Getting museum entry with NEML passes

MILLERTON — Planning a family vacation just became more user friendly and less expensive with the addition of access through the NorthEast-Millerton Library to special passes for nearby museums and similar locations.

According to Library Director Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, passes may be borrowed for up to one week by residents of Millerton or North East who are at least 18 years old and have a library card in good standing.

Depending on the policy of the location to be visited, the passes provide either free or discounted admission with the details including the number of admissions per pass provided on each organization’s website.

The passes may be accessed through the NEML Library of Things tab which also provides items such as board games, fishing poles, internet hotspots, laptop computers, microscope kits, nature backpacks, seeds, spices, and a thermal camera.

Passes are available for: The New York State Empire Pass which, according to its website at ny.gov/services/get-empire-pass includes entry to “most facilities operated by the New York State Parks and State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more”; The Eric Carle Museum, in Amhurst, MA; Springfield (Mass) Museums which feature “art, history, science and Dr. Seuss exhibits”; The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MassMOCA) in North Adams, MA; and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Leo-Jamison notes that some policies may be subject to change, so locations should be checked before any trips are finalized.

She adds that other area libraries also provide similar passes with each library setting its own rules for distribution so non-NEML members should check with their own branches for availability.

For more information, see nemillertonlibrary.org or call 518-789-0079.