This year, getting a free ticket to the Exploratorium in San Francisco could be as easy as going to the library and printing out a pass.
The San Benito County Free Library is one of more than 40 public libraries in California participating in the “Discover & Go” program, which provides free or low-cost tickets for library card holders to local museums, theaters, aquariums and zoos in the state.
“A lot of people that I’ve known use ‘Discover & Go,’” said Rosa Garcia, a literary assistant who helps library patrons navigate the program’s website. “They think it’s really neat because you get a free pass.”
The list of locations program participants can visit includes the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose; where families can explore the connections between the scientific and digital world; the Exploratorium in San Francisco where visitors learn about science by tinkering with hands-on exhibits; and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz where attendees can see aquarium exhibits and pet sharks in touch pools.
The “Discover & Go” program first started at the Contra Costa County Library in 2011 and arrived in San Benito County the same year.
Library card holders of any age or income bracket can participate in the program. They use their library card number to log in to their “Discover and Go” account and click on the “browse by venues” tab at the top of the page to see the names of participating locations. Each listed site includes a several-paragraph description of the venue and the dates the site offers free or low-cost tickets. Program participants can also click on dates in the calendar section of their accounts to see names of sites offering free or low-cost tickets on the selected day.
Library staff members have noticed San Benito County residents are more motivated to make family day trips to other cities – including San Francisco – when they have low-cost tickets to a cultural venue in their pocket.
“I think it brings the outside into San Benito,” said County Librarian Nora Conte.
Program participants must have library cards, but don’t have to be county – or even U.S. – residents to get borrowing privileges. In the past, the library has issued cards to people visiting the county from Germany and Israel, among other locations.
To secure a library card, bring any form of identification including a driver’s licenses, passport or bill with the name and address to the San Benito County Free Library at 470 Fifth St.
Here’s just a few of the locations offering discounted or free tickets as part of the “Discover & Go” program:
The Tech Museum of Innovation – San Jose
Exploratorium – San Francisco
The Beat Museum – San Francisco
Bay Area Discovery Museum – Sausalito
UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive – Berkeley
UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley – Berkeley
Seymour Marine Discovery Center – Santa Cruz
Lindsay Wildlife Museum – Walnut Creek
Steps to receive free or low-cost tickets:
1) Get a San Benito County Free Library card
2) Use your library card number and pin (the last four digits of your card number) to login to your Discover & Go Account at: discover.sanbenitofl.org
3) Select and reserve tickets.
4) Print your tickets or scan the QR code with a smartphone to put the ticket information straight into your phone.
5) Check out the list of book recommendations that relate to the exhibits you’ll see at your selected venue and start reading.
For a tutorial, go to: ccclib.org/tutorials/DiscoverGo/
MORE ONLINE
For more information, check out the library’s website: www.sanbenitofl.org.
