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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.
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.
Summer Reading Stories & More:
Steel Appeal
The sounds of steel drums and summer go hand in hand.
For the final Summer Reading Stories and More, Rodman Public Library will welcome Steel Appeal, an interactive and educational music program that showcases the exciting world of steel drums, on Thursday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m.
Registration is required at rodmanlibrary.com for both children and their caregivers attending.
Directed by Dr. Chad Floyd of Campbellsville University in Kentucky, the program blends global music traditions with hands-on learning for an experience that’s both fun and enriching for audiences of all ages.
From calypso to pop and beyond, Steel Appeal brings a wide variety of musical styles to life—and audience members are invited to join in the fun. With opportunities for participation, questions, and even trying out the instruments, this high-energy program makes a lasting impression while supporting music appreciation and education.
Steel Drumming Workshop (July 23) (ages 10 to 18)
What’s better than hearing the ping, ting, bing and dong of the steel drums?
Making those sounds yourself.
Youth, ages 10 to 18, will have the opportunity to do just that when Steel Appeal conducts a steel drumming workshop at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 23.
Registration is required to participate.
Participants will discover the fascinating history and cultural roots of the steel drum, from its Caribbean origins to its modern-day evolution. The workshop explores how the instruments are built and tuned, and demonstrates performance techniques used by steel bands around the world. Along the way, attendees will be introduced to key musical concepts such as rhythm, tempo, melody, harmony, timbre, musical forms, and dynamics.
The workshop is directed by Dr. Chad Floyd, professor of percussion at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, renowned for his dynamic performances and original compositions. He has toured extensively across the United States, Brazil, China, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, and Trinidad. Many of his percussion compositions have gained international recognition, becoming staples in the standard solo percussion repertoire.
Since 2008, Dr. Floyd has directed Steel Appeal, bringing this vibrant educational music program to hundreds of schools and libraries throughout the United States, inspiring audiences with the unique sounds and cultural history of the steel drum.
Tabletop Gaming (August 11)
Tabletop Gaming, a popular all-ages program, returns to the Main Library at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11.
The monthly program is usually held on the first Tuesday of each week, but is being held on the second Tuesday in August due to the annual Friends' Used Book Sale being held at the library in 2026 in conjunction with the Greater Alliance Carnation Festival.
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.
Pizza and Pages (August 18)
Children, ages 8 to 12, are invited to Pizza and Pages, on Tuesday, August 18, at 4 p.m.
During the 45-minute program, a librarian will read excerpts from a batch of new books guaranteed to excite the imagination of children and take them on unforgettable adventures while they enjoy a slice of pizza and other activities.
Pizza and Pages is scheduled on the third Tuesday of each odd numbered month with other sessions planned for October 20 and December 15.
The program is free, thanks to support from Friends of Rodman Library. Space is limited, however, and registration is required.
Rodman Chess Club (August 19)
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.
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.