When we think of libraries, we assume they are full of books. Which they are: fiction, non-fiction, manga, graphic novels…you name it! Your Nederland Community Library (NCL) is also stocked with TV series, movies, magazines, literacy toys, and puzzles, all available for checkout. Then there’s our electronic resources, including e-books, audiobooks and movie streaming. But, experiences? How does one check out an “experience”?

Your NCL card allows you to experience quite a number of area attractions through our Experience Pass program. Explore “Egypt: the Time of the Pharaohs” by checking out a Denver Museum of Nature & Science Experience Pass. Experience nature first-hand during all four seasons with a Colorado State Parks Pass. Check out the Colorado Railroad Museum Experience Pass to visit a train yard… and maybe take a ride on a train. The History Colorado Experience Pass offers library patrons free admittance to eight separate museums around the state. And, of course, the ever popular Denver Aquarium Experience Pass is a great way to learn about aquatic plants and animals.

The majority of the Experience Passes come in a backpack that includes not only the admittance pass but also a number of books to enhance your experience. Read about space travel before or after visiting the Wings Over the Rockies Museums. Get the family excited about visiting the Denver Zoo by reading the animal-themed books in the Denver Zoo packback.

The library recently added two more Experience Passes to the catalog: the University of Colorado’s Fiske Planetarium and the WOW! Children’s Museum in Lafayette. The Fiske provides NCL with free passes for patrons to attend weekend shows. The WOW! Children’s Museum provides free entrance to one adult and one child. Our patrons can check out the WOW! Experience Pass one time per patron per year.

While most of the Experience Passes admit two adults and two children per pass free of charge, like the WOW! Pass, some vary. The Botanic Gardens Experience Pass, for example, admits up to six individuals, while the Butterfly Pavilion Experience Pass admits one individual free of charge and up to four additional people for $5 each. Visit the library website or call 303-258-1101 for details about specific passes.

If getting out and about isn’t quite the experience you’re looking for, NCL also offers “at-home” experiences. If you’ve got a little one, check out a backpack from our Toy Library to spice up an at-home toy mix. Early Literacy backpacks include fun games and toys to familiarize “to-be” readers with letters and their sounds. You can also check-out a microscope (complete with slides!) or a movie projector, to liven up a movie night.

Come in to browse our selection of Experience Pass backpacks or place a hold via our on-line catalog. We welcome phone calls too. Not a Nederland Community Library card-holder yet? Come in to get a library card and head home with an Experience Pass the same day.

Funding for Experience Passes comes from a variety of sources. Some venues offer passes to libraries free of charge. State Grants to Libraries funds other passes (thank your State legislators!) and the Nederland Community Library Foundation helps to fund others (so keep purchasing those wonderful used books and DVDs from the Foundation!)

Visit our website (https://nederland. colibraries.org/experience-passes/) for more detailed information about the Experience Pass Program. Or give us a call: 303-258-1101. A Colorado Experience is waiting to be checked out by you at the Nederland Community Library.

Marnie Siegal is the Operations Director at the Nederland Community Library. The Nederland Community Library is located at 200 Colorado Highway 72 North in Nederland. For more information go to their website, nederland.colibraries.org.