The Passes available to Library patrons provide free or reduced entry to these locations, all of which are open during the summer. Some offer reduced hours during the colder months, while others are closed for the winter. For the most accurate information about hours of operation, special events, and current exhibits, patrons may wish to check with the museum or park directly, either online or by phone. The library cannot guarantee the current hours and/or protocol of the various museums and parks.

Passes may be borrowed for 3 days, and may not be renewed. Please note that passes cannot be reserved in advance. Passes are loaned on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further information call the adult circulation desk at 457-2295.

The Library currently offers passes for the following museums (scroll down for brief descriptions or click below to visit the museum website):

  1. American Precision Museum in Windsor
  2. Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock
  3. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in Brattleboro
  4. Echo Science Center and Aquarium in Burlington
  5. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury
  6. Shelburne Farms in Shelburne
  7. Vermont Historic Sites around the state
  8. Vermont Historical Society Museum in Montpelier and Leahy Library in Barre
  9. Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee
  10. Vermont State Parks around the state


American Precision Museum, Windsor, VT
Located in Windsor, the American Precision Museum holds the largest collection of historically significant machine tools in the nation. Children and adults will be equally fascinated by the craftsmanship and miniature machines. There will be an antique car rally on June 23, and other special events throughout the summer. This museum is a rare and marvelous place.

Open Memorial Day through October, 10-5. Gift shop items discounted 10%. For 2012 their special exhibits are “Full Duty” and “Arming the Union.” Full Duty is a collection of artifacts demonstrating the contributions of Vermonters to the Civil War effort; Arming the Union is about the munitions manufacturer Robbins and Lawrence, whose factory building for muskets for the Civil War currently houses the American Precision Museum.

The pass provides free entry for 2 adults and school age children or grandchildren.


http://www.billingsfarm.org/
Located in our own town Woodstock,  Billings Farm and Museum is a working farm and 1890 farmhouse demonstrate agricultural methods and farm life of the past and present.  A variety of events are offered all year round.

The pass provides free general admission for up to 4 people (ages 3 & up) per visit.



Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) is an independent, non-collecting, contemporary art museum, whose mission is to present art and ideas in ways that inspire, educate, and engage people of all ages. BMAC’s frequently changing exhibits, education programs, and public events seek to reflect and enhance the cultural richness of the communities we serve. BMAC’s principal activities encompass:

  • Production and presentation of thought-provoking art exhibits, with a particular emphasis on the art of our time;
  • Public events such as lectures, workshops, and performances that complement exhibits and bring accomplished artists and scholars to the region;
  • Education programs that enhance arts learning and creativity in schools and in the museum’s galleries;
  • Celebratory events that foster civic pride, raise awareness of the region’s cultural resources, and strengthen the social fabric of the communities we serve; and
  • Preservation and enhancement of the architecturally and historically significant building that is our home.

The library pass represents free admission to exhibits for all members of one household, including adults, children, caregivers.



ECHO inspires and engages families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain. ECHO currently welcomes more than 167,000 visitors annually into a 34,500-square foot, award-winning LEED-certified facility. Through more than 100 interactive exhibits; 70 species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians; major changing exhibits; a 2,500-square foot early learning interactive space; ECHO encourages visitors to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and to explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship.

The pass reduces the admission price to $7 per person valid up to 4 guests. For an additional fee, there is a floating laboratory boat offering 2 ½ hour expeditions in which guests assist in research data gathering on Lake Champlain.



Founded in 1889 by St. Johnsbury industrialist Franklin Fairbanks, the Mission of the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is to inspire wonder, curiosity, and responsibility for the natural world.

Inside the classic Victorian building, you’ll find a dazzling array of animals and artifacts, dolls and tools, shells and fossils, and much more! Take a trip through the cosmos in Vermont’s only public planetarium. A full calendar of events, workshops, lectures and field programs invites everyone to explore the nature of our world.

Open daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Pass provides free admission to the museum and planetarium.

shelburne_farms
Located south of Burlington, on Lake Champlain, Shelburne Farms is a magnificent working farm and an environmental education center. Established in 1886 as a model agricultural estate, on 1,400 acres, it integrates education, agriculture, forestry, and historic preservation with tourism. There are extensive walking trails throughout the property which are open year round; they offer beautiful views across the lake to the high-peaks region of the Adirondacks, and east into the Green Mountains.

There is a “factory” which produces cheddar cheese, and a farm stand which sells the farm produce, cheese, and bread. During the summer there are special family activities, such as concerts, draft horse field days, cookouts, and even mushroom foraging expeditions. This is not like any farm you have ever seen; it is a showpiece, and well worth the drive for a day of agricultural exploration.

The pass entitles you to free family admission to the Walking Trails and Children’s Farmyard. Excludes Property Tours. There may be additional fees for special events.


There are a variety of Vermont Historic Sites located throughout the state, including scuba dive sites in Lake Champlain, and historic buildings such as the Bennington Battle monument, Justin Morrill homestead, Calvin Coolidge farm, and Old Constitution House in Windsor. There are extensive special events at these various locations throughout the summer, so it is best to consult their website for weekly offerings.

This pass provides free entry for families or groups of up to 8 people. All passes can be checked out at our Front Desk for three days at a time. There is a $20 fee for each day the pass is not returned after it is due.



The pass provides free entry to the Leahy Library and The Vermont Historical Society Museum.
The Vermont Historical Society Museum in Montpelier  “is the only organization in Vermont that collects artifacts, books and documents that reflect the entire history of the state.” The Museum includes a full sized Abenaki wigwam, a recreation of the Catamount tavern where the Green Mountain boys gathered, a railroad station with working telegraph, and a WW2 living room furnished with period music and magazines. There is also a gift shop. The museum is open Tues-Sat, 10-4, year round.

The Leahy Library in Barre has an exhibit titled Freedom and Unity, which tells the history of Vermont from 1600 to today, and explains the state motto.  The library is open Tues-Fri 9-4. Weds they are open until 8 pm, and Saturday hours are somewhat unpredictable, so it is best to check their website for Saturday openings.



VINS Mission: 
Motivating individuals and communities to care for the environment through education, research, and avian wildlife rehabilitation.

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is a nonprofit, member-supported, environmental education, research and avian rehabilitation organization headquartered at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont. Open year-round, the 47-acre campus, adjacent to Quechee State Park, features 17 state-of-the-art raptor enclosures, 4 exhibit spaces, 2 classrooms, and ¾ miles of interpretive nature trails. VINS places a priority on making high-quality, compelling, and fun environmental education programs and learning opportunities accessible to more people and communities.

The pass reduces the admission price to $5 a person for up to 4 people; free for ages 3 and under.



Scattered throughout the Green Mountain State, there are 52 Vermont State Parks offering a variety of activities, from swimming, boating, and hiking to photography and even gold panning.

The pass offers day-entry into any park for up to 8 people.