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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

Add to Calendar 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

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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We're closed Sunday May 24 due to CLOSED—Memorial Day Eve
Mon, May 18 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, May 19 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, May 20 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, May 21 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, May 22 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, May 23 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, May 24 Closed
(CLOSED—Memorial Day Eve)

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, May 19, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, May 20, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, May 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, May 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Wed, May 20, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone

Thu, May 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, May 21, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, May 21, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, May 21, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, May 21, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, May 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, May 23, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Rescheduled
Mon, May 25, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
New date Monday, May 18, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44308

Tue, May 26, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Cancelled
Wed, May 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Wed, May 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, May 28, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Thu, May 28, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, May 28, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, May 28, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Sat, May 30, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Mon, Jun 01, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room 1

Tue, Jun 02, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jun 03, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Wed, Jun 03, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone

Thu, Jun 04, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jun 04, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jun 04, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jun 04, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Thu, Jun 04, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room 1

Sat, Jun 06, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Atrium,Auditorium

Sat, Jun 06, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Auditorium,Meeting Room 1

Sun, Jun 07, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Mon, Jun 08, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Tue, Jun 09, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jun 09, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab

Tue, Jun 09, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

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

Wed, Jun 10, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jun 10, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone

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

Thu, Jun 11, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jun 11, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jun 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Auditorium

Thu, Jun 11, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jun 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Fri, Jun 12, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Sat, Jun 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab

Sat, Jun 13, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Atrium,Auditorium,Meeting Room 1,Meeting Room 2AB

Sat, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
TechZone
Registration opens Saturday, May 23 2026 at 10:00am

Sat, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jun 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Tue, Jun 16, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Tue, Jun 16, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab

Cancelled
Tue, Jun 16, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

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

Wed, Jun 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A
Registration opens Wednesday, May 27 2026 at 10:00am

Wed, Jun 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jun 17, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone
Registration opens Thursday, May 28 2026 at 5:30pm

Thu, Jun 18, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jun 18, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Cancelled
Thu, Jun 18, 12:30pm - 3:00pm

Thu, Jun 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jun 18, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
Registration opens Monday, June 1 2026 at 9:00am

Thu, Jun 18, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium