By: Denise Valdez-Alvarez
OMAHA, Neb. – Beyond books and DVDs, public libraries offer resources that not everyone is aware of.
Douglas County residents with library cards can use the Discovery Pass Program to visit Omaha’s unique attractions like The Durham Museum and Kiewit Luminarium for free. Stacy Lickteig, senior manager of library resources at Omaha Public Library, said the program is “one of the best kept secrets in the city of Omaha.”
“The idea of the Discovery Pass Program is to give community members an opportunity to go out and to explore and to see a cultural event, or a fun event sometimes, that’s in our community for free,” Lickteig said.
Omaha Public Library is able to provide this program through funds raised by Friends of Omaha Public Library. Other resources and programs are funded through the City of Omaha and Omaha Public Library Foundation.
The Discovery Pass Program is one of several resources accessible through Omaha Public Library.
At the Central Library branch, creative technology such as Longarm for quilting, sewing machines, a heat press, Cricut machine, 3D printers and Glowforge are available for use without a library card, along with media and podcast rooms.
“The opening of the Central library really increased awareness of our libraries for everyone within the community, because I think people are so drawn to places where they can come that are free, where they can meet with community, where they can learn and grow together. And you know that really is the beauty of a public library,” Lickteig said.
According to Lickteig, 1,500 patrons signed up for an Omaha Public Library card in August.
Signing up for an Omaha Public Library card is free for every Douglas County resident. You can fill out the application online or at any public library and all you need is a photo ID and proof of address.
Sarah Pacholski, an English teaching assistant at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has had their card for five years and enjoys informing others of the many resources that libraries have to offer.
“It has honestly blown everybody’s mind that I’ve talked to within the last like month. So, I’m like, they know I’m obsessed with libraries and they just think it’s because like I love books, which I love books, but I’m like it’s so much more than that. Like I get so much help from the library,” Pacholski said.
Two of the resources that Pacholski has on their phone are Kanopy and Libby. They were determined to see the movie “A Friend of Dorothy” but it was only available on Kanopy. With their Omaha Public Library card, they were able to see the movie at no cost.
Experiencing The Durham Museum and Lauritzen Gardens without worrying about the cost was great, said Pacholski, but more than anything, it’s the libraries themselves that have made an impact.
“We need that. We need a place where people can be themselves, be free, and then continue learning about themselves. And that’s what libraries provide,” Pacholski said.
For more information on resources, Omaha Public Library cards and the attractions available through Discovery Passes, along with each location’s entry rules visit https://omahalibrary.org/.
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