CLEVELAND — Nearly a dozen barbershops in the Cleveland area are helping kids get ready for the new school year, in more ways than one.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Cleveland Public Library, along with Reading RAMM and Spread the Love Foundation, had teamed up with 11 barbershops throughout the city in an effort to increase the reading rate among Black children

  • The barbershops will offer reading spaces to connect young Black readers to fun, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate literature

  • One barber said he’d usually see kids and teen grasping a smartphone or video game console during their haircuts

Cleveland Public Library, along with Reading RAMM and Spread the Love Foundation, had teamed up with 11 barbershops throughout the city in an effort to increase the reading rate among Black children.

“Cleveland Public Library is empowering young minds through the power of words and representation,” said Charles Byrd, Director of Education at Cleveland Public Library. “The Barbershop Books program will foster a love of reading and provide children access to diverse stories and characters.”

As part of the Barbershop Book program, the barbershops will offer reading spaces to connect young Black readers to fun, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate literature. 

“I think every child needs to read at least an hour a day,” said James Boyd, a barber at Polished Professionals Barbershop in Cleveland’s Larchmere District.

Boyd, whose barbershop is taking part in the program, said he’d usually see kids and teen grasping a smartphone or video game console, while getting a haircut. Now, he’s happy to see young clients grasping a book, instead.

“The old-school way of reading is a good way. You’re turning pages and your eyes are going left and right and you’re actually absorbing a book,” said Boyd.

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