It should come as no surprise that in the past decade, literature has become a neglected child thanks to the proliferation of technological gadgets. In an attempt to revive interest in reading, the S.B. Public Library has been hosting a citywide Big Read since 2002. Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the program consists of a showcase book and myriad events such as films, discussions, lectures, and essay contests to get community members engaged. This year, Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried is the star, and copies are available at all the public libraries. The Big Read runs Thursday, October 3-Friday, November 8. Join in the kick-off event during 1st Thursday, October 3, 4-8 p.m., at the downtown library. For a schedule of all Big Read events, visit sbplibrary.org.