Explore More Illinois Now Available

Explore More Illinois logo with an image of a walking path at the Chicago Botanic Gardens as the background and in the foreground is a koala from the Brookfield Zoo, a dinosaur from the Dunn Museum, and Cloud Buster climbing tower at the Chicago Children's Museum

Free and discounted museum passes with your Lake Bluff Library card

We’re excited to announce that the Lake Bluff Public Library is now participating in Explore More Illinois, a free service provided by RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System). This program allows Library cardholders to reserve free and discounted admission, parking, and gift store purchases at cultural and recreational destinations across Illinois.

With Explore More Illinois, you can plan affordable outings to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, cultural centers, historical sites, and more—all with just your Library card.

Highlights of Explore More Illinois:

  • Make reservations online—available 24/7 from any device
  • Choose your attraction by date, name, or location
  • Access discounts on admission, parking, and even gift shop purchases
  • Reserve up to two passes at a time
  • Show your pass (printed or digital) and a photo ID for entry

A few participating attractions include:

  • Chicago Children’s Museum (Chicago)
  • DuSable Museum of African American History (Chicago)
  • Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center  (Skokie)
  • Discovery Center Museum (Rockford)
  • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum  (Springfield)
  • Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum  (Oak Park)
  • American Toby Jug Museum  (Evanston)
  • The Viking Ship  (Geneva)

To see a full list of current attractions, visit Explore More Illinois.

How to Register and Reserve a Pass:

  1. Visit Explore More Illinois
  2. From the drop-down menu, select Lake Bluff Public Library
  3. Enter your Library card number and PIN
  4. Browse available passes by date, location, or attraction
  5. Select a pass and choose Reserve
  6. You’ll receive a confirmation email—print or download your pass before your visit

Note: Once a pass is printed or downloaded, the reservation cannot be canceled. A valid photo ID must be presented at the venue.

For more museum pass opportunities, visit the Museum Pass page.

Questions?

Stop by the First Floor Service Desk or contact us for help getting started.

Start exploring today—your next adventure is just a click away!

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