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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 Saturday July 04 due to CLOSED—Independence Day
We're closed Sunday July 05 due to CLOSED
Mon, Jun 29 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jun 30 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 01 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 02 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jul 03 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jul 04 Closed
(CLOSED—Independence Day)
Sun, Jul 05 Closed
(CLOSED)

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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Rescheduled
Tue, Jun 30, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
New date Tuesday, June 30, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Tue, Jun 30, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jun 30, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jun 30, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jun 30, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Atrium,Meeting Room 3

Wed, Jul 01, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 01, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Wed, Jul 01, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 01, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone

Thu, Jul 02, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 02, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 02, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 02, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 02, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Fri, Jul 03, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
Registration is now closed

Mon, Jul 06, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jul 06, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Tue, Jul 07, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jul 07, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab
Registration is now closed

Wed, Jul 08, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 08, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 08, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Wed, Jul 08, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone

Thu, Jul 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 09, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 09, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 09, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Auditorium

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

Fri, Jul 10, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
Registration is now closed

Sat, Jul 11, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Atrium

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

Sat, Jul 11, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone

Mon, Jul 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jul 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Tue, Jul 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jul 14, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Rescheduled
Tue, Jul 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
New date Tuesday, July 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Tue, Jul 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 15, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Wed, Jul 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 15, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone

Wed, Jul 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 16, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 16, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 16, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 16, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Jul 16, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Fri, Jul 17, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
Registration is now closed

Sat, Jul 18, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Sat, Jul 18, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Auditorium,Meeting Room 1

Mon, Jul 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jul 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Tue, Jul 21, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jul 21, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jul 21, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Wed, Jul 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 22, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 22, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone
Registration opens Wednesday, July 1 2026 at 10:00am

Thu, Jul 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 23, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 23, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 23, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 23, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 24, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Fri, Jul 24, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room
Registration is now closed

Sat, Jul 25, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Auditorium

Sat, Jul 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Cancelled
Sat, Jul 25, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Mon, Jul 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jul 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jul 27, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E Market St Akron, Ohio 44308

Tue, Jul 28, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Tue, Jul 28, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jul 28, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 29, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 29, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 29, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
TechZone
Registration opens Thursday, July 9 2026 at 5:30pm

Thu, Jul 30, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

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

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

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

Thu, Jul 30, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Library Park/Amphitheater

Thu, Jul 30, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium