After a year of struggling through the pandemic, it couldn't be a better time for a community-wide, uplifting initiative. Get ready for the Big Read. Lab Girl, a compelling memoir by scientist Hope Jahren, is the book selected for the Big Read Sangamon County. Reading, nature, science, art and discovery will all come alive through a plethora of virtual and in-person events during March and April. The many programs are inspired by the themes in the book. Reading the book is highly encouraged, although that is not essential in order to participate in the engaging offerings. For the first time since 2009, the Sangamon County area will participate in a Big Read, thanks to the leadership of volunteers from Lincoln Land Community College's Academy of Lifelong Learning in partnership with Lincoln Library. the Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that encourages citizens of a participating community to read the same book and hold discussions while engaging community organizations to present programs inspired by the issues and themes of the book. The Academy of Lifelong Learning received a $15,000 grant for this initiative from NEA. Since 2006, NEA has funded more than 1,600 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $22 million to organizations nationwide.