Free Hawks tickets, Zoo Atlanta passes & more. Your Georgia library card gets you more than books

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·3 min read

A Georgia public library card gives any resident access to the millions of books and other resources provided by more than 300 libraries across the state. But did you know that's not where the benefits end?

Through the various partnerships with the Georgia Public Library Service, card holders are eligible for all sorts of perks like tickets to an Atlanta Hawks game, free parking at any Georgia State Park and a day out with the family at Zoo Atlanta. Here are more details on these and some of the other exciting programs available to those with a free library card:

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Atlanta Hawks tickets

The Atlanta Hawks' "Check it Out" Reading Challenge is offered to grades K-12. Participants check out and read any five books. Once they do so, they will be given a commemorative bookmark and one free youth ticket per reader to an upcoming Atlanta Hawks regular season game with the purchase of an adult ticket. The tickets are issued via email before the start of the season.

The program returns every summer, and this year will run through Sept. 1. More information and applications are available on the Hawks' page on nba.com.

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Alliance Theatre

A variety of shows are performed every year at the Alliance on the Hertz and Coca-Cola Stages in Atlanta. Up to four tickets are available to any of their shows for those that check out a "Community Ticket Pass" at any Georgia public library.

Two of the upcoming shows include a collection of dances partially inspired by jazz and a stage adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining." A full schedule can be found at alliancetheatre.org.

FILE - Once home to a huge Civil War POW camp, Magnolia Springs State Park in Millen, GA now draws visitors with a crystal-clear spring. This is one of many state parks library card holders can get free parking and other perks for.
FILE - Once home to a huge Civil War POW camp, Magnolia Springs State Park in Millen, GA now draws visitors with a crystal-clear spring. This is one of many state parks library card holders can get free parking and other perks for.

Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites

Library card holders can check out multiple park perks from their local libraries. Park passes are hanging tags that allow for free parking at any of Georgia’s state parks and historic sites. The "Historic Site Family Pass" allows two free admissions to any state historic site. But before heading out, check out a "Discovery Backpack" which includes a backpack, binoculars and weatherproof guides.

Georgia has 49 state parks and 15 state historic sites. The full list can be found at gastateparks.org.

Go Fish Education Center

For those interested in fish and fishing, a unique experience is located in Perry, GA just south of Macon. The "Go Fish Education Center" has a little bit of everything such as a 200,000-gallon outdoor aquarium, a catch-and-release pond and interactive boating simulators.

Those who check out a "Family Pass" from their local library will receive free admission for up to four people. More details on the center are available at gofisheducationcenter.com.

Zoo Atlanta

Western lowland gorillas sit in their habitat at Zoo Atlanta on Tuesday. Nearly all the gorillas have contracted the coronavirus.
Western lowland gorillas sit in their habitat at Zoo Atlanta on Tuesday. Nearly all the gorillas have contracted the coronavirus.

The zoo is a hot spot for families, though it can get expensive as each ticket costs at least $20. But three free tickets are available to Georgia library card holders. All they have to do is check out a special Zoo Atlanta Library Pass DVD from their library, watch the DVD and return it to the library. They will then receive a receipt, which must be brought to the zoo along with their library card. After that, it's all lions and tigers and bears.

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Macon Museums

Macon is home to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Museum of Arts and Sciences, and the Tubman Museum of African American culture. The "Macon Museum Pass" offers free admission for up to four people to all of them and can be checked out from Georgia public libraries.

For more information on these and other specials available — such as discounts at the Georgia Aquarium — for Georgia library card holders, go to georgialibraries.org.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Georgia library card perks: Hawks, Zoo Atlanta, state parks passes