Educational Tours
University of Minnesota Libraries – Special Collections Tour
Wednesday, October 26, Half Day tour
$28 (Includes Lunch)
Come with us to the University of Minnesota Libraries and view their special collections of exciting and popular children’s books! The Children’s Literature Research Collection (CLRC) is an internationally recognized resource in the field of children’s literature containing six core collections and several smaller collections including the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, the Hess Collection of Dime Novels, Story Papers, and Series Books, the Paul Bunyan Collection, the Laura Jane Musser Collection of Oziana materials, and the Illustrated Treasure Island Collection. The Sherlock Holmes Collections constitutes the world’s largest gathering of material related to Sherlock Holmes and his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Collections consist of over 15,000 items including books, journals, and a wide variety of other forms through which the transformation of the Holmes character from the printed page to a cultural icon can be traced. Access to the library collections is free.
* Pre-registration is required.
* Tickets are not available onsite.
* Wear comfortable walking shoes.
* Depart Convention Center at 8:00 am and return by 11:45 am.
Walking tour of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Homes
Thursday, October 27
Half day tour
$45
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers. He finished four novels, This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender Is the Night and his most famous, the celebrated classic, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Note: visitors are not allowed entry to the homes.)
* Price includes round-trip bus transportation between the Minneapolis Convention Center and tour starting point.
* In case inclement weather, a portion of the tour will take place on the bus. This is a guided walking tour.
* Pre-registration is required.
* Tickets are not available onsite.
* Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately.
* Depart Convention Center and 9:00 AM am and return back to the Convention Center at 12 Noon.
Historic Cave Tours at The Wabasha Street Caves
Thursday, October 27, Half day tour
$58
Come to hear and see the history of these sandstone caves! Learn why these manmade caves were mined out in the 1800’s. Explore the original mined caves and see the finished caves (once a popular nightclub called the Castle Royal). Hear the legends of gangster massacres and ghostly lore in the most unique banquet facility from Chicago to San Francisco. Afterwards discuss the tour with each other over a light lunch.
* Price includes tour ticket, light lunch, and round-trip bus transportation between the Minneapolis Convention Center and The Wabasha Street Caves.
* Pre-registration is required. Tickets are not available onsite.
* Depart Convention Center and 9:15 AM and return back to the Convention Center at 1:00 PM
School Tours
Public Schools
District 279 School Tour
Thursday, October 27, 8:00am – 12:00pm
$50
At North View Junior High, an IB World School, the school library is always full, including hours before and after school. Staff strives “to encourage inquiry, discovery and understanding of our global community” with a strong interest in utilizing technology for assessment and collaborating with teachers.
No shhhhhing here! The school library is the hub of the school at Maple Grove Senior High. Located right off the main entrance hallway, the school library is a practical, inviting, useful facility with a wide variety of learning areas and options. In addition, a small group of student techs assist in supporting the 750 computers and approximately 100 projectors and a wide variety of other technology.
Independent Schools
Independent School Tour 1
Wednesday, October 26, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
$50
The school library at Cretin-Derham Hall plays a key role in the school’s mission which is to “educate young men and women of diverse abilities, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds for opportunities in post-secondary education.” Proving the commitment of the school and school library, 94% of the 2007 graduates attended post secondary institutions
The Blake School is an independent school located on three campuses in the Minneapolis metropolitan area. The Hopkins Campus has a lower school and middle school and by visiting only one of the campuses, you will see how the school library program is an integral part of the educational program.
Independent School Tour 2
Thursday, October 27, 8:00am – 12:00pm
$50
Breck offers three school libraries, one for each division (lower, middle and upper). Resources for all three can be located in Alexandria, the school’s web-based software. The library department is committed to ensuring balance in media across the scope of the collections. Its program of integrated instruction is enhanced by special events designed to highlight the pleasure of reading and the quest for knowledge, including our annual book fairs, author/illustrator visits, exhibits and promotions.
St. Paul Academy and Summit School has two school libraries. The Goodrich campus library serves students in grades K-5 and the Randolph campus library serves students in grades 6-12. Between the two there are over 55,000 books, videos, DVDs, CD-roms, audiobooks and e-books available for use by the SPA community. Both libraries’ collections include separate parenting and learning differences collection.
