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Branch Summer Storytime (Wednesdays, June 10 - July 22)
Summer Storytime at Rodman Branch Library will be held each Wednesday between June 10 and July 22 in conjunction with the 2026 Unearth A Story Summer Reading Program. Identical sessions will be held at 10:30 a.m. and again at noon.
Ideal for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers, storytime sessions are intended to encourage lifelong readers through stories, music, movement and activities.
Registration is not required to attend storytime.
Rodman Chess Club (June 17)
The Rodman Chess Club meets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Rodman Auditorium on the third Wednesday of each month and is open to patrons of all ages who have an interest in exploring the ancient game of strategy. Although it is called a club, there is no formal membership. Several boards are set up in the Main Auditorium as players mingle to find opponents to play against. Players are welcome to come and go as they please. No registration is required.
Summer Reading Stories & More:
Fantastic Fossils with Akron Fossils and Science Center (June 18)
Akron Fossils and Science Center will visit Rodman Public Library on Thursday, June 18 for Fantastic Fossils, a special hands-on Summer Reading Stories & More program.
During Fantastic Fossils, kids will examine real fossils, learn how they are formed, create their own fossil replica to take home, and participate in an erupting model volcano demonstration.
Fantastic Fossils will be presented twice, including at 10:30 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend and kids should sign up for just one of the time slots. (Register Children attending only).
[REGISTER FOR 10:30 A.M. SESSION]
[REGISTER FOR 12:30 P.M. SESSION]
Movie Matinee: Super Mario Galaxy (June 20)
Rodman Public Library will screen Super Mario Galaxy on the big screen inside the Main Auditorium at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.
The film, which is rated PG, runs 1 hour and 39 minutes.
All movies are free at RPL and fresh popcorn is provided, thanks to Friends of Rodman Public Library. Registration is not required. All ages are welcome to attend, but children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Summer Reading Stories & More:
Stuffed Animal Pet Show (June 25)
Children and their favorite plushy friends are invited to Rodman Public Library’s Stuffed Animal Pet Show inside the Main Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 25.
The Stuffed Animal Pet Show is a Summer Reading Stories & More program.
During the Stuffed Animal Pet Show, each stuffy will receive an award and children will make a craft as part of the fun.
Kids should bring only one plushy pal.
No registration is required.
Dino-ROAR! (June 30 at the Commons)
The Dino-ROAR! Tour is coming to Alliance.
Sponsored by Rodman Public Library, the highly engaging, exciting, and educational dinosaur program will be held at 6 p.m.on Tuesday, June 30 at The Commons, located just across Arch Avenue from the library.
This children’s event is free, but space is limited and registration is required to attend at rodmanlibrary.com.
Each Dino-ROAR! performance includes costumed handlers, several rambunctious baby Dinos, a ferocious growing T-Rex, and a whole lot of fun. In between shows, audience members can check out intriguing and educational fossil displays, take a picture with a roaming baby dinosaur or two, and chat it up with Dino experts.
The event is part of the 2026 Unearth a Story summer reading program and is supported by Friends of Rodman Library.
Summer Reading Stories & More:
Americana Chalk Obstacle Course (July 2)
Just in time for Independence Day, children will celebrate America's 250 with stories, games, a scavenger hunt, and craft during the Americana Chalk Obstacle Course at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 2.
The program is part of the Summer Reading Stories & More series, held on Thursdays at the Main Library in conjunction with the 2026 Unearth a Story summer reading program.
No registration is required to attend the free program.
Bouncing Babies Storytime (Mondays in July)
Babies and toddlers up to age 3 will enjoy Bouncing Babies Storytime, an action-packed lap bounce program offered on Mondays in July at 10:30 a.m. Caregivers will bounce and lift children to rhymes and songs, as well as hear age-appropriate stories. Babies and toddlers will also get their first experience with art as they complete an art project each week. No registration is required to attend this special summer program.
Tabletop Gaming (July 7)
Tabletop Gaming, a popular all-ages program, returns to the Main Library at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7.
Each month, a new game will be featured so that patrons can learn a new game. Of course, other games available in the library’s collection will also be available and visitors are always welcome to bring their own games.
The aim of the family program is to give area residents an opportunity to gather with others to play their favorite card and board games and make new friends.
Light snacks will be offered and no registration is required to attend the monthly program.
Although the program is open to players of all ages, children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult.
For more information about Tabletop Gaming, call 330-821-2665, ext. 217.
Minecraft Scavenger Hunt (July 14) (Ages 10-18)
What happens when Minecraft meets the library? An epic scavenger hunt.
Youth, ages 10 to 18, are invited to take part in Rodman Public Library’s Minecraft Scavenger Hunt on Tuesday, July 14 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Participants will be split into four groups and will be tasked with following clues and completing activities throughout the library in order to gather pieces for a Minecraft-themed puzzle.
Prizes will be awarded to the first team to complete the puzzle and snacks will be offered.
Registration is required to participate.
The event is supported by Friends of Rodman Library.
Summer Reading Stories & More:
All About Dinos (July 16)
Summer Reading Stories & More continues with All About Dinos on Thursday, July 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Join the Children's Department staff as they bring to life various dinosaur stories through theatrical skits. There will also be dinosaur races and kids will make dinosaur sand art necklaces.
The free program is supported by Friends of Rodman Library and registration is not required.
Wee Read (Main Library)
Wee Read will return in September.
Storytime (Main Library)
Storytime at the Main Library will return in September. (Throughout the spring and summer, Storytime is held at Rodman Branch) .
Early literacy stations for children
Rodman Public Library has two Advanced Workstations in Education, Inc. (AWE) Early Literacy Stations and desks for the Main Children's Department and one station available at the Branch. One bilingual Spanish computer is available at each the Main Library and the Branch.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Offered at Rodman Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has mailed well over 100 million free books in Australia, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States. The Imagination Library mails more than 1.4 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring them to dream. The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
As a participant in this gifting program, Rodman Public Library is partnering with the Early Childhood Education Alliance and Greater Alliance Foundation to make this available to children within the 44601 zip code area. For more information, call the Rodman Library Children’s Department at 330-821-2665, ext. 223 or register online.
Rodman Public Library's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative for families with children ages 0-5 is designed to help parents prepare their children for one of life’s big milestones: starting kindergarten. Research has shown that children get ready to read years before they begin their formal education, and an excellent way to get children ready to learn is to read to them. To that end, Rodman Public Library hopes the program will encourage families to read at least 1000 books to their children before they enter school.