There are some travel changes that feel dramatic.

This one feels more like someone quietly moved your favorite chair and didn’t tell you.

The U.S. State Department has ordered certain nonprofit public libraries to stop processing passport applications as official Passport Acceptance Facilities. This began rolling out in late 2025, and affected libraries were told their authorization would end in early 2026. The effective date most commonly cited is February 13, 2026.

If your local library offered passport appointments and suddenly stopped, this is likely why.

Let’s walk through what’s actually happening, who is affected, and what this means for blind and low vision travelers who have relied heavily on library services.

What Actually Changed

The State Department began issuing cease-and-desist letters to nonprofit public libraries, informing them they are no longer eligible to participate in the Passport Acceptance Facility program.

The explanation given publicly is that federal law prohibits non-governmental organizations from collecting passport application execution fees. Nonprofit libraries fall under that classification. Government-run libraries are not affected.

The State Department has stated that fewer than 1 percent of all acceptance facilities are impacted, and that over 7,500 acceptance facilities remain nationwide. They also estimate that more than 99 percent of Americans live within 20 miles of a passport acceptance site, typically a post office, county clerk, city office, or government-operated library.

On paper, the system still looks robust.

On the ground, it feels different.

Why Libraries Mattered More Than People Realized

Libraries are not just book buildings. They are often:

• centrally located

• calmer than post offices

• staffed by people used to assisting with forms

• open evenings or weekends

• familiar and trusted by their communities

For blind and low vision travelers especially, libraries have long been more than convenient. They are accessible.

Many blind travelers rely on library staff to:

• help read and confirm form entries

• clarify instructions

• provide a quieter environment to manage paperwork

• avoid the rushed pace of a busy government counter

When a service disappears from a familiar space, the impact is not just logistical. It is psychological. Comfort matters when you are filling out federal paperwork that determines whether you can leave the country.

This change may only affect a slice of libraries nationally, but in areas where nonprofit libraries are common, the shift is noticeable.

What This Means for General Travelers

If you need to apply in person, such as for a first-time passport or a child’s passport, you will now likely be directed to:

• United States Postal Service locations

• County clerk offices

• City government offices

• Government-run libraries, where applicable

• Special passport acceptance fairs

The USPS website confirms that thousands of post offices accept first-time passport applications, and many can also take your passport photo. You can search for locations and appointments at usps.com.

You can also use the State Department’s official acceptance facility search tool at travel.state.gov to find locations by ZIP code.

It is important to confirm whether your local library is government-run or nonprofit before assuming it still processes applications.

Do not assume. Check.

Timing Matters More Now

Passport demand continues to surge nationally. Removing even a small percentage of acceptance facilities can shift appointment pressure to remaining sites.

If you have travel planned, apply early.

When I renewed my passport recently, I opted to pay the expedited processing fee. It arrived well before my next trip, which gave me breathing room. That extra cost bought peace of mind. For me, it was worth it.

If your trip is within a tight window, expedited service may be a smart move. It is better to feel mildly annoyed about a fee than severely stressed about a departure date.

Accessibility Impact, Woven Into the Reality

Here is where the annoyance turns practical.

Blind and low vision travelers often rely on public libraries for more than passport forms. Libraries are hubs for:

• assistive technology access

• staff trained in patient document assistance

• familiar layout and navigation

• community support

Moving passport services out of that environment creates friction.

It does not remove access. It changes the path.

Post offices and clerk offices are fully capable of providing assistance. Many do so well. But the environment is often faster paced and less personalized.

If you are blind or low vision and heading to a new acceptance facility:

• schedule your appointment at a less busy time if possible

• arrive early to reduce stress

• ask for confirmation that each field has been entered correctly before submission

• verify photo services in advance if needed

You are not asking for special treatment. You are asking for accuracy.

Passport Acceptance Fairs, The Quiet Backup Plan

Passport acceptance fairs continue to be offered at approved facilities. These events often provide weekend or extended-hour appointments.

They can be a useful workaround if your local options are booked out.

You can check the State Department website for upcoming fairs.

The Slightly Annoying but Fully Adaptable Reality

This is not a passport system shutdown.

This is a structural eligibility change affecting nonprofit libraries.

It is inconvenient.

It may lengthen appointment wait times in some areas.

It removes a familiar access point that many travelers, especially blind and low vision travelers, trusted.

But the network remains intact.

The key is awareness.

If you are planning travel this year, especially international travel, do not wait until your cruise deposit is paid and your flights are booked to check your passport status.

Check now.

Confirm your library’s current status.

Use the State Department facility search tool.

Book early.

And if needed, consider expedited service for peace of mind.

Your Action Step

Before you assume your local library still processes passports, verify whether it is government-run or nonprofit and confirm its status directly.

Do not rely on last year’s information.

Travel planning is hard enough without surprise paperwork detours.

If you have already encountered this change, especially if you are blind or low vision and relied on library services, I would genuinely like to hear how it impacted you and what workaround you found.

We adapt. That is what we do.

Until we explore again.

See you at the Gate

Ted and Fauna