Passport Services-Libraries
Cathleen Special, executive director of the Otis Library in Norwich, Conn., and Emily Gardiner, the young adult librarian, hold up copies of passport applications on Friday, Feb. 13, 2024, in the room where people used to be able to get their passport processed.
As featured on
The State Department has ordered nonprofit public libraries to stop taking passport applications, cutting off a popular local service. In late fall, the agency started sending cease and desist orders, which take effect on Feb. 13. It says these libraries cannot collect and keep passport processing fees under federal rules. Librarians say the service has worked for years and residents still call every day. Members of Congress from several states pushed back in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They call the change abrupt. Pennsylvania members of Congress have proposed a bill that keeps eligible nonprofit libraries in the program.