Arlington Heights' One Book, One Village culminates with virtual author visit

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library's eighth annual One Book, One Village community reading event will culminate next week with a virtual visit from the author of this year's title.

Robin Wall Kimmerer will join the Zoom audience from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, to discuss her book, "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants." Registration is available at ahml.info, by calling the library at (847) 392-0100, or by visiting the info desk.

Amid the pandemic, last year marked the first time the author event was held virtually - normally, it's a packed house at the Forest View Education Center - but nearly 400 online attendees in 2020 set a record.

"We were a little nervous about it just because it's a change of format; however, we had our highest attendance numbers," said Megan Young, the library's programs and exhibits supervisor.

The library has hosted a mix of virtual and in-person events in conjunction with this year's selection, which has included off-site book discussions at Eddie's bar, The Bakester pastry and coffee shop, and Arlington Heights Historical Museum.

The library's new Makerplace branch on Belmont Avenue hosted a hands-on, natural fabric dyeing workshop.

To register for programs still to come through Nov. 3, visit ahml.info/onebook/programs.

"Braiding Sweetgrass" is described as a collection of essays about the natural world that weaves together Indigenous wisdom, plant science and personal narrative. Kimmerer is a botanist, member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, university professor, and founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Her book was chosen by a committee of 15 library employees who read and evaluated 25 different titles. There's some 600 copies of the book available in the library's collection, including those in e-book, audio and large-type formats.