Discover & Go — Free Bay Area Library Museum Passes

🎨 California · Bay Area & Northern California

Discover & Go: Free Museum Passes with Your Bay Area Library Card

Across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, many public libraries offer Discover & Go — reserve free passes to museums, zoos, science centers and gardens with your library card. Here is how it works and the Bay Area libraries in the network.

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How discover & go passes work in the Bay Area

Discover & Go is a library museum-pass program used across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. It began at the Contra Costa County Library in 2011 (winner of the 2012 National Medal for Museum and Library Service) and now runs as a shared platform, with each library offering its own Discover & Go portal. With a participating library card you can reserve free or discounted admission to museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, theaters and gardens across the region.

To use it, open your library’s Discover & Go page, sign in with your library-card number and PIN, pick a venue and date, and print or download the dated pass to show at the door. Passes are released on the 1st of each month and can be booked up to three months ahead, first-come, first-served. Most systems let you hold up to two reservations at a time; passes are date-specific and non-transferable, and once you print a pass it can’t be cancelled — so print it just before you go. You generally need a full-access card from a participating library and must live in its service area.

Bay Area libraries in the Discover & Go network

These Bay Area public libraries participate in Discover & Go (verified on the program’s member list). Tap one for hours, address and details — then reserve passes through that library’s own Discover & Go page:

Don’t see your town? See the full state-by-state list of libraries that lend museum passes.

the Bay Area discover & go passes FAQ

What is Discover & Go?

Discover & Go is a free museum-pass program used by public libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. With a participating library card you reserve free or discounted passes to museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, theaters and gardens — online, with your card.

How do I reserve a Discover & Go pass?

Open your library’s Discover & Go page, sign in with your library-card number and PIN, choose a venue and date, and print or download the dated pass. Passes are released on the 1st of each month and can be reserved up to three months ahead, first-come, first-served.

Which Bay Area libraries offer Discover & Go?

Many do — the verified list above links participating systems including San Francisco, Berkeley, Alameda, Alameda County (Fremont), San José, Daly City and Burlingame. Each links to the branch page; reserve through that library’s own Discover & Go portal.

How many Discover & Go passes can I reserve?

Most systems let you hold up to two active reservations per card at a time, and some venues can be visited once per calendar year per cardholder. Passes are date-specific and non-transferable, and can’t be cancelled once printed — so print yours just before your visit.

Do I need to live in the Bay Area?

You need a full-access card from a participating library, which generally requires living, working or attending school in its service area. Minimum age is usually around 14. Check your local library’s Discover & Go page for its exact eligibility.

More: Museum passes at libraries nationwide · California public libraries · How to get a library card

Last reviewed October 2026 · 28 verified Bay Area libraries.