Downey library joins Big Read

The Downey branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library is one of 72 organizations nationwide that will receive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its Big Read program, in which communities are encouraged to join in reading and discussing one particular book.

The book that the Downey library will be sponsoring for a month next year is Ray Bradbury’s novel “Fahrenheit 451.”

“With the Big Read, we want to get everyone in a community -- from high school kids and office workers to public officials and senior citizens -- reading a great book together,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “Our goal is to get people talking about ‘Fahrenheit 451’ or ‘The Great Gatsby’ with the same conviction that they debate the World Series.”