This post may contain affiliate links which may compensate us based on your interaction. Please read the disclosures for more information.
Are you wanting to visit a museum, but have limited extra funds for pricey admission fees? Find out how your library card could unlock savings.
If you’re a proud library cardholder, you probably use your card to check out books for free. Doing this lets you improve your knowledge and be entertained without spending money. But you may be missing out on other benefits offered through your library system.
Many libraries continue to provide new services to meet their communities’ growing needs. Whether you use your local library or are a student who frequents your college library, it pays to review the perks provided to patrons. You may get access to museums or cultural activities and events at a discount or, even better, for free. Don’t miss out on valuable perks like this.
Spend an afternoon at the museum without feeling financial upset
Spending the day at a museum can be a lot of fun. You can learn more about a subject that interests you and leave feeling inspired. But most museums require guests to pay an admission fee. Admission prices vary by museum, but paying $20 or more for adult admission is not unusual. Life is expensive, so a pricey admission fee can quickly impact your wallet.
Before you plan your next museum outing or purchase a ticket online, check to see if your library offers discounted or free admission benefits. Many libraries provide this benefit to library cardholders. Thanks to such perks, you may be able to keep more money in your bank account while experiencing something new.
If this perk interests you, contact your library to inquire whether it offers similar benefits. Each library has its own policies, so library staff members are the best people to ask. You may need to request a pass before your intended visit date, so keep this in mind as you make plans.
Attend cultural events or activities
If you’re a lifelong learner, there may be other ways to put your library card to use, as some libraries host free cultural events or activities. You can fill your free time, learn something new, and meet other community members by participating.
Examples of available offerings include language classes, pop-up museum exhibits, film screenings, cooking classes, and live musical performances.
Program availability may change and can vary by age group, so check to see what events your library will be hosting soon. One easy way to stay more informed is to follow your library on social media to learn about new activities and events that are happening soon.
Look for opportunities to spend less money
You’re not alone if you’re working hard to keep your spending in check. Art, educational, and cultural experience discounts and freebies are one way to use your library card membership perks to save money. You may want to consider getting a card soon if you don’t have one. It’s free and you’ll likely only need to provide proof of residency (like a utility bill).
Benefits like this are a reminder that you can improve your finances by taking advantage of every opportunity to reduce your spending. It’s possible to stay on budget without sacrificing having fun. Check out our free personal finance resources for additional tips.
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025
If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.
In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.