The Friends of the Homer Public Library launches its Big Read program in celebration of Ray Bradbury’s science fiction novel “Fahrenheit 451” with a bonfire at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at the far end of the Homer Public Library parking lot. Members of the teen and adult “Resistance Force” will be in attendance to hand out copies of the book. There will be music, s’mores, and Homer Fire Department trucks for the little ones to see. Stop by to pick up more information about all of the events of the big read, make a s’more or two and grab a copy of “Fahrenheit 451.”

Friends of the Homer Public Library coordinator, Erin Hollowell said, “‘Fahrenheit 451’ was one of the original dystopian novels. The world Ray Bradbury depicts is so afraid of critical thinking that they’ve banned books and firemen now burn them. We thought it would be fun to start off the events with a bonfire, and though many people have asked, we won’t be burning books — we’ll be giving them away.”

Copies of “Fahrenheit 451” are immediately available at the Homer Public Library for extended loan. Other materials such as reader’s guides are also available at the circulation desk. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to revitalize the role of reading in American culture by exposing citizens to great works of literature and encouraging them to read for pleasure and enrichment. The Big Read is managed by Arts Midwest. Homer is one of 77 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2014-June 2015. From Jan. 23 to March 19 the Homer  community will celebrate Fahrenheit 451 with a full calendar of events, including a dramatic reading of the theater production of the book, a book art class, a conversation about Alaska science fiction novels and novelists, in-person book discussions as well as online book discussions, the screening of several dystopian movies, and a capstone presentation by Sam Weller, Ray Bradbury’s official biographer. A calendar of Big Read events is at www.friendshomerlibrary.org.