The James V. Brown Library. SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

The U.S. Department of State has 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 — a move that will eliminate about $90,000 in revenue from the county’s library system.

According to a news release from the library, “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 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,” the release stated.

“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 at the 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,” she added.

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, according to the information from 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,” she said.

Anyone interested in obtaining a passport is urged to visit the library in early January to apply for a passport while they 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.

The library is also asking residents to contact federal elected officials in an effort to retain these services.

The James V. Brown Library, is a 501(c)3 non-profit, has been a Passport Acceptance Facility since January 2008.