By Sofia Modica
For many St. Petersburg residents, access to education doesn’t start in a classroom or even inside a museum: it starts with a library card. Across the city, public libraries are becoming community hubs where residents go not only for books, but for internet access, job resources and increasingly, opportunities to engage with the broader cultural landscape.
For families who may not otherwise be able to afford museum admission, libraries are now serving as a gateway to experiences that extend beyond their walls. Through the Pinellas County library system’s Discovery Pass program, residents can check out free passes to local museums, expanding access to cultural and educational spaces across the community.
“The public library system implementing the Discovery Pass system gives individuals the opportunity to visit our Museum and learn, regardless of their financial stature,” Mikayla Gonzalez, membership coordinator at the Florida Holocaust Museum, said.
At the Florida Holocaust Museum, the program has had a measurable impact on both attendance and accessibility.
“This program allows local institutions to offer a limited number of passes a week to be ‘checkedout’ by library patrons,” Gonzalez said. “The library patrons then bring the pass to the Museum and are offered free admission.”
For many visitors, the program makes access possible in the first place, and that expanded access is also changing the demographic that museums can reach.
“They are seldom single individuals, so I would say we have had at least 1,500 guests come in that used a Discovery Pass,” Gonzalez said. “Some have mentioned without the Discovery Passthey would not have the means to visit otherwise.”
Experts say programs like these reflect a broader shift in how communities approach learning.
AnnMarie Gunn, a professor of literary studies at the University of South Florida’s (USF) College of Education, said that libraries and museums both function as integral parts of out-of-school learning environments.
“Access to libraries and museums is critical as it directly can impact access in terms of equity, opportunity and long-term educational income,” Gunn said.
Beyond traditional academics, these spaces support a broader range of skills.
“Reading, writing, critical thinking and resilience (SEL) operate as a synergy, each reinforcing the others in meaningful learning experiences,” Gunn said.
At Great Explorations Children’s Museum, the Discovery Pass program is introducing new families to hands-on learning.
“I mean, we see probably on average, 230 to 250 guests combined total per month… about 3,000 guests per year, and those are all local families who are participating in the library pass program,” Kimberly Stockton, marketing and public relations manager at Great Explorations Children’s Museum, said.
Stockton said that for many families, the free pass serves as a first visit and helps to remove financial barriers that might otherwise limit access to hands-on learning for children.
“It’s more than just free admission, though,” Stockton said. “I’d say it’s like a shared commitment to education, equity, community connection.”
Experts say that this shift reflects how libraries and museums are evolving.
“Libraries and museums provide access to materials, technology and programs that help build multiple types of literacy,” Catherine Wilkins, a professor of instruction at the USF Judy Genshaft Honors College, with expertise in community-engaged teaching, said. “Today they are democratizing spaces that provide information, respite, social services, and a sense of belonging to all who visit.”
As libraries continue to expand their role in the community, programs like Discovery Pass are redefining what access to education looks like by connecting residents not just to books, but to experiences, opportunities and to each other.
“I personally believe education of all kinds is a human right,” Gonzalez said. “The Discovery Passes are an implementation that open the doors for people who may have trouble accessing education.”
