Beginning Oct,1, patrons of Bristow Public Library will have a new way to explore art, culture, and learning beyond the library’s walls.Through a new partnership with Philbrook Art and Gardens in Tulsa and Bristow Library will offer free museum experience passes that patrons can check out with their library cards.
The partnership is part of a sixmonth trial running Oct. 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, designed to make one of Tulsa’s premier cultural institutions more accessible to families and individuals in the rural communities served by the library.
“Libraries and museums share a fundamental belief that learning should be available to everyone,” said Justice Sweger, Director of Bristow Library.“Our library provides free access to books, technology, educational resources, and programs, and this partnership allows us to extend that same spirit of access to art and cultural experiences. For families who may not regularly make the trip to Tulsa, having an Experience Pass available through their local library can make visiting Philbrook a much more attainable experience.”
Philbrook Art and Gardens, located in Tulsa, is a place for learning, inspiration, and fun. With more than 16,000 objects in their permanent collection and 25 acres of gardens, Philbrook invites visitors to connect with each other through exploration and creativity.
During the library’s six-month trial, visitors will have the opportunity to experience exhibitions such as Neon Moon: Always Room Here, which explores the history and culture surrounding country life through paintings, photography, and works on paper, as well as The Pet Project, opening Feb. 20,2027.
Visitors can also see several exhibitions scheduled through Jan. 3, including Roadside Abstractions: Route 66 and American Modernism, which explores the relationship between American modernism and the changing landscape of Route 66, and The Roads They Are A-Changin : Oklahoma and American Car Culture, featuring photographs documenting Oklahoma’s distinctive roadside landscape.
Philbrook’s general admission also provides access to the museum’s current exhibitions, making the library’s Experience Pass an opportunity to experience much more than a single gallery.
How the Experience Pass Works:
• One pass provides general admission for up to five people, including adults and children.
• The pass may be checked out for seven days and provides one museum visit during the checkout period.
• Passes are available on a firstcome, first-served basis and cannot be placed on hold or renewed.
• Only one pass may be checked out per household at a time.
• After a pass is returned, there is a one-day waiting period before that pass can be checked out again. This helps provide more equitable access and gives other library patrons an opportunity to use the passes.
• A $50 replacement fee applies if a pass is lost.
• General admission does not include separately ticketed special events, exhibits, or experiences when additional admission is required. Patrons should check Philbrook’s website for current events and ticketing information.
The library hopes the partnership will encourage local residents to discover an institution that may otherwise feel difficult to access from a rural community.
“Libraries are often described as gateways to information, but they are also gateways to experiences,” said Sweger. “We are excited to help our patrons discover something new, spend time together as a family, and experience the arts without the cost of admission being a barrier.”
The Philbrook Experience Passes will be available for checkout beginning Oct. 1, 2026, at Bristow Library. Patrons must have a library card in good standing to check out a pass.
For more information about the Experience Pass program, contact Bristow Library at 918367-6562. Information about current exhibitions, events, and visitor guidelines at Philbrook Art and Gardens is available at www.philbrook.org.