Libraries in Tampa Bay provide so much more than books these days. Many libraries work closely with local institutions like museums, gardens, adn theatres to offer discover passes that can be used to explore local arts and cultural attractions. Discovery passes allow people to reserve free or discounted passes for the whole family! All you need is a library card.
Each pass provides a one-time admission or tour to an attraction on a specified date chosen by the customer. The Discovery Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so the library recommends reserving your pass in advance. Library customers can easily reserve their pass online and choose the specific date they would like to visit the attraction within a 30-day window. Then, customers can print out the pass or present it by phone at the museum or attraction for entry.
Hillsborough
The Hillsborough Public Library system offers free or discounted admission at local attractions through their Discovery Pass program. Discovery passes can be reserved online and printed at home for one-time admission during a thirty-day period.
Partner institutions include
- Tampa Bay History Center
- Hillsborough County Conservation Parks
- Glazer Children’s Museum
- American Victory Ship & Museum
- Tampa Theatre
- Henry B. Plant Museum
- Florida Holocaust Museum
- Stageworks Theatre
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
- Tampa Museum of Art
- Straz Center for the Performing Arts
- The Florida Orchestra
Related: Tampa Museum of Art Expansion Receives $25 Million Gift
Pinellas
he Pinellas Public Library Cooperative partners with area museums to offer free daily passes for up to 2 adults and 3 children at member institutions. Each library branch offers two passes for every partner that can be checked out in-person on a first-come, first-served basis. The passes are available for one visit during a 7-day period.
Participating institutions include
- The Collection on Palmetto
- Dunedin History Museum
- Florida CraftArt
- The Florida Holocaust Museum
- Glazer Children’s Museum
- Great Explorations Children’s Museum
- Henry B. Plant Museum
- Imagine Museum
- The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
- Leepa Rattner Museum of Art
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Safety Harbor Museum & Cultural Center
- The Tampa Bay History Center
Pasco
Pasco County Libraries offer free museum access to play, uncover, and explore Tampa Bay attractions. Passes may be checked out to one verified card at a time through the library’s catalog system.
Partner institutions include
- The Glazer Children’s Museum
- Florida Holocaust Museum
- Imagine Museum
- Tampa Bay History Center
- The St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts
Lakeland
In partnership with the Florida Children’s Museum, Lakeland Public Library patrons have the opportunity to checkout a Culture Pass for same-day general admission for up to five people to the Florida Children’s Museum. Each branch offers one pass per day which can be checked out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Art Axis Florida has even more information about other Florida counties.
