Francestown’s George Holmes Bixby Library has launched a new way to get town residents out exploring cultural destinations around New England.

Library Director Beth Crooker, who took the helm at Bixby about a year ago, has swapped the traditional museum pass program for a reimbursement program.

“Prior to my arriving here, the library had passes to several different museums and cultural centers for people to check out for the day, which is what most libraries do,” Crooker said. “These passes were getting used  by our patrons, but it was really not enough to justify the cost of purchasing the pass. Some of the passes were up to five or six hundred dollars a year, and they were just not getting used enough.” 

This year, instead of purchasing annual passes from museums in Boston and other locations, Bixby created an reimbursement system for town residents who want to visit any New England cultural site.  

“All people have to do is bring us their receipt within 30 days of visiting the museum or wherever they went, and just fill out a little form, and then within 30 days, they will get a check from the treasurer reimbursing them for the cost of the tickets,” Crooker said. 

The limit on reimbursement is $75 per family per year. To receive reimbursement, people must have a Bixby Library card in good standing and be residents of Francestown. 

Crooker said the library’s goal is to encourage people to visit museums, historic sites, botanical gardens and other cultural attractions. 

“We want to keep encouraging people to go to museums, and now it is not limited where they can go. They can go anywhere in New England, whether it’s in Boston, or Maine, or they just want to go to the Currier Museum,” Crooker said. “We’re just trying to get the word out there that this is how it works now, and we think the program is catching on with residents.” 

Susan Kane, secretary of Friends of Bixby Library, said the Friends are thrilled with the new system. 

“What Beth has come up with is really innovative, and it makes a lot more sense financially,” Kane said. “It was always hard to figure out which passes we should buy, because there are so many different places to go. Some of the passes are very expensive, and we just could not afford them all, so we would have to pick and choose, which limits people.” 

Crooker said that while about the same number of patrons have taken advantage of the voucher program as previously requested passes, she has seen changes in where people go.

“So far, no two people have been to the same museum, so that is a huge difference. People have been to all different places, all over New England. Now they can choose to explore new places instead of just going to the same places where we have purchased a pass. It can be either kid-focused, or it can be for adults, ” Crooker said. “So far, the new system has definitely saved the library money.” 

According to Crooker, so far, patrons have received reimbursement for visiting  the SEE Science Center, the New England Aquarium, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum, Albacore Park and Currier Museum. 

Kane said the new program is a great example of Crooker’s leadership at the library. 

“Beth has just done an incredible since coming the library. Usage is way up, and we have just been thrilled with what she has done,” Kane said. 

Crooker, who is also the librarian at Temple’s Mansfield Library, instituted the same program for Temple residents.