The Big Read is at the Indy library

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Helping Hoosiers connect to another culture is the goal of The Big Read program.

It launched Wednesday morning at the Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Branch.

The Big Read program is a nationwide program that offers books communities can highlight.

“The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears” is the book Indianapolis chose from The Big Read’s list.

The fiction book is about a character’s exile from Ethiopia. The author, Dinaw Mengestu, will be at the library on April 25 to sign copies of the book.

Many people who attended the event say this is an important time to learn more about Ethiopia. The library’s Central Branch has many Ethiopian displays to celebrate the culture.

The number of people that come from Ethiopia to Indianapolis is growing from immigration as well as adoption.