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SALT LAKE CITY — For Adrienne and Adam Whittle, Library Day at the Natural History Museum of Utah was the ideal reward for their children's summer reading.
The Magna couple and their five children, ages 1 to 8, were among some 3,000 residents of Salt Lake County who received complimentary admission to the museum for meeting the reading goals they established with local libraries that are part of Salt Lake County Library Services.
For starters, the price — free — was right, said Adam Whittle.
"You can't beat the learning opportunities at the museum. They all love the dinosaurs. They love the shiny rocks and the gem stones," he said.
The library system challenged adults, teens and children to read over the summer. Adults were asked to read at least four books and access other services offered by library services.
Children, meanwhile, were asked to set daily goals of reading a certain number of minutes and to complete that goal at least 30 times.
"All the people you see here today are readers. That's how they got their tickets," said Heather Novotny, senior librarian for programs and outreach.
Holders of the golden tickets had broad access to the museum exhibits and could purchase tickets for a 25-minute tour of the museum's ongoing "The Horse" exhibit for $1 each.
Events also included hands-on activities with gallery experts, crafts, a museum scavenger hunt, Dino Zumba and story time with Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and librarians.
Matt Whittaker, the museum's community outreach coordinator, said the partnership with the county's library services kicked off earlier this year with a celebration at Viridian Library in West Jordan.
The partnership helps children develop a love of reading and has the added benefit of visiting the Natural History Museum, he said.
Jessie and Trevor Huish's children, 1-year-old Moon and 4-year-old Hazel, are not yet reading but the Millcreek couple regularly reads to them. The couple earned admission by part in the library's challenge for adult readers.
"Because we have young kids, we're trying to inspire them to love reading. The best way to do that is by example," said Jessie Huish.
Trevor Huish said he and his wife are avid readers, "so it didn't take a reading program to reward me into doing it. We would have done it anyway."
Still, the Huishes said they enjoyed the opportunity to take their children to the museum.
"There's so much to do, even for little kids. They love it," Jessie Huish said.
The Huish home is "wall-to-wall books," Trevor Huish said, explaining that he hopes to pass on his love for the printed word to his children.
"I love the feeling and heft of a book," he said.
