The Orcas Library has a number of events happening in October.

Join director John de Gaaf for the screening of his film “Redefining Prosperity: The Gold Rushes of Nevada City” on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.

Born in the California Gold Rush, Nevada City was once the scene of some of the most destructive environmental practices on earth. In the 1960s the town was discovered by the “back to the land movement,” and became torn by clashing values defining wealth. The 16-year fight through the ‘80s and ‘90s to keep dams off the beautiful Yuba River and to protect the watershed turned conflict between conservatives and liberals into understanding based on nature, community and a sense of place. The nature movement changed ideas about food, education and respect for nature. Afterward, leading the discussion John de Graaf will talk about the “And Beauty for All” campaign (www.andbeautyforall.org). Additional information is available at (www.redefiningprosperityfilm.com).

Pulitzer Prize finalist Ben Montgomery will read from his latest book, “The Man Who Walked Backward” on Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. Montgomery charts the backward trek of Plennie Wingo across America in the 1930s. A remarkable and quirky slice of Americana, “The Man Who Walked Backward” paints a rich and vibrant portrait of a jaw-dropping period of history. With the Dust Bowl and Great Depression as a backdrop, Montgomery follows Plennie across the Atlantic through Germany, Turkey, and beyond, and details the daring physical feats, grueling hardships, comical misadventures, and hostile foreign police he encountered along the way. Ben Montgomery is author of the New York Times-bestselling Grandma Gatewood’s Walk, winner of a 2014 Outdoor Book.

All events are in the Reading Room of the Library. Refreshments are courtesy of Friends of the Library. For additional information www.orcaslibrary.org.