The U.S. Department of State notified the James V. Brown Library that it is planning to remove non-profit public libraries from the Passport Acceptance Facility Program due to a change in federal policy enforcement. This change will include the James V. Brown Library, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit and has been a Passport Acceptance Facility since January 2008.
This decision is not a reflection of the quality of passport services provided at the James V. Brown Library. For nearly 18 years, the Library’s team has met all requirements, passed all of its inspections by the U.S. State Department, and has provided some of the most accessible passport appointment hours in North Central Pennsylvania. As a result, the Library has provided passport services to thousands of people from Lycoming County and the region at large.
“If this change takes effect, families living in rural North Central Pennsylvania will lose one of the only Passport Acceptance Facilities in the region that offers walk-in passport services with no appointment required, as well as one of the few locations that provides passport services on Saturdays.,” said Robbin Degeratu, Passport Acceptance Facility Manager and Assistant Director of the James V. Brown Library. “For many people living in North Central Pennsylvania, that will mean taking time off of work or school and in some cases, traveling long distances to apply for a passport.”
This change will also make a significant impact on the James V. Brown Library. Passport services brought in nearly $90,000 in revenue to the Library in 2024, directly supporting its operating budget. These funds support staff wages, computers and public technology, and free programs for individuals of all ages. Coming at a time of significant decreases in county funding, this loss will have a substantial impact on the Library.
The Library is actively exploring sustainable funding alternatives to reduce the impact this change could have on services. Degeratu and other staff are also working with partners at every level to protect access to passport services and the future of the James V. Brown Library: “We know these services are vitally important to our community and how much residents value being able to access passport services at the Library. We are doing everything we can to preserve them and will share updates as soon as they become available.”
If you support the Library providing passport services in our rural communities, please call our federal elected officials and ask them to preserve these services at the Library:
Senator John Fetterman – Wilkes-Barre Office: 570-820-4088
Senator David McCormick – State College Office: 814-357-0314
Congressman Dan Meuser – Williamsport Office: 570-202-0658
Congressman Glenn Thompson – Bellefonte Office: 814-353-0215
What You Can Do Right Now
Apply for a Passport – Come to the James V. Brown Library in early January to apply for your passport while we are still able to offer this service. Visit https://jvbrown.edu/passports/ for the Library’s passports hours and more details about what to bring with you and what to expect.
Opt-In to Stay Updated – The Library is collecting the email addresses of people who want to be notified by Library staff about opportunities to speak up about how important it is for the James V. Brown Library to provide passport services. Opt-in to these messages by emailing SavePassports@JVBrown.edu.
The James V. Brown Library is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours.
The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is the place to go to learn, connect and grow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.
