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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 |

TAGS: | |

Main Library

Phone: 330.643.9000
Branch manager
Michael Bianchi

Hours
Mon, Jul 14 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jul 15 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 16 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 17 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jul 18 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jul 19 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jul 20 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

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

Tue, Jul 15, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space B

Tue, Jul 15, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jul 15, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
TechZone
Registration is now closed

Wed, Jul 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

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

Wed, Jul 16, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Jul 16, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
TechZone
Registration is now closed

Wed, Jul 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room 1
Registration is now closed

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

Cancelled
Thu, Jul 17, 10:30am - 12:00pm

Cancelled
Thu, Jul 17, 12:30pm - 3:00pm

Thu, Jul 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 17, 6:10pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 18, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Jul 19, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Atrium

Mon, Jul 21, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

Tue, Jul 22, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jul 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jul 23, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space B

Wed, Jul 23, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jul 23, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

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

Thu, Jul 24, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 24, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 24, 6:10pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jul 25, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Jul 26, 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Mon, Jul 28, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

Mon, Jul 28, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E Market St, Akron, OH 44308

Tue, Jul 29, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Computer Lab 1

Tue, Jul 29, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

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

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

Wed, Jul 30, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Jul 30, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Wed, Jul 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Thu, Jul 31, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Thu, Jul 31, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 31, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jul 31, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jul 31, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Thu, Jul 31, 6:10pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Aug 01, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 02, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Library Park/Amphitheater

Sun, Aug 03, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Auditorium

Mon, Aug 04, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

Tue, Aug 05, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Aug 05, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Aug 06, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Aug 06, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Aug 06, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Atrium

Wed, Aug 06, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 07, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 07, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Rescheduled
Thu, Aug 07, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
New date Thursday, August 21, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
1 South High St.

Fri, Aug 08, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Aug 09, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Mon, Aug 11, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone
Registration opens Monday, July 21 2025 at 10:00am

Mon, Aug 11, 12:30pm - 1:00pm
Registration opens Monday, July 21 2025 at 10:00am

Tue, Aug 12, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone
Registration opens Monday, July 21 2025 at 10:00am

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

Tue, Aug 12, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Aug 13, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

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

Wed, Aug 13, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone
Registration opens Monday, July 21 2025 at 10:00am

Wed, Aug 13, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Auditorium

Wed, Aug 13, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Wed, Aug 13, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Wed, Aug 13, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone
This event is full

Wed, Aug 13, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Aug 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone
Registration opens Monday, July 21 2025 at 10:00am

Thu, Aug 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

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

Thu, Aug 14, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Aug 14, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Bud & Susie Rogers Garden

Thu, Aug 14, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium