Good Idea or Great Idea?: Museum Passes for Check-out
I read an article by the Bristol Press, “Library passes boost museum turnout,” today via the American Association of Museum’s Twitter today about the Bristol Public Library in Bristol, Conn. The library offers museum passes for the day that members of the library can check out for one day only to visit area museum’s for free. These passes can be reserved through the library up to a month in advance so there is no worry that you’ll drive to Bristol and discover the pass you wanted is unavailable. If you just happen to be in town, you can also stop by and see what passes are still available for that day. This seems like a really creative solution to increase access to these museums to the greater public, bind the museum and library both in mission and funding, and increase visitorship to both institutions.
One part of being a museum science graduate student that has always confused me is the lack of clear connections between libraries and museums… I understand there is a fundamental difference in what they collect and how they collect it, but I’ve also noticed a lot of believed disconnect between the most valuable asset to either institution. Although libraries are comprised of books and without those books they would cease to be a library, libraries are very forward thinking about providing services to a community. I’d like to see all museum professionals begin to see the public as the most important thing that enters their building. I believe it’s starting to happen or maybe we’re even closer to the middle of the end of the process, but maybe programs like this can bridge the divide.
Our museum is talking to our library about doing special book displays that relate to our collections. We are part of the same university institution which makes this a very logical cooperation, but I think this could really work for other museums and libraries to generate interest in permanent and upcoming exhibitions at the museum and the services of the library. I might begin pursuing a little greater depth of examination of the difference between museum-library relationships and visitor outreach that begins for both institutions.