Douglas County Library members can get much more than a book or a movie with their library card these days — they can also get an experience.
For the past five-plus years, has engaged in partnerships with local cultural organizations for its Adventure Pass, an opportunity to get free admission into places such as the Butterfly Pavilion or History Colorado Center.
“We want to ensure that the cultural organizations are highlighted,” said Amber DeBerry, associate director of community relations for Douglas County Libraries.
The pass has been around for a while but it’s ever changing, DeBerry said. Each partnership lasts for 12 months and while some renew, others come and go from the program. In the past, the library has partnered with places such as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Wildlife Experience.
To start 2015, Douglas County Library cardholders can get passes to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison and the History Colorado Center in Denver. The library recently wrapped up an agreement with the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora, but DeBerry said there should be one or two new groups on board within the next few weeks.
The stipulations for each pass vary from place to place, but each person can check out only one pass for each cultural institution per year.
At the Butterfly Pavilion, there are two passes available per week, each one admitting a child age 12 and under. Dinosaur Ridge allows one pass per day that works for up to four people and includes a guided tour. History Colorado Center has two passes per day that also admits four people and the passes can also be used the same day at the Byers-Evans House.
“We hope people go and fall in love with them and buy a membership or just continue to go back,” DeBerry said.
Some other library districts have similar plans, such as .
Library patrons can go to the Douglas County Library website and print out a pass at home or go into the library and use one of the computers or get help from an associate.
“We hope people living around here enjoy it and it brings awareness to the cultural community,” DeBerry said.
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or
Adventure pass
Adventure Pass participating cultural institutions:
• Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster;
• Dinosaur Ridge, 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison;
• History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, Denver.
For assistance, call 303-791-7323.
