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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
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We're closed Monday January 19 due to CLOSED—Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Mon, Jan 19 Closed
(CLOSED—Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Tue, Jan 20 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jan 21 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jan 22 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jan 23 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jan 24 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jan 25 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

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Tue, Jan 20, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jan 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jan 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jan 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Jan 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Jan 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone
This event is full

Wed, Jan 21, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Wed, Jan 21, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Wed, Jan 21, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room 1
Registration is now closed

Cancelled
Wed, Jan 21, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Thu, Jan 22, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jan 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jan 22, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jan 22, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Jan 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Jan 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jan 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Educator Lab,Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Jan 26, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Zoom Program 1

Mon, Jan 26, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Mon, Jan 26, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E Market St Akron, Ohio 44308

Tue, Jan 27, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Jan 27, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Wed, Jan 28, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Jan 28, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Rescheduled
Wed, Jan 28, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
New date Tuesday, January 27, 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Wed, Jan 28, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Thu, Jan 29, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Thu, Jan 29, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Jan 29, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Jan 29, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Jan 29, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

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

Sat, Jan 31, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone
This event is full

Mon, Feb 02, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Feb 02, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Zoom Program 1

Tue, Feb 03, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Feb 03, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Feb 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Feb 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Feb 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Feb 04, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Wed, Feb 04, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Feb 05, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Feb 05, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Feb 05, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Feb 05, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Feb 05, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Feb 06, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Fri, Feb 06, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Feb 07, 10:00am - 2:00pm

Sat, Feb 07, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Sat, Feb 07, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1,Computer Lab 2,TechZone

Mon, Feb 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Feb 09, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Zoom Program 1

Mon, Feb 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Mon, Feb 09, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Tue, Feb 10, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Feb 10, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Feb 10, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room 2AB

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

Wed, Feb 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Feb 11, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Wed, Feb 11, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Zoom Program 1

Wed, Feb 11, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Feb 11, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone

Thu, Feb 12, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

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

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

Thu, Feb 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Feb 12, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Feb 13, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Fri, Feb 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Feb 14, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Atrium

Sat, Feb 14, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Feb 14, 2:00pm - 4:45pm
Auditorium

Sat, Feb 14, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Feb 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Feb 16, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Zoom Program 1
Registration opens Monday, January 26 2026 at 10:00am

Mon, Feb 16, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Tue, Feb 17, 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Business, Government & Science

Tue, Feb 17, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Feb 18, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Feb 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone
Registration opens Wednesday, January 28 2026 at 10:00am

Wed, Feb 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Feb 18, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Wed, Feb 18, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Wed, Feb 18, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room 1
Registration opens Wednesday, February 4 2026 at 10:00am

Thu, Feb 19, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Feb 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Feb 19, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Feb 19, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium