Library Offers Free Museum Passes to Patrons

The announced the start of a new program on Tuesday that offers patrons free passes to certain New York museums.

Patrons in good standing can reserve the passes up to 30 days in advance using an online service, or in person or over the phone. On the reservation day, users can pick up the passes after 3 p.m. and must return them by closing time two days later.

The service includes passes to the Children's Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, the Cradle of Aviation, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton. 

"Hopefully it'll be a way families in our service district can save money and enjoy great museums," said library Director Lisa Jacobs. "It's been something we've wanted to do for a long time."

The idea was inspired by other libraries on Long Island that offered passes to patrons. Jacobs said she looked into the program after a number of residents suggested the library include it for cardholders.

The Friends of the Library group purchased the six different passes, which range in value from $150 to $750 each and allow up to a family of six, depending on the museum's policy, in the library's name.

Jacobs said the library had debated the program for a long time, and was now open after the library worked out logistics and the online software to reserve the passes.

"I'm excited about it," Jacobs said. "I hope people take advantage of the passes."