Gwinnett County Public Library - Buford-Sugar Hill Branch — Attraction in Buford

Who knew that you can apply US passport in person at the Gwinnett county public library. After unsuccessfully trying to get appointment at any USPS ( we need to apply immediately and most don't have availability until next month), the Sugar Hill city hall clerk adviced me to go to any Gwinnett county public library for walk in passport application. We have never been to Buford library before, so we went to check out the location, not a bad place, very cozy inside, they even have some free food available by the entrance's hallway and the staffs are really kind in giving you information about the walk in passport application process. Because it's first come first serve, they suggested me to come around 10 AM just to put our name on the list, the application starts at noon, so we need to be back 15 mns before noon with all the requirements needed. Great thing about doing this in a library is that while waiting for your turn, we get to check out and read the books and kids can enjoy some crafts and the library has quite an extensive kids books. My young ones were happy and not bored at all. The application process itself was painless, once we are called, document was checked, copies were taken, photo was taken if you don't bring one ($15), payment was given, then we were done less than 10 mns. I think it's a job very well done GCPL. Thank you for...

My wife checked out a book from the Buford branch of the Gwinnett Public Library and later returned the book via the outside drop box. The library staff then contacted my wife to inform her that she was being charged $28.00 because the book had been damaged. She visited the library to examine the book, which had several small, pale stains along the page edges. She paid the fine and brought the book home. In just a few minutes, I was able to completely remove the stains. I telephoned the library to request a refund of the fine in exchange for return of the now good-as-new book, but the staff member said "it is not our policy to issue refunds" even though the library planned to replace the book. I am disappointed that the library is so policy-encumbered that even minor blemishes would warrant imposition of a fine for the entire cost of a book, and that no consideration is given to customers who try to correct a situation to everyone's satisfaction. The library should have a notion of customer service, even if it is a government-funded...

Passport applications are accepted through a semi-appointment system. You don’t need to schedule an appointment in advance. Instead, you can arrive at the library entrance promptly at 10 AM each day and make an appointment. They allow one person per 30-minute slot, so you can calculate how many applications they can accommodate in a day. During my visit, my application took a mere 5 minutes, but they turned away other applicants who arrived without the semi-appointment. They didn't allocate the remaining 25 minutes.

While you can submit the application with ease, the subsequent transfer of applications to the passport agency occurs very slowly. In my case, it took 10 days from submission here at the library to the moment the passport agency officially accepted the application. It means the staff who received the application kept the file in the cabinet for 5~6 days.

Overall, it's a good service provided by the county. Please keep in mind that only Gwinnett county libraries provide...