Library Museum Passes

This topic came up when we realized we were having an unexpected guest next weekend who would be staying for a longer than anticipated time. We needed an activity that was close and entertaining. We chose the Science Discovery Museum in Acton. For some reason I thought I had checked our library's list of museums, but I missed this one. Their website provides a list of libraries that have Discovery Museum passes. After realizing I almost missed a great money saving opportunity, I thought it was a great topic for a blog.

Many local charitable organizations provide passes to museums and other local places of interest for library patrons to borrow. The passes can range from discounts to free admission. The numbers of people they cover also vary.

These are some helpful tips to get better use from your local library passes.

Use the Online Library Services in the Convenience of Your Home.

If your library has an online service, start there. I have been in line more Saturdays while people struggle desperately to find an available pass. Library event passes are popular and they reserve quickly. Many libraries not only have the ability to research pass information, but actually to reserve the passes. Libraries vary in how far in advance you can reserve a pass. Once you know your intended date, you will want to reserve as soon as the system allows you to make a reservation. Popular passes go quickly, especially in the summer and during school vacations.

Read the Rules

The libraries and the institutions you are visiting have rules. Many libraries have instructions about when the passes can be picked up and dropped off. Our library has some stiff fines when passes are not picked up or they are dropped off late. This is to encourage people not to place a hold on a pass preventing someone else from using it that day. The goal is to reserve it and use it.

Our library is good about trying to list availability only on dates institutions are open. For instance if a museum is not open on Mondays, they try to "X" out that date so people cannot reserve the pass for those days. However, places do change hours and schedules. I have heard people complaining to the librarians that they were unable to use the pass as if it was the library's fault the place was closed. My advice is to check the website and call if you have any doubts. Some places are better than others about keeping their websites updated with current hours and schedules. The library has enough challenges just keeping up with the reservations and returns. They are not travel agents.

Read the Directions for the Pass

It is important to know what the pass does. Many libraries provide this information online. If you have any doubts, ask. Call the library and double check with the place you are visiting to make sure you know what is covered. Some passes provide discounts, others free entrance. Some passes will give you entry to the museum, but you have to pay for special exhibits. Some of these exhibits require separate reservations. Much of this information can be found on the institution's website. It is best to do your research before your trip.

Check Your Best Options

If you are traveling in a group, you may have multiple discount options. I am going to be discussing a few more of these in future blogs. Children and seniors often have discount offers based on age. You may want to use those discounts first and use the library discounts for the more expensive adults. You can always spread the savings around to make sure everyone gets benefits from the actual cost when buying the tickets. There are multiple ways to divide the savings. We tend to add up the cost of the tickets after savings and divide it by the number of adults. Then everyone gets to share in the savings. There are many other methods to maximize the discounts and free tickets. If people are traveling from different towns, research the library discounts available in those towns. Even if you cannot get your library passes, grandma or an uncle traveling with you might have better luck. If you get lucky, you may get enough passes to cover all of you. Just one word of caution, you are responsible for any loans made on your library card. It is best not to borrow any passes you will not be responsible for as you will be liable if they are not returned.

Flexibility Provides More Options

Weekends tend to be the busiest. If you have the option to visit during the week, you have a better chance of using a pass. Many homeschooling parents are aware of the benefits of weekday visits. For some sites, you do have to work around school group tours. That goes back to my warning about researching prior to scheduling your trip.

Using Your Online Library Catalog

I have to thank a younger family member for introducing me to this amazing tool. Our state of Massachusetts has regional memberships for local libraries that allow patrons to borrow books from member libraries. Utilizing additional memberships, patrons can borrow from larger libraries should their own regional library not provide the materials they are seeking.

For instance, my library belongs to CWMARS that is the Central district. A search will produce books from member libraries. I can do an additional search that goes outside the region. People do have to live in a qualifying district. With cutbacks, some libraries have been disqualified.
What I love is being able to access the catalog from my home. I can search availability and make reservations online. When the books arrive, I receive an email telling me the book is at the reservation desk. In our system, patrons are allowed to reserve up to ten items. Each time an item arrives and is checked out you can add another if you have reached your limit.

This has saved me hours of time trying to access a monitor to check titles at the library. It has motivated me to look at titles available from other libraries, as our library does not always have the materials I am most interested in accessing.

The regional system has allowed me access to DVD’s, books on CD, Video Games, as well as traditional books one expects to get from a library. If you have not examined your local libraries online capacity I suggest you find out if they have gone online. It is a great way to access materials. I have saved money on books and movies and I have had a chance to review other products prior to purchasing them.