NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — The U.S. State Department has ordered certain public libraries nationwide to cease processing passport applications, disrupting a long-standing service that librarians say their communities have come to rely on.
The agency began issuing cease-and-desist orders in late fall, leading to confusion and frustration among library staff and patrons alike. Said Cathleen Special, director of Otis Library in Norwich, We still get calls daily seeking that service. Our community was so used to us offering this. This change affects about 1,400 libraries, mostly non-profit, and a resounding call for action has now been voiced by congressional members from various states.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are pushing back, requesting Secretary of State Marco Rubio to extend the program until Congress can find a solution. They argue that libraries are accessible points for passport services, especially important for working families and rural dwellers. In a time when demand for passports is surging, we cannot let these community hubs close their doors on essential services, the letter states.
The American Library Association estimated that libraries' discontinuation of passport services could affect 15% of public libraries nationwide. With the demand for passports increasing due to new identification laws, critics argue that this decision places an undue burden on already stretched resources, with many needing to travel long distances for application assistance.
Congress is actively considering legislation to amend the Passport Act of 1920, to allow nonprofit libraries to continue providing these crucial services, highlighting the growing desperation among communities in these changing times.
