On the Same Page
About the Book | Programs | Movies | Book Discussions | Brochure
Every October, Bloomingdale Public Library, Itasca Community Library, and Roselle Public Library District hold On the Same Page, a collaborative, annual community reading event that features films, programs, and book discussions around one book. This year’s choice is The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl.
In September, complimentary copies of the book will be available at Bloomingdale Public Library (while supplies last). Roselle and Itasca will also have free books available; please contact them for giveaway details.
On the Same Page is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bloomingdale-Roselle, the Friends of the Bloomingdale Public Library, and Itasca Bank and Trust Co.
About the Book
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl
In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons—from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer.
Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with each passing day. And the natural world, now in visible flux, requires every ounce of hope and commitment from the author—and from us. For, as Renkl writes, “radiant things are bursting forth in the darkest places, in the smallest nooks and deepest cracks of the hidden world.”
With fifty-two original color artworks by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl, The Comfort of Crows is a lovely and deeply moving book from a cherished observer of the natural world.
Programs - Full Brochure
On The Same Page programs require registration unless noted as “drop-in” in the program description. Please contact the library or visit each library’s website for details and registration information.
Fall Gardening Tips: Sustainable Cleanup & Seed Saving
Bloomingdale Public Library
Monday, October 5 | 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
In-Person Event
Register online or call 630-924-2730
Celebrate The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year with Beth Peluse from The Conservation Foundation. Learn simple, sustainable ways to winterize your yard, support local wildlife, and save seeds for next spring’s garden.
12 Things that Make Life on Earth Possible
Roselle Public Library District
Tuesday, October 6 | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
In-Person Event
Register online or call 630-529-1641
Earth has sustained life in many different forms for more than 3 billion years, and so far, it’s the only known planet – anywhere - with life. We’ll highlight a list of 12 characteristics that make Earth very special in our Universe.
Birds of Prey with Springbrook Nature Center
Itasca Community Library
Thursday, October 15 | 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
In-Person Event
Register online or call 630-773-1699
Explore the world of local raptors with Jess Finn from Springbrook Nature Center. Learn how to identify owls, hawks, and falcons by sight and sound while discovering their hunting skills, adaptations, and important role in our ecosystem.
Make Garden Decorations Through Upcycling Metal Workshop
Bloomingdale Public Library
Monday, October 19 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
In-Person Event
Register online or call 630-924-2730
Create a steampunk-inspired sculpture using salvaged metal, gears, bolts, magnets, and other reclaimed materials in this hands-on workshop presented by Victoria Reeves. Learn how artists transform industrial scraps into art, then design and take
home your own unique creation. Space is limited. Please note: those with pacemakers or other embedded medical devices should use caution when working with ceramic magnets.
The Seasons of Birds in DuPage County
Bloomingdale Public Library
Tuesday, October 20 | 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
In-Person Event
Register online or call 630-924-2730
Dr. Mike Warner of the DuPage Birding Club introduces the basics of birding and explores which birds can be found in local habitats throughout the year. Learn about seasonal bird populations, conservation challenges, and ways to help protect local species.
Bulbs: Basics, Myths, and Truths
Itasca Community Library
Tuesday, October 27 | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
In-Person Event
Register online or call 630-773-1699
Think you know gardening fact from fiction? Test your gardening knowledge in this interactive program separating bulb-planting myths from facts. Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois will share practical tips for planting and caring for bulbs in late summer and fall. Sponsored by the Itasca Garden Club.
Movies
Drop-In Movie: A Walk in the Woods
Roselle Public Library District
Tuesday, October 13 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
In-Person Event, Drop-In
After spending two decades in England, Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) returns to the U.S., where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends, Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte). Rated: R
Drop-In Movie: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Bloomingdale Public Library
Wednesday, October 14 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
In-Person Event, Drop-In
Join us for some fun as we enjoy a movie two-for, which both celebrates On the Same Page and Halloween! Bumbling inventor, Wallace, and his silent canine companion, Gromit, try to trap a beast that’s been ravaging neighborhood vegetable patches! Rated: G
Book Discussions
Between the Covers Book Discussion
Roselle Public Library District
Thursday, October 8 | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Register online or call 630-529-1641
Beyond the Library Book Discussion
Fox & Turtle Restaurant in the Itasca Country Club
Monday, October 12 | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Register online or call 630-773-1699
Monday Night Page Turners
Bloomingdale Public Library
Monday, October 19 | 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Drop-In
Evening Book Discussion
Itasca Community Library
Tuesday, October 27 | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Register online or call 630-773-1699