Boulder Public Library offers free admission to some institutions through new Culture Pass
Aug. 4—Boulder Public Library cardholders now have free access to several local cultural destinations through the library's new Culture Pass service.
By checking out a pass online using a library card, people will have free entry to attractions that would otherwise come at a cost to attendees. Currently, the destinations include the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Dinosaur Ridge near Morrison, Museo de las Americas in Denver and WOW! Children's Museum in Lafayette.
The library is testing this service as a way to create additional inclusive opportunities for all community members to access cultural experiences, a goal of the 2018 master plan, according to a city news release.
"We're very excited to begin offering cultural opportunities to our community free with their library card," Collection Development Manager Laura Hankins stated in the release. "It helps families afford the experience of visiting these premier institutions together."
Library cardholders can reserve a pass online up to 30 days in advance. Pass benefits and the number of visitors each pass allows varies by destination, the release notes. When a pass is reserved, the cardholder will receive a digital confirmation receipt to use for admission.
The Culture Pass program is funded by a Colorado State Library grant. Boulder received the grant for about six or seven years and received more than $29,000 for the 2021 to 2022 grant award cycle, spokesperson Aisha Ozaslan said.
The grant is generally spent on resources such as homework help services, early literacy and Spanish language materials but this year decided to allocate about $1,200 from the grant to the Culture Pass service, she noted.
The library pays for membership at cultural institutions, which then provide community members free access through the service, the release notes. Boulder Public Library is working to expand the program, which could include institutions across the state, Ozaslan confirmed.
Learn more online at boulderlibrary.org/services/culture-pass/.
