All 410 Georgia Public Libraries Offer Updated Free Passes to Zoo Atlanta

Want to visit Zoo Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center or the Center for Puppetry Arts with your family, but don’t have a choice in price? The Experience Pass program offers free admission to these sites and a number of popular destinations.

The Georgia Public Library Service recently announced updates to the Zoo Atlanta Library Pass.

Here is information about these updates distributed by the Cobb Public Library:

The Georgia Public Library Service is pleased to announce an update to the popular Zoo Atlanta Library Pass that cardholders can check out at their local library.

All 410 Georgia public libraries will now offer a Zoo Atlanta Library Pass in their collection, allowing all Georgia residents, whether near or far from Atlanta, to borrow a pass to discover and learn about the world’s animals and their habitats for free.

The pass will shift from a DVD-based system to a physical pass that can be borrowed from any public library in the state, like a book. The change addresses the fact that many households no longer have DVD players and brings the Zoo Atlanta library pass in line with the 14 other Experience Pass Programs offered by the Georgia Public Library Service, simplifying the process for library patrons.

Upon checkout, patrons will receive a voucher to accompany their Zoo Atlanta Library Pass. The voucher is a one-time use only pass, and due to the popularity of the pass, patrons can only borrow it once per year. The voucher and pass must be presented at the Zoo to receive free admission. Patrons may also need to present their library card to receive admission.

Through the state’s public libraries, the Georgia Public Library Service and Zoo Atlanta aim to educate and provide equitable access to wildlife and their habitats, and provide engaging experiences for all Georgians. The Zoo Atlanta Library Pass circulated more than 20,000 times in 2023.

“For more than a decade, Zoo Atlanta has proudly partnered with the Georgia Public Library Service to make the zoo experience accessible to residents of all 159 Georgia counties,” said Raymond B. King, president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta. “Just as books are portals of learning and discovery for people of all ages, connections with wildlife can change a person’s life by enhancing their understanding of our natural world. We are pleased to be able to make these enriching experiences accessible to everyone in our state.”

For more information about the Library Pass program, including detailed FAQs and how to participate, patrons can visit https://georgialibraries.org/passes/#zooatlanta

About the Cobb County Public Library

According to the Cobb County Public Library website:

The Cobb County Public Library is a 15-branch library system headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, where its staff members serve a diverse population of more than 750,000 people. Cobb is one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia, and the Cobb County Public Library is dedicated to being a resource center in the community by providing equal access to information, materials, and services.

History of the Cobb Library System

The first public library in Cobb County was opened in the home of Sarah Freeman Clarke in Marietta. The first freestanding library building opened on Church Street in 1893 and was named in honor of Clarke.

Libraries were opened in Acworth and Austell over the next few years, and in 1959 the city of Marietta and several other Cobb County libraries combined to form a county-wide system that gave rise to the Cobb County Public Library as we know it today.

You can learn more about the history of the Cobb County Public Library by following this link.