Books & More

Frequently Used
Books, Media, & Things

Experience Kits

2026: Borrow an Experience Kit–FREE Admission to Seven Historic Sites

The Experience Kits Program relaunches each spring and new sites become available on June 1. This great program gives you a chance to visit unique historic sites and museums in our area with FREE admission!

For 2026, we have seven sites this year–all within an hour drive or so from our area. Begins June 1 but you can reserve your week beginning mid-May. This year’s sites include:

  • The Senator John Heinz History Center (includes Fort Pitt Museum and Meadowcroft Rockshelter) (runs year round)
  • Beaver Area Heritage Museum (includes Ft. McIntosh) (Beaver, PA)
  • Bradford House & Whiskey Rebellion Center (Washington, PA)
  • Gibson House Manor (Jamestown, PA) Tours suggested!
  • Historic Ft. Steuben (Steubenville, OH)
  • Lincoln Highway Experience (Latrobe, PA)
  • McKeesport Regional History  & Heritage Center (McKeesport, PA)

How does it work?

You can reserve any one kit for one week. Kits must be reserved through the Adult Services Reference Desk–call 412-486-0211 or stop by. (You cannot reserve online but if a kit hasn’t been reserved for that week and you stop in–you can pick it up on the spot!) Please check the website or call the place you are visiting for their schedule.

Here are the details:

  • Tickets provide free admission for FOUR persons.
  • Kits contain a Barcoded Pass, Information Sheets, and a QR Code to win a raffle for each place you visit.
  • Kits check out for one week, WEDNESDAY to TUESDAY. You MUST pick up and return within that week. There are no extensions. Kits cannot be renewed. (Remember—others are waiting!)
  • Kits must be picked up and returned ONLY at Shaler North Hills Library—Reference Desk. Please do NOT use the Book Drop or return to any other library.
  • *****Do NOT relinquish the ticket to the site! It must be returned with the admission kit each Tuesday.*****

You may reserve the Heinz kit ONCE and the other kits TWICE during the 2026-2027 season.

Want to see if your local library participates? Here is a list of the other public libraries in the program with their phone numbers.