Director of Libraries Message for August
One of the most unique library success stories of recent years has been the partnership between California State Parks and the California State Library to offer California State Library Parks Passes available to check out for free from public libraries across the state with a local library card. These passes cover the vehicle day use fee of over 200 participating state parks and beaches around California. A goal of the initial 3 year pilot program was to expand “equitable access to state parks and open spaces for all Californians.”
Indeed, in an early survey measuring the success of the program, the California State Parks Foundation found that 63% of those surveyed indicated cost as a barrier to visiting a state park, 70% lived in households with incomes of $60,000 or less, and 63% indicated that they are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
With so many participating state parks on our doorstep in Santa Cruz County, these passes have been very popular among our library patrons. In our first year of the program Santa Cruz Public Libraries circulated 1,175 Parks Passes & “Get Out & Explore Kits” (a pass with a backpack, field guides and binoculars). In this most recent year this use has grown to 3,022 checkouts!
This is why we’re grateful that the state budget has funded these passes for another year, extending them through at least December, 2026. These passes circulate like a book and since they are so popular, if you haven’t already, we encourage you to go to our online catalog to place a hold on one so you too can explore local state parks with the cost of vehicle day use parking covered for you by your library.
Christopher Platt
Director of Libraries
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