What It Means
Library passes, often called museum passes, are admission passes that a public library lends or reserves for its cardholders, giving free or discounted entry to museums, gardens, historical sites and similar places. You book one for a date, then use it on that day. Each library sets its own list of places, who can borrow and how passes are picked up or printed, so the details differ from one library to the next.
Try It: Compare Two Library Pass Programs
Two large programs, as their own pages describe them. Yours may work differently, so check your library's site.
| Who can use it | Cardholders 13 and older of Brooklyn, New York or Queens public librariesBoston Public Library patrons |
|---|---|
| What it gets you | Free admissionFree or discounted admission, depending on the pass |
| Where | Dozens of New York City museums, historical societies, heritage centers and gardensMassachusetts museums and cultural institutions |
| How you get it | Log in with your library card, browse by date or venue, and reserveReserve online, then pick it up at a BPL branch |
How People Say It
- "I reserved a library pass for the aquarium on Saturday."
- "The free passes for the art museum go fast, book early."
- "Does our library do museum passes?"
The Breakdown
How to use one (Buhata's suggestion)
- Search your library's website for "museum passes" or ask at the desk. If it has a program, it will list the places and the rules.
- Check who can reserve, such as an age minimum, and whether the pass is free or discounted.
- Read how many people one pass covers, since that varies by place.
- Reserve a date, and book ahead if you're aiming for a weekend or a school break.
- Note how you get the pass, whether it's printed, emailed or picked up at a branch, and anything you need to bring.
Short version to try today. Open your library's website, search for museum passes, and write down two places on the list your family would like.
Two examples
| Program | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| Culture Pass, New York City | Cardholders 13 and older of Brooklyn, New York and Queens public libraries | Free admission to dozens of cultural institutions |
| Boston Public Library museum passes | BPL patrons | Free and discounted passes to Massachusetts museums, picked up at branches |
Good to Know
Programs vary a lot between libraries, and some libraries have none. Culture Pass sets an age minimum of 13 for cardholders, and the Boston Public Library offers some passes as discounts instead of free entry. Check the details on your own library's page, including any cancellation rules, before you plan a day around a pass. For other free options, the Smithsonian's museums have free admission everywhere except Cooper Hewitt in New York, per si.edu.
FAQ
Can I get free museum passes with a library card?
At some public libraries, yes. New York City's Culture Pass and the Boston Public Library are two large examples, and each library sets its own list and rules.
How does Culture Pass work in New York City?
Cardholders 13 and older of Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Public Library or Queens Public Library log in with their library card, browse by date or venue, and reserve a pass for free admission.
Are library museum passes always free?
Not always. The Boston Public Library, for example, offers both free and discounted passes, depending on the institution.
Do It in Buhata
Calendar, Reminders
Put the reserved pass date on the Calendar in your Household Space, and set a Reminder the day before to print or pick up the pass.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Zoo membership
A yearly membership with a zoo that covers admission for the people it names, and at many AZA zoos brings free or discounted entry at others too.
- Annual pass
A pass bought once that covers entry to a park, attraction or set of sites for a year, so it pays off after enough visits.
- Rainy day activities
Things for children to do indoors when bad weather cancels outdoor plans, ideally mixing active play with quieter projects.
- Summer bucket list
A family's list of things to do together over the summer break, written at the start and ticked off as the weeks go by.
Sources
Smithsonian Institution, "Smithsonian Museums and Zoo"; Culture Pass (Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, Queens Public Library), culturepass.nyc; Culture Pass, "Frequently Asked Questions"; New York Public Library, "Culture Pass: Get Free Access to NYC Museums with a Library Card"; Boston Public Library, "Museum Passes"; Boston Public Library, "Reserve a Museum Pass"
- www.si.edu/visit/museums
- www.culturepass.nyc
- www.culturepass.nyc/faq
- www.nypl.org/blog/2018/07/16/culturepass
- www.bpl.org/museum-passes
- www.bpl.org/reserve-a-museum-pass
Last updated .