Loading...

Course Description

Harper College’s Community Education Department and Library are excited to collaborate on a new event, Bookmarks: A Festival for Readers and Writers. This special festival will also celebrate the reopening of the College’s Schaumburg location, making it an especially meaningful occasion for our community. Presentations for readers and writers will stimulate the imagination and provide important information for everyone interested in literature. Plus, there will be a special appearance by Harper's traditional music ensemble, the Back Porch Revue. Please RSVP by registering. Free and open to the public.

For full event details, visit harpercollegece.com/bookmarks.

Course Outline

  • Presentations and Panels
  • Local Author Tables
  • Featured Libraries Tables
  • Readings by Children’s and Middle Age Book Authors
  • Live Music by Harper’s Back Porch Revue

Stories have the power to connect us, spark imagination, and open new ways of seeing the world. Whether you’re an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or someone who loves the creative energy of language, the Festival for Readers and Writers event invites you to spend the day celebrating the written word.  

Celebrate the stories that shape us, the words that move us, and the creativity that brings readers and writers together. This event is perfect for: 

  • Readers who love great stories 
  • Writers at any stage, from beginners to experienced creatives 
  • Anyone who values ideas, expression, and lifelong learning 

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
Saturday, August 29, 2026 

Schaumburg Campus
650 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg 

Loading...

Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in

Section Title
Bookmarks: A Festival for Readers and Writers
Type
In-Person
Days
Sa
Time
10:00AM to 2:00PM
Dates
Aug 29, 2026
Schedule and Location
View Details
Contact Hours
4.0
Location
Course Fee(s)
Pre-registration non-credit $0.00

Section Notes

Free and open to the public. Please register for this section to RSVP.

Presentations and Panels:

Keynote: Laurie Gwen Shapiro - The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Making of an American Icon

Aiden Branss - The Power of Young Voices: Gen Z, Unfiltered

Issa Boulos - Navigating Academic Publishing

Sandy Marchetti - The Life of a Practicing Writer

Georgianne Harms - Every Day Writing: Writing an Inspiring Essay

Susan Caesar - Authorship in the Age of A.I.

Terrie Harms - Story Therapy: Discovering what your story is really about--before you start writing!

Panel: Using Visuals to Support Written Content (Elias Gonzalez, Paul Peterson)

Panel: The Life of a Poet (Sandy Marchetti, Kris Piepenbrg, Jessica Walsh)

Panel: Research vs. Reflection (Vicki Atkinson, Maggie McKinley)

Panel: How to Stay Motivated to Finish Your Work

Author, library and information tables to browse

Thank you for your interest.