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Image for event:  The Right to Read

Registration now closed

The Right to Read

The greatest civil rights issue of our time

2025-01-14 17:30:00 2025-01-14 19:30:00 America/New_York The Right to Read Join us for a special viewing and panel discussion of this inspiring documentary promoting literacy and produced by LeVar Burton. Arrive early for light refreshments, resources, and networking. Main Library - Auditorium

Tuesday, January 14
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Main Library

Auditorium

Join us for a special viewing and panel discussion of this inspiring documentary promoting literacy and produced by LeVar Burton. Arrive early for light refreshments, resources, and networking.

This event is brought to you in partnership with the Summit Education Initiative. Refreshments begin at 5:30 pm followed by the movie viewing, which will start at 6 pm and conclude with a panel discussion.

Our panel includes:

LaMonica Davis, Principal Helen Arnold CLC

Judi Hill, President Akron NAACP

Dr Shelley Houser, Director Center for Literacy University of Akron

Dr David James, Executive Director Summit Educational Initiative

Pam Kennedy, Early Literacy Specialist State Support Team Region 8 

Moderator:

Pamela Hickson Stevenson, Executive Director Akron-Summit County Public Library

When a child can’t read, their chances of incarceration, homelessness, and unemployment increase.

Follow the stories of an activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our

youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.

 

Over 30% of Summit County’s young people currently aren’t reading on grade level.

Together, we will come together to discuss and promote the importance of reading and empower our community through the transformative power of books. 

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Education | Community Discussion |

Main Library

Phone: 330.643.9000
Branch manager
Michael Bianchi

Hours
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Mon, Aug 10 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Aug 11 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Aug 12 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Aug 13 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Aug 14 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Aug 15 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Aug 16 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Drive-up Window closes fifteen minutes before the building closes for the day.

Main Library, located in the heart of downtown Akron, combines compelling public space with meaningful and relevant public library services for all members of our community. Since opening in 2004, the downtown library welcomes more than one million visitors each year.

Subject divisions include: Business, Government & Science, Culture & AV, Magazines & Newspapers, Special Collections (local history & genealogy), TechZone@Main, Teen, and a 12,000 square feet Children's Library.

Special services available at Main Library include: a Patent & Trademark Resource Center; U.S. Passport and Notary services; a Microbusiness Center; a Maker Space; a resource lab for early childhood educators; and regularly scheduled computer training classes. Also available at Main Library are more than 125 public access computers, color photocopiers/printers, laminating, scanning, faxing, and free Wi-Fi.

Specialized spaces include a 425-seat auditorium, public meeting rooms, and a used bookstore. An interior glass block walkway leads to a 600-space parking garage owned by the City of Akron. An outdoor amphitheater and landscaped park complete the complex.

Upcoming Events

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Tue, Aug 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Tue, Aug 11, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Aug 11, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Aug 12, 10:30am - 11:30am
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A
Registration is now closed

Wed, Aug 12, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Aug 12, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Aug 12, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Zoom Program 1

Wed, Aug 12, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone

Thu, Aug 13, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 13, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Aug 13, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 13, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Aug 14, 8:30am - 11:00am
Auditorium

Fri, Aug 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 15, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Special Collections
This event is full

Sat, Aug 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Sat, Aug 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 15, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Auditorium,Meeting Room 1

Mon, Aug 17, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Aug 18, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Aug 18, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 20, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Cancelled
Thu, Aug 20, 10:30am - 12:00pm

Cancelled
Thu, Aug 20, 12:30pm - 3:00pm

Thu, Aug 20, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Aug 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 22, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Special Collections

Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Cancelled
Tue, Aug 25, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Wed, Aug 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Aug 26, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Aug 26, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone

Thu, Aug 27, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Thu, Aug 27, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 27, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Aug 27, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 27, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Aug 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 29, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Auditorium

Mon, Aug 31, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Aug 31, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E Market St Akron, Ohio 44308

Tue, Sep 01, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Tue, Sep 01, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Sep 02, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Sep 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Sep 02, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Sep 03, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 03, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Sep 03, 12:30pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 03, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Sep 03, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Sep 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Sep 05, 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Atrium,Auditorium,Meeting Room 1,Meeting Room 2AB,Meeting Room 3

Tue, Sep 08, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Sep 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Sep 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Sep 09, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
TechZone
Registration opens Wednesday, August 19 2026 at 10:00am

Wed, Sep 09, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone
Registration opens Wednesday, August 19 2026 at 10:00am

Thu, Sep 10, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Sep 10, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 10, 12:30pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 10, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Sep 10, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium