October 17, 2006
Shimer's final gift to Waukegan.

Shimer staff, students and Waukegan citizens gathered Tuesday afternoon, October 17, at the public library for dedication of "The Art of the Story", a literary mural work spanning four bookmobile garage doors. 

The mural, Shimer's parting gift to the city,  includes a range of characters and events from children's and adult literature, and from a range of historical periods and geographic areas, in an effort to speak to a broad range of beloved literary characters. Students who worked on the mural and their professor, Stuart Patterson, were on hand, as well as Waukegan officials, Shimer staff and others. The list of characters, places, and events painted into the mural will be part of a contest for people to guess how many books represented on the mural.