Travels with Children

When we’re looking for good, free fun, we often head to our local library. Whether for story time, the summer reading program, or just to get more books to read, it’s a favorite destination. I feel fortunate that our libary is only a few miles away and I can oblige the kids when they ask to go. When I was growing up in North Dakota, the library in Grand Forks was an hour away, and although it was always a stop when we were in town, it wasn’t somewhere we’d go unless we were already in Grand Forks.

A beautiful thing about libraries is that you can go to any one you want. Even if you can’t check out books, you can go in with your kids and browse, play with the puzzles and games, see the fish, use a computer, look at the artwork, and . . . well, you get the idea.

I’ve written about the St. Paul Central Library before, as well as the libraries in Mankato and Springfield, Minnesota. Here are some other libraries we visited this summer.

Gaylord (MN) Public Library: Recently opened in a renovated building down the street from its old location, the new Gaylord Library is beautiful. It’s warm and welcoming, with artwork from local artists, coffee brewing for the adults, and a raised story area and special computer station for the kids.

Morgan (MN) Public Library: We enjoyed a special program at the Morgan Library, a concert by folk singer Dennis Warner, where the kids in the audience enjoyed the performance so much that they just sat there at the end, not moving until we convinced Dennis to perform an encore. The special programs that go along with summer reading programs are great for kids.

New Ulm (MN) Public Library: Here we were treated to a reading and book signing by author Jill Kalz, whose book Farmer Cap received a Minnesota Book Awards reader’s choice award. It was a delight to watch the children as they tried to guess exactly what it was that eccentric Farmer Cap was growing in his field. The children’s area at the New Ulm library was moved and expanded a few years ago, and is an inviting place for kids to visit.

Excelsior (MN) Public Library: In Excelsior, we needed the library for information. We wanted to ride on the Excelsior Streetcar, but we didn’t know where to board. The reference librarian helped us then, as well as on our return when we decided we might like to ride the local steamboat. Libraries are information sources even if you’re not there to check out books.

What interesting things have you done at your local library? Do you ever visit other libraries just for fun?

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If we’re short on adventure ideas, have some extra time along the way, or just are curious, we like to visit libraries in other towns.  Big or small, there’s always something new to see and read.  Some offer puzzles and toys, some have special computer for kids, and some have special programs.

We recently went to the library in Springfield, Minnesota, and it was hard to pull the kids away.  Their children’s collection, especially the non-fiction, was excellent, and we ended up checking out several items because of the reciprocity offered by our Traverse des Sioux Library System.  The library staff were friendly and professional, and the kids were excited to see another library using the same summer reading program as our local library.

While the boys found new nonfiction and chapter books to check out, the girls had fun with the picture books and box of toys.  I even found a few things for myself, and now I just need to find time to read them and return them on time.

Our local library has always been one of our favorite adventure stops. From story time to the summer reading program to finding fun new books and videos to check out, there’s always something interesting to do at the library.

We don’t limit our library visits to just our own library, however. If we have extra time in another town, we love to stop in and see the library.

Last weekend, we had some extra time in Mankato, so we stopped in at their downtown library. What a fun place for kids! They have computers for tiny kids, little kids, and big kids; lots of puzzles for toddlers to do; and stuffed animals and other quiet toys. After a while, I was able to pull the boys away from the computers to look for some books. My first-grader found some new chapter book series to try, and my 5-year-old loved the selection of kids’ nonfiction books.

The great thing about our library system is that we can check out books at any of the Traverse des Sioux member libraries with our home library card, and return them at our home library. This makes the out-of-town library trips even more fun because we can actually check out some of the interesting things we see on the shelves.

If you’re looking for a nice adventure that won’t cost a thing, check out a library!

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St. Paul Central Library

90 W. 4th, St. Paul, MN. 651-266-7000. www.stpaul.lib.mn.us/
Free. Parking available in nearby ramps. Stroller accessible. Restrooms with changing tables. Cafe on-site.

After visiting the Minnesota Children’s Museum, we decided to go for a walk through the mostly-deserted skyways in downtown St. Paul to the Central Library. The kids and I had done this walk before, on a crowded weekday at noon, and it was much more enjoyable since I now knew the way and since the hallways were mostly empty. What would have been about a four-block walk outside was probably a mile through the skyways, but it was nice to be coatless and to see a different view of things.

The only drawback of the skyway system is that there is a trick to finding the elevators between the Wells Fargo World Trade Center and the Fifth Street Center. On the way to the library, we put the stroller on the escalator (Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone!) because we couldn’t find an elevator. On the way back, we finally figured it out–the trick is to use the elevator in Macy’s and go through Town Square rather than the Ecolab Center. We’ll add that to our bag of tricks for our next trip.

The Central Library’s children’s area is a haven. It’s very quiet and calm there, and has many toys as well as books for the kids to enjoy. Each of the kids settled right in and found an age-appropriate, quiet activity to do, and my husband and I enjoyed sitting down and watching them. We always enjoy visiting new libraries, and this is one of my favorites; it’s a very cozy place away from the busy streets outside.

I really liked going in the children’s area in the library and going in the skywalks.  I liked looking down on the street.