The Des Moines Public Library has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant for use in 2020-21. The grant, totaling nearly $9,000, will allow the library to create a community reading program in 2021 featuring programs and special events based on the classic novel “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. The NEA Big Read program, managed by Arts Midwest, aims to inspire conversation in a community around a common book. DMPL was one of 84 organizations nationally to receive an NEA Big Read grant this year. “The Des Moines Public Library is thrilled to be a recipient of this prestigious grant,” said Susan Woody, the library’s director. “We look forward to working with various community organizations and partners to host programs that will engage the community in dialogue around this important, timeless work of literature.” NEA Big Read: Des Moines activities and programs were originally scheduled to take place this fall, but have been postponed until 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on the dates and specifics of the program will be released at a later date.