Passport services: a business plan for Alameda County Library

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a business plan for libraries to offer profitable passport services to patrons.

Design/methodology/approach

Gives an overview of demographic, financial, and management profiles of California libraries that offer passport services. Presents a plan for introducing passport service in two California libraries.

Findings

Current political and demographic environments for the two libraries make the introduction of passport services a potentially lucrative opportunity.

Research limitations/implications

Little to no correlation was found between patron demographics of libraries currently offering passport services and the amount of revenue the services produce.

Practical implications

Passport services may provide libraries a simple but effective way to supplement their budgets.

Originality/value

Suggests an innovative way for libraries to increase relevance to patrons through services as well as create a stable funding source.

Citation

Telford‐Ishida, B. (2006), "Passport services: a business plan for Alameda County Library", The Bottom Line, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1108/08880450610713045