If saving money is on your to-do list, then the Toronto Public Library should be one of your favourite places to go in 2020. Even if borrowing books isn’t part of the plan.

Of course, nowadays you can find nearly anything on the internet, but there are still things accessible only to library-goers, including free access to thousands of books, magazines, new movies, e-learning resources, music, and e-books that you can borrow using your Toronto Library Card.

But did you know that the same card can give you free access to Toronto museums and cultural attractions, including places like the Bata Shoe Museum, ROM, and Ontario Science Centre?

Use your Toronto Public Library card to its full potential and save major money on entertainment and much more!

One of the best perks that come with the Toronto Library Card is the Museum + Arts Pass (MAP), which allows you to borrow a limited number of free passes to visit local museums, art galleries, and much more for free!

“The program’s primary goal is to broaden Torontonians’ access to the City’s cultural life by providing the opportunity to visit Toronto’s top cultural institutions,” states the website.

To get a free MAP, you need to present a valid adult Toronto Public Library card. Please note that you are only allowed to get one pass per week (each pass admits one family, or two adults and up to five children.) Learn more about the rules and restrictions on the Toronto Public Library’s website.

All 100 Toronto Public Library branches are participating in the MAP program, however passes for some venues are available only through a limited number of library branches.

Here’s a list of all participating museums:

Toronto’s newest cultural landmark is a great place to go with your entire family. At the museum you can explore the arts of Muslim civilizations through exhibitions, workshops, live arts performances, and more.

If you’re into fashion and history, this museum is an absolute must-visit. Dedicated to the research and exhibition of the role of footwear in the social and cultural life, it showcases over 13,000 shoe-related artifacts from across the world.

Canada’s largest museum of art, culture, and nature features 30 galleries including gems and minerals, Canada’s First Peoples, ancient cultures, and textiles and fashion. Even if you’ve already visited this iconic Toronto museum, there’s always something new to discover!

Love history and nature? Then this museum is for you. Black Creek Pioneer Village offers visitors to take a trip back in time to 1860 and explore the farm and farm animals, historic houses, gardens, and more.

Gardiner Museum is one of the most important specialty museums in the world, which focuses on ceramics. There are 4,000 objects to look at, with collections coming from the Ancient America, China and Japan.

The Ontario Science Centre is one of the most interactive museums in Toronto, which is dedicated to science and technology. It features Ontario’s only IMAX® Dome theatre, the Shoppers Drug Mart® OMNIMAX® Theatre, and Toronto’s only public planetarium.

The Toronto Zoo needs no introduction. One of the largest and well-known zoos in the world, it’s home to more than 5,000 animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates from all over the world.

All eight of the Toronto History Museums

Embrace Toronto’s history with MAP and visit any of Toronto’s history museums. The pass is good for any one of the eight locations including Colborne Lodge in High Park, Gibson House Museum, Montgomery’s Inn, Spadina Museum: Historic House & Gardens, Fort York National Historic Site, Mackenzie House, Scarborough Historical Museum, and Todmorden Mills Heritage Site.

Another place Toronto Public Library Card MAP can get you in for free is the Art Gallery of Ontario. Located in the heart of Toronto, the AGO is a haven for art lovers of all kinds. The permanent collection features 90,000 pieces of work to browse, including works from Canadian, Inuit, European, First Nations, and Oceanic artists. As one of the largest museums in North America, it’s definitely worth a visit!

Textile Museum Of Canada

Discover textiles from around the world at the Textile Museum Of Canada. With a collection spanning over 2,000 years and 200 world regions, you can awe at fabrics, ceremonial cloths, garments, quilts, and more.

Hopefully this list will convince you to start using your library card more often or even get one if you don’t have it yet. And the best part is that it’s absolutely free! In order to be eligible for a free card, you need to live, work, go to school, or own property in the City of Toronto. Read more about how you can register for your free library card.

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