The Ridgefield Library will cease passport application acceptance service effective February 13, 2026, at the direction of the U.S. State Department. Under new federal government guidelines, a previously unenforced statute which excludes all 501(c)3 nonprofit association libraries from the Passport Acceptance Facility program will now be enforced. This enforcement is regardless of the relationship between the association library and their municipality, the government service the library provides, the municipality’s financial support of the library or the reinvestment of passport application processing fees into direct public library service.

The Ridgefield Library has served our community by completing nearly 6,000 passport acceptance appointments since being certified by the federal government to be a Passport Acceptance Facility in 2014. This designation requires annual exams by the Library staff certified to serve as agents and federal inspection of the Library acceptance site. The Library passed the most recent inspection with a score of 100 out of 100. As the U.S. State Department letter stated, “The decision to remove your facility from the Passport Program is not a reflection of your facility’s performance or to the value that you provide your community.”

According to Ridgefield Library Director, Brenda McKinley, “We are deeply concerned to lose this service. For well over a decade, the Ridgefield Library has provided efficient, accessible and supportive passport acceptance service for individuals and families in a welcoming and comfortable environment. The Library is able to provide evening appointments for working people and families and to meet our community’s needs on their schedule.”

Since being chartered by the State of CT in 1901, the Ridgefield Library has served as the Principal Public Library, per CT State Statutes, for the Town of Ridgefield. The Library is also a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The Town of Ridgefield generously grants approximately 70% of the Library’s annual operating budget. As a public-private partnership, the Library  closes the annual budgeting gap through our annual appeal, fundraising events, investment income and small amount of operational income, such as the income generated by the passport services. Income from passport service is used to directly serve the public with collections, programs and resources.

It is not known at this time whether this decision will be reversed. There is a bipartisan effort in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to reinstate association libraries as passport acceptance facilities. In the meanwhile, Ridgefield residents are able to make appointments at the United States Post Office on Catoonah Street for passport services. Library staff are here to help with questions.

For more information, visit us in person or at www.ridgefieldlibrary.org or call us at (203) 438-2282.