. Slowly poor in the egg whites and mix until just combined. Add the sour cream and mix until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
3. In a measuring cup, whish together the milk, 1/4 cup Earl Grey Reduction, and vanilla. With a mixer on low speed, slowly pour the milk mixture into the bowl and mix until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again for 10 to 15 seconds. The batter will look a little lumpy. 
4. Divide the batter evenly amoung the cupcake liners, filling each three-quarters full. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cupcake comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pans before transferring the cupcakes to a wire to cool completely. 

Earl Grey Buttercream Instructions:

1. Prepare a batch of Vanilla Buttercream.
2. Add 1 cup Earl Grey Reduction to the buttercream. Whisk on medium speed until we combined. 

Assembly

1. Transfer the Earl Grey Buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a No. 8B tip. Pipe the buttercream onto each cupcake with an even pressure, starting from the middle and swirling in a circular motion until you round the cupcake twice. Release pressure from the piping bag and pull it away for a clean finish.
2. For maximum freshness and deliciousness, serve cupcakes on the day they are made. If you want to bake the cupcakes a day in advance, store the baked, undecorated cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to decorate and serve. 

Happy Eating!

Westbank Adult Book Club

Please join us on the last Tuesday afternoon of the month at 2:00 PM for a lively discussion of each months title.

Come pick up your copy today along with author information and discussion topics about the next book.

Book List 2020

• TBA

Writers’ Group

TBA

Every Thursday

2:00 - 4:00 PM

The Writers’ Group meets at the Westbank Library in our Meeting Room. They focus on Independent Self-Publishing; facilitating authors and would-be authors to publish their own work. In addition, the Writers' Group schedules different guest speakers who are involved in various aspects of writing and publishing. New members are welcome!

Learn more about the Writer's Group by visiting their website: www.westbankwritersgroup.ca. 

DROP-IN

Friends of the Library Speaker Series

The Friends of the Westbank Library organizes local experts to speak on engaging diverse topics on Wednesday evenings. Speakers will be announced closer to the dates. 

TBA

6:30 to 7:30 PM

DROP IN

Granny Squares

TBA

Every Monday

1:00 - 3:30 PM

Do you knit or crochet? Come meet new friends while knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, doing needlepoint, etc. Some supplies will be available.

DROP-IN — All abilities welcome!

Tech Corner

TBA

Every Friday

2:00 - 4:00 PM

Do you need some assistance with your mobile devices? We can help with minor troubleshooting on smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Have any questions about downloading an eBook or our other online resources? We are happy to help you learn.

Call the Westbank branch to book your appointment: 250-768-4369

Ancestry Research Meet Up

TBA

Last Wednesday of the month

1:30 - 2:30 PM

Learn how to use the library's Ancestry.com database for genealogy research within a small group setting.

On the last Wednesday of the month a member of the Kelowna and District Genealogical Society and a Librarian from the Westbank Branch are ready to help you with your Ancestry questions.

Exam Invigilation

We are once again offering exam invigilation for Food Safe Only. Students must book 1 week in advance and follow all health and safety regulations as described by our policies and BC health officials. The library will provide a computer with internet access if needed.

We offer 1 hour timeslots in the following days and times:

Please speak with Westbank staff to book a time. Restrictions apply.

Meeting Room - not available due to COVID-19

Westbank branch has a meeting room available for rent. With a theatre style set-up, the room has a seating capacity of 20-25.

The room is available on open days and rents for $40.00 + tax for the first 2 hours and $10.00 + tax per hour for each additional hour.  Bookings are not confirmed until the rental fee has been paid.

Please contact the branch at 250-768-4369 for further information or to book a room.

Group Study Room - not available due to COVID-19

Use our new study room for free. It has a seating capacity of up to 10 people. 

The room is available during branch hours for a duration of 2 hours. It can be booked up to 2 days in advance. 

Please contact the branch at 250-768-4369 for further information or to book a room.

Local Artists on Display this Month

• Theresa Bishop
• Ralph Carlson
• Irene Scott
• E. Stella Tessier
• Eileen Toews

Community Resources

• City of West Kelowna  
• Greater Westside Board of Trade
• Westside Health Network
• Visit Westside (West Kelowna Visitors Centre)
• Lakeview Heights Community Association (LHCA)

The Westbank Friends of the Library, formed in February 2001, actively support the work of the library and its staff.

The monies raised from their book sales are used to buy non-budget items and to sponsor various programs and events that take place in the library.

The Friends also organize the popular Wednesday Evening Speakers Programs that take place in the library once a month during the winter/spring months.

If you would like more information or would like to attend a Friends of the Westbank Library meeting please contact the library at 250-768-4369.

Details about our Speakers Series program are posted on our branch calendar.