Free Museum Passes and More Perks From Your LI Library Card

Score a free pass to the Long Island Children's Museum with your library card. Photo courtesy of LICM
Score a free pass to the Long Island Children's Museum with your library card. Photo courtesy of LICM
1/10/22 - By Lisa Mancuso

Unlike the other cards in your wallet, your Long Island library card doesn't come with fees or payment due dates. It does, however, come with a list of very cool, very FREE perks on Long Island for the whole family, and we’re not just talking books.

Access to free museum passes from your Long Island library is a huge perk for families, and one not everyone knows about: We are here to spread the word. In addition, your Long Island library card gets you access to a variety of other freebies that can entertain the whole family, from toddlers to tweens and teens.

Take a look at our list of museums from which you can score free passes and our roundup of other cool perks available at libraries in Nassau and Suffolk counties and on the East End. For more details, check individual library websites. And see our seasonal fun guide and events calendar for more ways to keep your family busy this winter.

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Free Museum Passes and More Perks From Your LI Library Card
Your family can enjoy some of New York's most popular museums for free with a library card. Photo by Lisa Mancuso

Take a FREE Pass

Most libraries on Long Island allow cardholders to access free museum passes, usually up to four passes at a time. From admiring art or learning about science and history to exploring a different culture, bringing your children to a museum lets them discover new things and perhaps unleash a passion or two. 

Museums are located throughout Long Island, from Nassau to Suffolk, with a few on the East End. New York City’s most popular museums are also represented. Here’s a sampling of museums that participate in the library pass program. While some passes must be picked up at the library (and returned there), passes for select museums can be printed at home. Note: Library offerings differ and there are restrictions, so be sure to check specific websites for details.

RELATED: Great Family-Friendly Museums on Long Island

Cradle of Aviation Museum Free Museum Passes and More Perks From Your LI Library Card
Kids can take flight at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Photo by the author

Nassau County Museums with Library Perks

Cold Spring FIsh Hatchery. Free Museum Passes and More Perks From Your LI Library Card
Learn about aquaculture at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery. Photo by the author

Suffolk County Museums with Library Perks

East End Museums with Library Perks

Museums in New York City, including Brooklyn, with Library Perks

RELATED: The Best in Museums and Arts for Long Island Kids

Merrick Library's Free Museum Passes and More Perks From Your LI Library Card
Kids can explore their creative side at Merrick Library's digital media center. Photo courtesy of Merrick Library

More Perks to Be Had

You might not be able to physically borrow it from the library, but at Merrick Library’s Walter Mintz Makerspace a 3D printer is available for kids to use while exploring their creative side. Other communities whose libraries boast high-tech gadgets include Smithtown (also located in Commack, Kings Park and Nesconset), Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, and Middle Country Public Library in Centereach/Selden, which also boasts a nature explorium, an awesome outdoor learning space for kids. Curious about your roots? At many libraries, including Huntington, you can now access ancestry databases.

Toys and dolls, including American Girl dolls and accessories, can be borrowed from the Brentwood library. Libraries in Port Washington and Harborfields offer games, and Lindenhurst and Massapequa libraries have tablets for children, all of which can be checked out simply by handing the librarian a card. Snowed in? No worries. Digital books, music, and more are available to download from the comfort of your home via your library’s website.

Books, free museum passes, and much more…Your public library has it all and it’s all FREE.

This post is updated annually.