ALEXANDRIA, La. -- The Rapides Parish Library kicked off its "Big Read" program Saturday at Renegade Harley Davidson.
The program is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and encourages everyone to "open up a book."
This year's "Big Read" selection is "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. It tells the story of soldiers in the Vietnam War and appeals to veterans.
Veteran's services we also on hand at the library event.
People with the library tell us it's important to keep reading as you get older.
"It's important to keep on reading. We have to read to do everything - to drive, to get a job, to communicate with each other," said Tammy Dibartolo with the Rapides Parish library. "So, it's important to continue reading to keep your mind sharp. And, the library is a wonderful place to do that. Everything we do is free and open to the public. We love to work with the community."
The library will host a series of book discussions, musical events and library displays all centered around the book now through November.
