Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.
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, Sep 08 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Sep 09 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Sep 10 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Sep 11 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Sep 12 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Sep 13 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Sep 14 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

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

Thu, Sep 11, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A
Registration is now closed

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

Thu, Sep 11, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Sep 11, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

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

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

Sat, Sep 13, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Special Collections

Sat, Sep 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Mon, Sep 15, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Sep 15, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Mon, Sep 15, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Tue, Sep 16, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Sep 16, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Tue, Sep 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

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

Wed, Sep 17, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room 2AB

Wed, Sep 17, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

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

Wed, Sep 17, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Atrium

Wed, Sep 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Library Educator Lab

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

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

Thu, Sep 18, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 18, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Computer Lab 1

Thu, Sep 18, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

Fri, Sep 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Sep 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Sep 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Sat, Sep 20, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Auditorium

Mon, Sep 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Sep 22, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Mon, Sep 22, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

Tue, Sep 23, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Tue, Sep 23, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space B

Rescheduled
Tue, Sep 23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
New date Tuesday, September 23, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Tue, Sep 23, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Wed, Sep 24, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Sep 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Wed, Sep 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Sep 24, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room 1

Thu, Sep 25, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Thu, Sep 25, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Sep 25, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 25, 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center Space A

Thu, Sep 25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Thu, Sep 25, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Auditorium

Thu, Sep 25, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

Fri, Sep 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Sep 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone

Mon, Sep 29, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room

Mon, Sep 29, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
115 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44308

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

Tue, Sep 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Wed, Oct 01, 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Library Programming Room
This event is full

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

Wed, Oct 01, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

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

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

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

Thu, Oct 02, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

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

Sat, Oct 04, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Quiet Study Room 1

Sat, Oct 04, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Atrium,Auditorium,Meeting Room 1,Meeting Room 2AB,Meeting Room 3

Sat, Oct 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
TechZone
Registration opens Saturday, September 13 2025 at 10:00am

Mon, Oct 06, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Teen Meeting Room

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

Tue, Oct 07, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Small Business & Nonprofit Resource Center

Tue, Oct 07, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Business, Government & Science Patent Alcove

Wed, Oct 08, 9:30am - 11:00am
Auditorium

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

Wed, Oct 08, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Auditorium

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

Wed, Oct 08, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Wed, Oct 08, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
TechZone
This event is full

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

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

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

Thu, Oct 09, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Teen Meeting Room

Thu, Oct 09, 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Auditorium

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

Fri, Oct 10, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Children's Library Programming Room

Sat, Oct 11, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Special Collections

Sat, Oct 11, 10:15am - 12:00pm
Business, Government & Science Patent Alcove

Sat, Oct 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Sat, Oct 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm