Becket Athenaeum Museum Pass Policy

Reservations may be made twice per month per household, one Saturday only, one reservation per specific pass. Reservations may be requested in person or via phone or email. When a patron has reached their limits as outlined above and is interested in additional passes, they may contact the library on the last open day prior to the day they wish to use a pass. If it is available, the pass will be provided to them.

For special dates, such as the Hancock Shaker Village Country Fair, a lottery will determine for whom the pass will be reserved.

For those museums that allow photocopies of their library pass to be used for admission, patrons may make a reservation for any available day (one pass/day/household) and we will provide you with a formal photocopy that you will submit to the admissions desk.

For museums that require physical passes (marked with * on this this list), the following loan periods and policies apply.
The museum pass program depends on conscientious borrowers. Should a borrower neglect to return a pass on time, use by the next patron is put in jeopardy.

Only one museum pass may be checked out at a time per household.
If checked out on:              Pass is due (to our exterior dropbox) before: 
Tuesday          Thursday, 1pm
Thursday       Saturday, 10am
Saturday Tuesday, 1pm

An overdue pass will accrue a fine of $5 for each day past the due date. The maximum fine will be $25.

If a patron fails to return a pass within three (3) days of the due date, the patron will be billed the replacement cost of the pass (which can be more than $200). They will be restricted from all borrowing until the pass is returned. Full borrowing privileges are restored upon return of the pass and payment of overdue fines or payment of the replacement cost.

If a patron makes a reservation and fails to pick up the pass or notify staff by one hour prior to closing on the day of the reservation, the pass will be made available to the next patron on the waiting list. The patron who missed their reservation will be restricted from reserving any museum pass for a period of three (3) weeks.

Revised 3/6/24

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