Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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Libraries have always been a source of wonder and imagination. The books, magazines, films, computer labs and even their newspaper archives can instantly transport any library patron to a different place or time. The only limitation is our own imagination.
But now, with the launch of a new partnership between the Nevada System of Public Libraries and the Nevada Division of State Parks, library patrons no longer need to imagine magical places filled with beauty, drama and history — we can visit them in real life.
The Library State Park Pass System, also known as “Check Out Nevada State Parks,” allows public library patrons to check out a state-park pass from their local library. The pass covers park entrance fees for one vehicle and up to eight people at all 27 Nevada state parks — including historic and museum parks like Mormon Station, Buckland Station and Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort.
Patrons cannot use their library card alone to gain entry to a state park; they must check out a park pass from their local library. The passes can be checked out for up to one week at a time. But with each public library in the state receiving two passes, there are many opportunities to take advantage of the program.
“I thank Nevada’s public libraries for supporting our efforts to provide outdoor access for all,” Nevada State Parks Administrator Bob Mergell said in a statement. “By making libraries a gateway to state parks, our goal is to help more Nevadans inexplore the outdoors, while creating healthier communities with stronger connections to Nevada’s spectacular natural and cultural resources.”
Pass users should be aware that the pass only covers entrance fees and does not include fees for activities such as boating, camping or special programs or tours. The pass also does not include federal, regional or other public lands in Nevada that are not part the Nevada State Park system.
Making the passes available for checkout from a public library required collaboration between the park system and library system — neither of which has extensive resources for creating new programs. To make the funding work, they teamed up with the Nevada State Parks Gift Shop Grant Program, which allocates the proceeds from its gift shop sales to educational and interpretive programs in Nevada’s state parks.
While educational and interpretive programs are wonderful, they were previously inaccessible to Nevadans without a park pass or the necessary funds to pay daily entrance fees. Park fees can range from $5 to $15 per vehicle per day, depending on the park, or $100 for an annual pass. So, the value of a weeklong pass can add up quickly. The library park pass program changes that equation, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy the state’s parks for free.
In other words, the Library Park Pass Program is an excellent example of good government because it helps people enjoy the benefits of public lands. Because of this admirable cooperation between different governmental divisions, Nevadans can now enjoy more equitable access to the history, beauty and benefits or our state’s incredible parks.
We applaud the state park system and the library system for creating this opportunity and look forward to finding our next adventures both in the pages of a book and in the natural beauty and history of Nevada’s parks. We’d even suggest combining the two opportunities and bringing a good book with you to enjoy in a park.
To learn more about Nevada’s Library Park Pass Program, visit parks.nv.gov/checkoutnvstateparks.
