The Big Read becomes the largest U.S. federal literature program

"The National Endowment for the Arts has more than doubled the number of communities taking part in its nationwide reading program, the Big Read. One hundred seventeen cities were awarded grants to produce celebrations of American literature from September through December 2007. The Big Read, launched nationally in October 2006 by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest, encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss one book"