The Brooklyn Public Library was pressured to finish its passport providers program on Feb. 27.
Photographs courtesy of Ajay Suresh/Wikimedia Commons & World Residence Index/Unsplash
The Brooklyn Public Library ended its passport software providers on Friday after being ordered to take action by the federal authorities.
Final fall, the U.S. Division of State despatched cease-and-desist letters to lots of of nonprofit libraries throughout the nation, telling them they have been now not eligible to participate within the Passport Acceptance Facility Program. The Brooklyn Public Library — the one considered one of New York Metropolis’s three library programs to supply passport providers — was amongst them.
The State Division decided that federal legislation doesn’t permit non-government nonprofits to gather passport software charges, in accordance with the Related Press. However nonprofit libraries have been processing passport purposes for many years with out subject.
“Since 2011, we have processed nearly 300,000 passport applications, providing an accessible service through a trusted neighborhood institution — the public library,” mentioned a BPL spokesperson.
The library reached out to the State Division to start the partnership as a result of it “seemed like a natural fit” with its current providers, BPL CEO Linda Johnson advised Patch in 2011. BPL allowed Brooklynites to use for passports in-person on the Central and Kings Freeway branches for a $35 payment. The library additionally provided picture providers for individuals who wanted applicable passport images.
Brooklyn Public Library CEO Linda Johnson in 2023. File picture courtesy of William Alatriste/NYC Council Media Unit
The supply of computer systems and printers at libraries throughout the borough can also have eased the applying course of for individuals who would not have entry at residence.
Processing passport purposes additionally generated vital income for BPL — tax returns present it introduced in $716,450 from passport providers in 2023 — however that cash “basically sustained the passport services operation,” a BPL spokesperson mentioned.
“In other words, the loss in revenue will not impact other library services,” they clarified.
Impacted libraries in different states relied extra closely on passport-related income, and are getting ready to chop packages and employees.
Politicians from each events have tried to enchantment the State Division’s resolution, saying the lack of passport providers at public libraries will hurt constituents and the libraries themselves.
In a Feb. 6 letter, a cadre of 13 congress members — together with New York’s senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand — urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to permit libraries to course of passport purposes not less than via the tip of 2026.
“For many communities across the country, libraries are the most accessible — and sometimes the only — passport acceptance facilities,” the letter reads. “Their loss will force residents to travel long distances, take unpaid time off work, or forgo access altogether, particularly as demand for passports surges due to Real ID requirements.”
Senate Minority Chief and Brooklynite Chuck Schumer is among the many lawmakers pushing to permit public libraries to deal with passport providers. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
The pols mentioned the State Division’s “interpretation” of the legislation stopping non-government businesses from dealing with passport purposes “went unenforced for so long,” and mentioned that most of the libraries impacted had been “repeatedly reviewed, certified and reauthorized by the State Department in good standing.”
“In New York, the Brooklyn Public Library has issued over 300,00 passports through its services alone over the last years; failure to extend this deadline will leave massive gaps in passport services,” the letter reads.
Brooklynites can nonetheless apply for a passport at many USPS put up workplaces and on the Kings County Clerk’s Workplace, although it’s unclear if they’ll sustain with the demand left by the library. The Clerk’s Workplace solely accepts passport purposes Monday-Friday from 9/11:30 a.m. and from 2-3 p.m., and never all put up workplaces provide passport picture providers. Candidates can discover seek for native Passport Acceptance Services on the state division’s web site.
Because the State Division didn’t transfer the deadline, pols are trying to find a extra everlasting answer.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, has launched a invoice within the Senate to amend the federal Passport Act to formally permit nongovernment public libraries to course of passport software charges. Schumer, a Brooklynite, is cosponsoring the laws.
An identical invoice has been launched within the Home by Republican John Joyce.
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for voting legal guidelines that will require start certificates or passports to register to vote. REUTERS/NATHAN HOWARD
In the meantime, the Trump administration is pushing federal laws that will require U.S. residents to point out their passports or start certificates to register to vote. However greater than 9% of Americans don’t have proof of citizenship — like a passport or start certificates — available, in accordance with a 2024 survey by the Brennan Heart for Justice.
About half of Individuals don’t have a passport in any respect, with dramatic socioeconomic variations. Solely about 21% of individuals from households incomes $50,000 or much less per yr had legitimate passports, in accordance with a 2021 YouGov survey, in comparison with 64% of individuals from households incomes $100,000 or extra.
A 2023 survey discovered that about 34% of Black Individuals surveyed had lively passports, in comparison with 42% for white Individuals and 55% for Hispanic Individuals.
Although an estimated 71% of New York State residents do have an lively passport, per the Heart for American Progress, that leaves about 5 million New Yorkers with out one.
