By Judy Carmack Bross
Ex Libris Hodie: The Art of Creating a Personal Bookplate
WS25Bookplate: Ex Libris from Geographia vniversalis: vetus et nova, Ptolemy, ed. Sebastian Münster, 1540. Source: The Newberry Library, Special Collections.
Since its beginnings in 1887, the Newberry Library has made continuing education a part of its mission. Current faire such as heist films, Arabic, Flamenco music, dance and society and how to create your own bookplates wouldn’t have been part of the curriculum then, but today’s winter/spring classes continue to reflect the library’s intent to jumpstart your next learning endeavor.
The Library’s website elaborates on favorite topics you have wanted to pursue, hobbies you’ve always wanted to try or family history research paths you wanted to uncover. We spoke with two teachers who illustrate the enthusiasm of the adult education faculty teaching this season.
The Newberry offers classes three terms a year, and there are 42 classes this semester. With the introduction of virtual classes in 2020, participants come from around the country and other parts of the world. One instructor this term lives in Spain, and another is based in Armenia. The Adult Education Department welcomes class suggestions and keeps a list of these ideas suggested by participants that they share with their instructors and potential instructors. Each term, the review committee selects classes based on proposals from potential instructors, accepting applications each term.
We share a few items from the Newberry Collections that might illustrate some of the classes offered:
Finding Your Writing Voice, WS25Voice: A carload of strawberries from California, Bill Lende collection of tall tale postcards, 1909. Source: The Newberry Library, Midwest MS Lende.
The True Woman & the New Woman: Defining & Redefining Womanhood,WS25Women: The new woman, Bryan L. Bossier postcard collection. Source: The Newberry Library, Call Number: Modern MS Bossier.
Harrison Sherrod, a producer and Executive Director of Pentimenti Productions, will be teaching “Cracking the Safe: A History of Heist Cinema”, Thursday evenings from March 13 until April 3 at the Newberry. From The Great Train Robbery of 1903, to Oceans Eleven, The Asphalt Jungle, Jules Dassin’s Rififi from 1955, to the women’s heist film Set It Off, Sherrod says that this genre is usually about a group at the core and can be often Robin Hoodesque. “Heist films are so popular in part because they place the viewer on the inside of something, they are rebellious and anti-authoritarian,” he said.
The Great Train Robbery from 1903, the first heist film.
Oceans Eleven, one of the most popular heist films ever.
“It is criminals as heroes, fighting against banks or casinos or whatever. They are often very anti-capitalist. The members of the gang are seen as virtuous in many ways, but where morality ends can be questioned. Viewers see themselves as kindred spirits. Heist films are usually divided into three stages: the planning, the execution and then the aftermath. But the problems come when the heist goes well, sort of like ‘be careful what you wish for’. In heist movies it often leads to further conflict.
Harrison Sherrod teaches “Cracking the Safe: The History of Heist Cinema”.
“The word heist didn’t really come into being until the late 1930s or early 1940s, and the movie form was born in film noir. Todd McGowan and Ryan Engley on their podcast Why Theory speculate that it came from the word hoist, to lift something.”
Sherrod says that his favorite heist films are two directed by Michael Mann: Heat and “Thief” which is set in Chicago. He has taught at the Newberry for a decade but five years ago started cinema focused classes.
“I love proposing strange and unorthodox classes to the Newberry committee that makes the decisions. Sometimes a class I am not sure of really flies. I didn’t expect a class I did on Karl Marx to be popular, but it attracted many students. I generally don’t teach the same class twice but one I did on the philosophy of anxiety, using the thoughts of various philosophers. It apparently really struck a nerve and I did various iterations.”
Author Esther Hershenhorn who will teach March 22 at the Newberry.
Author and Children’s Book Writing Coach Esther Hershenhorn offers a one-day seminar “Oh, the Possibilities” March 22 to introduce writers to the Children’s Book World and how best to navigate the world to maximize its many publishing opportunities. We spoke with Esther, who has taught Writing for Children workshops at the Newberry for 24 years, about her day-long class.
“Almost everyone, or it seems, wants to write a children’s book. It’s not as easy as folks think, though. As author Mem Fox said, ‘Writing a picture book is like writing War and Peace in Haiku.’ It’s comforting to know all of us start at the very same first step,” she continued. “Reading children’s books is crucial, those currently in the marketplace as well as those that comprise the body of children’s literature. Knowledgeable children’s librarians and independent booksellers are worth their weight in gold.”
In talking about her own journey to uncover her voice and eventually publish, Hershenhorn likens herself to Susan Lucci. “But I love sharing all I’ve learned so that my students’ journeys are significantly shorter.” She proudly boasts that fourteen traditionally-published children’s books, and six published independently, began at the Newberry in some shape or form and now sit in the hands and hearts of readers. Several have won awards. At least two more students’ books will be published in 2026.
Bindy Bitterman
https://bindysverses.com/skiddly
Gauri Dalvi Pandya
John Sullivan
Hershenhorn’s Newberry Library Workshops have focused on the picture book, revision, marketing tools and writing across all formats. On March 22, writers attending “Oh, the Possibilities” can share a few pages or a description of a current project to learn its audience, format and marketability. They’ll also receive a wealth of writing, reading and connecting resources to help them tell their stories to children.
“The Newberry brings me the very best people who bring the very best of their varied lives and work experiences to each class. They wring me out like a sponge. Lucky me!”
Deborah Marcero
https://www.amazon.com/Ursas-Light-Deborah-Marcero/dp/144131881XPJ Gray
Patricia Toht
For more information about how to register now for adult education classes at the Newberry Library, go to: newberry.org
For more details about proposing a class visit “Teach a Class” on the webpage.
