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Don’t underestimate the money-saving might of a humble library card.

You don’t have to be a bookworm to benefit from your local library’s offerings. Some library systems allow you to reserve free or discounted passes to local museums, zoos, aquariums and other arts and culture organizations like theaters and orchestras.

Often, museum pass programs are offered in partnership with city level governance and are designed to allow free or reduced price entry to vital arts and cultural resources. Think of the programs as an extension of the mission of public libraries to provide public access to information.

Not only are free passes a terrific option for families with children, but also for people of all ages who love visual and performing arts and animals. Some pass programs, though, are only open to families with children.

We’ve highlighted a few programs below.

Check with your local library to see whether it operates something similar. Instead of free tickets, some library systems offer discounts on merchandise or parking.

Pro Tip

Museum passes are just one unconventional thing that libraries lend. There’s a whole lot more. You could borrow everything from video games to science equipment.

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MIAMI

The Miami-Dade Public Library System’s museum pass program lets library card holders check out free passes to 18 local attractions, including the Coral Gables Museum, the Miami Children’s Museum and Pérez Art Museum Miami. Though not technically a museum, Zoo Miami is also part of the museum pass program.

Library patrons can check out one pass per seven-day period. Passes provide one day of free admission for a family of four, with age requirements for kids at Deering Estate, Fruit & Spice Park and Zoo Miami.

Patrons cannot renew the passes or reserve them for a specific date. Passes are first-come, first-served.

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