Effective Friday, February 13, Lancaster Public Library will cease passport operations at the direction of the U.S. Department of State. There is a bipartisan effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to reinstate association libraries as passport acceptance facilities.
Lancaster Public Library received an official notification from the U.S. Department of State that it will be deactivated as a Passport Acceptance Facility due to its status as a non-governmental organization. As a result, Lancaster Public Library’s final day to offer passport services will be Friday, February 13.
We are not alone, more than 25 libraries across Pennsylvania are being affected by this change, and together we processed over 41,000 passport applications last year.
This decision is not based on our performance. For 20 years, Lancaster Public Library has provided efficient passport facilitation in a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for individuals and families. As the only location in Lancaster City offering this essential service, our ability to support residents in this way has been both an honor and a vital community resource.
Advocates and community supporters are pushing for permanent legislative solutions that would allow nonprofit public libraries to resume service as Passport Acceptance Facilities. In response, and with support from with Congressman Lloyd Smucker, Congressman John Joyce and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean introduced H.R. 6997, the Community Passport Service Access Act, bipartisan legislation to restore eligibility for nonprofit public libraries.
If legislation is passed to restore eligibility, Lancaster Public Library will resume processing passport applications as soon as possible. In the meantime, passport photo services will remain available at the library for $15, with two photos provided in print format.
Community members who value accessible passport services can help by contacting their federal elected officials and urging them to support H.R. 6997, the Community Services Access Act, which would preserve equitable passport services through nonprofit public libraries.
U.S. House of Representatives
- Congressman Lloyd Smucker (Lancaster): 717-393-0667 | Washington DC: 202-225-2411
U.S. Senate
Community members are encouraged to ask Senators to introduce a companion Senate bill supporting H.R. 6997.
- Senator John Fetterman (Harrisburg Office): 717-782-3951 | Washington DC: 202-224-4254
- Senator David McCormick (Harrisburg Office): 717-231-7540 | Washington DC: 202-224-6324