For travelers 16 and older, a U.S. passport is good for 10 years. But for those under 16, a passport’s life is just five years. (Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Starting today, Gilroy Library begins offering passport services to residents — including on evenings and weekends — to make the services more accessible to local residents.
“We really want people to see the library as an access point, not just for books, but for engaging with the larger world,” said Cassandra Wong, Community Librarian at Gilroy Library. “Getting a passport can seem kind of daunting, so to be able to do it in a trusted space where some of our patrons already know us makes a service like passports a little less intimidating.”
The library will offer services for first-time passports, replacement of lost, stolen, or damaged passports, renewal of certain expired passports, and passport photos. Services will be offered in both English and Spanish.
While passport services are currently available at the Gilroy Post Office, the library hours will make services available on nights and weekends when the post office is closed.
“This is for everyone. It’s not just for people who can work from home or can take the time off to go do this activity that’s vital for travel,” said Wong. “(This opens) up avenues of access that otherwise would be very difficult for some of our community members to overcome.”
The library is the fourth in Santa Clara county to begin the program, after the Milpitas, Cupertino, Los Altos libraries. Later this year, Saratoga Library will join the group.
Since its inception in 2022, the program has been in incredibly high demand, attracting nearly 20,000 patrons countywide, according to County Librarian Jennifer Weeks. Though visitors can book appointments up to 60 days in advance, some locations have been fully booked for up to two months.
Patrons can sign up for an appointment at sccld.org/passport. The Gilroy Library Passport hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (closed 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.).
Hours for other sites:
Cupertino Library Passport Hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. (closed 4 – 5 p.m.)
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 1 – 2 p.m.)
Los Altos Library Passport Hours:
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 1 – 2 p.m.)
Wednesday and Thursday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. (closed 4 – 5 p.m.)
Milpitas Library Passport Hours:
Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 1 – 2 p.m.)
Monday and Tuesday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. (closed 4 – 5 p.m.)
Originally published at Luis Melecio-Zambrano