A visit to their local post office is no longer the only option Baltimore County residents have to making a trip to Washington D.C. to apply for a passport.
The Arbutus Library at 855 Sulphur Spring Road is now offering the service, 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Erin Oh, assistant manager of the Arbutus Library, proposed the idea after her family went to the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Public Library, the first in the state to offer the service, to have their passports renewed.
"She was very impressed with the service," said Bob Maranto, the Arbutus Library manager. "She thought it was something we should do."
"It brings in a lot of people who have never been in the library before. That's why the service is so great. We're starting to develop a new client base," said Suki Lee, the East Columbia manager.
On the first day East Columbia offered the service five years ago, there were 19 customers, Lee said.
"Now, we're edging up to 100 (every Saturday)," she said.
Maranto said the Arbutus library contacted staff at East Columbia then brought the proposal to Paula Miller, the Baltimore County Public Library director, and Irene Briggs, the BCPL assistant director for public services.
"They said, 'Go for it.'," said Maranto, who admitted his passport that he used to tour Germany with his brother for three weeks after college graduation has expired.
Its location, near Interstate-95, the Baltimore Beltway and the Halethorpe MARC station, was a factor in the library becoming the first Baltimore County library to provide the passport renewal service, according to a release from BCPL.
Those wishing to apply for a passports will need proof of identity, such as Maryland driver's license, and proof of citizenship, such as an original birth certificate, Maranto said.
Library staff will check each applicant's paperwork and will also take photos for the application, for an additional $15 fee he said.
After the passport is processed, the passport will be mailed to the customer at home. The average wait time for a new passport is four to six weeks depending on the time of year, according to the release from BCPL.
Applications for a passport are $110 for ages 16 and older, payable by check or money order only.
The library, like other processing services, charges a $25 fee, which can be paid by cash, check, money order or credit card.
It does not accept renewal applications.