Hall Co. Library System moves closer to offering passport service

By Tyler Nutt Reporter

Posted 6:37AM on Wednesday, October 21, 2015

GAINESVILLE — The Hall County Library System should be able to issue passports in the near future.

The Library Board of Trustees got the word at a meeting Tuesday night that applications to issue passports are once again being accepted by the State Department.

Right now, the only site in Hall County - outside the Hall County Courthouse - that provides passport service is the post office on Limestone Parkway.

If all goes as planned, the passport center would be set up at the Blackshear Place Library Branch.

The Library Board was split on which branch would offer the service once it is approved. The vote was 5-3 in favor of using Blackshear Place over the branch in Spouts Springs.

“If you look at a map, Blackshear is pretty much smack in the center,” said Library Director Lisa MacKinney “Also, it will direct more people to a branch with an amazing facility and a great staff that people may not realize is available there.”

Board members also voted to open the Blackshear Place branch Saturdays, once the passport service is approved. Currently only two of the Hall County Branches are open on Saturdays. The other three are closed for budget reasons. However, the revenue from the passport service would allow Blackshear Place to be open on Saturdays, as well.

There is no firm date yet for the passport service to begin.