Since becoming a municipal institution, the library continues to add new exhibitions to its Museum Pass Program.
As blizzard conditions settle upon the borough, cards holders of the Marie Fleche Memorial Library can escape these “code blue” conditions by taking advantage of the library’s Museum Pass program.
From Grounds for Sculpture to the Garden State Discovery Museum, Marie Fleche Memorial is granting free access to a scope of exhibitions around the region. With five places to explore, folks can escape to a parkland of exotic trees, step back in time on the New Jersey Battleship or witness wildlife firsthand.
“For some people, it might be an opportunity to go to a museum they might not thought they wanted to ever go to,” library director Christine Flynn said. “Cost can be a factor, but this way, they might say, ‘Let me see if I like this. It’s part of what my library is giving.’”
Shortly after establishing itself as a municipal library a few years ago, the staff wanted to create this opportunity for library goers.
“When it first started, we asked a few people, and this is why we started off with these (museums),” Flynn said.
The Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses 171 acres of wooded land and several animal species, includes a pass usable for two adults and three children. The Battleship New Jersey, the most decorated naval ship in the country, includes a pass that also allows up to two adults and three children. The Grounds for Sculpture pass, graciously bought by Friends of the Marie Fleche Library, which showcases 270 artworks, offers access to four people. The Garden State Discovery Museum, featuring family-oriented fun for infants to 10 year olds, is valuable for up to six people.
Flynn says the garden State Discovery Museum is the most popular, but over the next few years, the library hopes to add more places.
“We’re always looking for new ones. The Academy of Natural Sciences is on the radar,” Flynn said.
In November, the library added Philadelphia’s newest attraction to its list of offerings — the Museum of the American Revolution, which opened at 3rd and Chestnut streets in April.
“(The Museum of the American Revolution) is really beautiful inside and very informative,” Flynn said. “It’s laid out in a very unique way. I think people would really enjoy.”
With this pass, which allows two adults and up to four children, attendees can transport back to the colonial era, seeing General George Washington’s Headquarters tent or visit a two-story replica of the Liberty Tree.
With this program, the library hopes to broaden the experiences of their card holders beyond the bookshelves.
“This gives children and adults the opportunity to explore cultural and historic institutions around here,” Flynn said. “We just wanted to be able to say to people in Berlin we have not just books and DVDs. There’s lots of other things.”
Information box:
Passes are offered to adult patrons in good standing, meaning they owe less than $5 in fines. Passes can be requested up to one week in advance by calling the library or visiting the circulation desk. Passes may be checked out for a four-day period and are not renewable, and checkout is limited to one pass per family at any time.
Passes must be returned to the Circulation Desk. They should not be placed in the book dropbox. Passes must be returned in the case that was supplied. There is a $5 fee for losing or damaging the case.
The fine for an overdue museum pass is $10 per day with a maximum fine of $60. On the seventh day past the due date, you will be charged for the full replacement cost of the pass. This fee varies depending on the museum.
Library members can access a form here –
http://www.berlinboroughpubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Museum-Pass-Guidelines.pdf.
