Discover AZ with library Culture Pass

As published in the Red Rock News
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Hello Red Rock News Readers! This August will mark my family’s eighth year living in Arizona. Aside from the usual “Where does the time go?” and “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat” musings that I make over dinner, I’ve come to realize that I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the places to go and things to do in this state. We did the obligatory trip to the Grand Canyon and the popular local jeep tour after we pulled up stakes in New Jersey and settled out West, but surely there must be more, right?
  
Right! Did you know that when you visit either Library, not only can you check out the latest books, literary classics, and current Hollywood hits, but you can also check out passes to museums and other interesting Arizona attractions? For free! The Act One Culture Pass is a great way to access some of the greatest cultural and art institutions that Arizona has to offer. What better way to escape the summer heat and do something fun and interesting that won’t bust your budget?
 
You’ve never heard of the Act One Culture Pass? It is a partnership between Act One, the Library, and local and statewide cultural and art institutions. Many libraries participate in the program, and we are proud to offer this exciting program to our cardholders. 
 
The next time you visit either Library, look for the Act One Culture Pass display and see the myriad of red passes to Arizona museums and other attractions. Choose the place you’d like to visit, grab the pass, see a librarian to check it out, and receive free admission--one visit for two--at a participating institution. Act One Culture Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one pass at a time, and you have one week to use it. 
 
What can you do with an Act One Culture Pass? Great question! For starters, let’s stay local where you can enjoy an afternoon right in your own backyard at the Sedona Heritage Museum. This gem of local history was once a homestead for the Jordan family and focuses on the lifestyles and work of those who pioneered this community from 1876 to the present, including Sedona Schnebly, the town’s namesake. You’ll also learn about the former orchard industry and the movies filmed in Sedona including the original Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio. 
 
Or, get on down the road with an Act One Culture Pass to Arcosanti, just 52 miles south of Sedona. The brainchild of famed architect Paolo Soleri, Arcosanti has been under construction since 1970 and incorporates principles of ecological urban design. 
Or you can head north for the cool mountain pines in Flagstaff and spend the day at the Museum of Northern Arizona. There you can view dinosaur bones and other artifacts as well as see the artwork and learn the history of the original people of the Colorado Plateau. Other local passes will get you free admission to the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, The Arboretum at Flagstaff, and the newly opened Verde Valley Archaeological Center in Camp Verde. 

Andrea Lohtka, Reference Librarian, said, “We receive consistently rave reviews from people who have used these free passes, and the best part is you don’t have to return a thing.” She also reminds users that they should always check the operating hours for locations they want to visit, near or far. 
There are many options in southern Arizona. For instance, in the Phoenix area, you could visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Cave Creek Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, The Heard Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary. In Tucson, you could visit the Reid Park Zoo and the University of Arizona Museum of Art. 
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We’re happy to announce that Sedona Public Library in the Village has the Act One Culture Passes available, too. Don’t have a library card yet? This is a great reason to get one! All you need is a valid photo identification card and proof of your current address to get a free library card. It’s that simple!  
 
There’s still a lot of summer left to enjoy in Arizona, so go ahead, make a day of it with an Act One Culture Pass! Visit sedonalibrary.org, for complete details and restrictions on the Act One Culture Pass program. To find out which passes are currently available, call 928-282-7714.   
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Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit our website or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336. Remember you can direct your gift to the Village Library. Thank you! 

​Library News Column for July 15, 2022  
Written by  Jan Marc Quisumbing,  Program & Marketing Coordinator