NEA-LogoRapides Parish Library will launch its Big Read program in celebration of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien with a celebration on September 22, from 10 AM until 2 PM at Renegade Harley Davidson on North Mall Drive in Alexandria. The Big Read in Rapides is presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) and Renegade Harley Davidson.

The kick-off event will feature food, music, and activities for the family.  Local groups who offer services to veterans will also be participating in the event.

“We are hoping to reach the entire community to join us in reading this year’s Big Read novel. Since the book is about the Vietnam War and the soldiers who fought, we are hoping to reach out to veterans of all wars and veterans groups to participate in the Big Read” said Tammy DiBartolo, Outreach Coordinator for the Rapides Parish Library.

“O’Brien’s stories were published in 1990 but are anything but irrelevant to us today, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is honored to be a part of this Big Read with Rapides Parish Library” said James Segreto, Director of State-wide activities for LEH. 

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read is managed by Arts Midwest.  Rapides Parish Library is one of 78 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2012-June 2013. From September 22 to November 2 our community will celebrate The Things They Carried with a full calendar of events including book discussions, musical events and library displays.

For more information on this event, please contact Tammy DiBartolo. You also can view a full calendar of events for The Big Read in Rapides Parish at www.rapidesreads.org.