Now @ MPL...

Have you ever checked CountyCat for a book, only to find that the Milwaukee Public Library has not purchased it? Because so many books are published every year, we occasionally miss picking one up. You can let us know about books you would like to see the library purchase through our "Recommend a Purchase" feature.

From the library's home page (www.mpl.org), under the Reader's Resources tab on the left-hand side, you will find the Recommend a Purchase option. Simply fill out the form to the best of your abilities and send it in. If the librarians decide to purchase your request, a hold will be placed on the material for you. If it is decided that the material will not be purchased, an email will be sent to you notifying you of that decision.

The beginning of a new year means that income tax season is here!

Your employer should have your W-2 forms to you by January 31.

The deadline for filing your taxes is April 15.

All Milwaukee Public Library locations will have state and federal tax forms available beginning January 20.

Looking for help preparing your taxes? Several local agencies are offering free tax help to low-and middle-income taxpayers. Both VITA and AARP have many tax assistance locations around Milwaukee.

For more information about filing your state return, including the Homestead Credit, visit the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Web site. For more information about filing a federal return, take a look at the Internal Revenue Service.

The summer season is almost here, and on June 1, 2009, the Milwaukee Public Library will begin summer Saturday hours.

Seven libraries will be open on Saturdays:

Atkinson: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Bay View: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Capitol: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
East: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Washington Park: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Zablocki: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

and

Central: 9:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.

For a complete listing of all branch locations and hours, check out the MPL Web site.

The Milwaukee Public Library is always looking for volunteers to help support our programs and services. Whether you are a teen, a retiree, or somewhere in between, the library has a volunteer opportunity for you.

Library volunteers can help organize special collections, be tutors, homework helpers, early literacy promoters, English conversation coaches, and more. Opportunities especially for teens include becoming a member of the library's Teen Advisory Board or a Summer Book Buddy to a younger child.

Volunteers can donate a few hours of a week or help out with a one time special event. No matter how much time you can give to the library, it is a wonderful way to serve your community.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at MPL or to fill out a volunteer application, take a look at our volunteer Web page.

The month of June marks the one year anniversary of the Milwaukee Historic Photos digital collection.

The collection launched with 150 photos of historic Milwaukee. Now, one year later, the collection consists of 750 photos.

So far the photos have mainly been from the Historic Buildings subject heading. In fact, that portion of the collection is almost finished, and will hopefully be completed by the end of the summer.

We have started adding photos of Milwaukee's streets. Wisconsin Avenue photos have been being added slowly almost since the beginning, but now we have started adding photos from the Streets subject heading of the physical collection. Street names beginning with "A", such as West Arthur Avenue, are being added, and we are going from there.

Keep watching the collection to see what else becomes available!

Don't have a Milwaukee Public Library card? Now you can get the process started online!

Start by filling out the online form found on CountyCat, the catalog of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System. Once you have done this successfully, you will be able to place up to 5 requests for materials online. When you are ready to check out the materials, you will need to go to your local library to finish the registration process. Please bring two forms of identification with you.

Here are a few things to remember about this new process:

---Online registration is for new library cardholders only; If you all ready have a library card, you do not need to use this form.

---Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to complete the registration process.

---You will need to complete your registration within 30 days of filling out your online form.

The Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS) recently launched a new Web site with updated information and services for library users throughout Milwaukee County.

MCFLS serves all of the libraries in Milwaukee County by overseeing CountyCat (the library catalog), providing material delivery between libraries, funding the Interlibrary Loan Service, assisting with technology upgrades and subscription database purchases, and more.

Great new features on the site include access to CountyCat, an interactive map of member libraries, and an event calendar featuring upcoming programs and meetings.

Also, you can now follow the latest MCFLS news on Facebook, Twitter, or your favorite RSS aggregator. Be sure to check it out!

StartUpAccelerator
September 26th 2009; 10am to 7pm
Milwaukee County Research Park
startupaccelerator.org

Crisis, or Opportunity?
An economic crisis can bring out the best in us, but why go it alone? Instead, come to the Startup Accelerator, September 26th, 10am to 7pm at the Milwaukee County Research Park, 10437 West Innovation Drive, Wauwatosa. More details on the website startupaccelerator.org.

• Connect with others, make new friends
• Brainstorm ideas, learn and develop
• Use your expertise to help others
• Find a fresh exciting direction for yourself, your business or project
• Work past obstacles and achieve, achieve, achieve

Register online at: startupaccelerator.org

Additional Sponsors welcome!
Sign up by September 10th to get a free T-shirt
Admission is free with a donation to the Hunger Task Force

For more information, on registration or sponsors click HERE. Or visit their webpage!!

Need answers? AskAway! This week MPL is celebrating the amazing AskAway reference service!

AskAway is a virtual library reference service staffed by professionals around the clock from around the world. AskAway is there when you need information or help with research, using databases, or searching the Web, etc.

You can chat online with a librarian 24 hours a day, seven days a week by visiting www.askaway.info. Or to access AskAway from the MPL home page, click on "AskAway" in the right hand column.

AskAway is a free statewide cooperative reference service of Wisconsin libraries made possible by the library and a grant administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has changed its name! It is now the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library.
The library is part of the Talking Book Program of the Library of Congress, and provides Braille and recorded books and playback equipment for those Wisconsin residents who, for any physical reason, cannot read normal print.

The name change was made in coordination with a new digital transition that will allow the library to provide patrons with digital books recorded on flash memory cartridges that can be played on a machine that is also provided.

To learn more about the service, call 1-800-242-8822.

Beginning Tuesday, January 19, tax forms will be available at all Milwaukee Public Library locations.

Available forms include:

Federal: 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ

State: 1, 1A, WI-Z, and Homestead

Additional forms can also be downloaded and printed from the Web sites of the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

While the library doesn't provide tax service, there are several places around the area that offer free tax help. For more information, see this tax service flier from the Social Development Commission or the AARP Web site.

Have questions about city, county, state or federal government services?
Stop in the Central Library's rotunda on Wednesday, May 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

This is your one-stop place to ask the experts. Topics covered include:

• Federal Taxes
• Home Buying

• Low-Income Housing
• Foreclosure Prevention
• Police & Fire Safety
• Veteran Benefits
• Social Security Benefits
• Workplace Safety
• Job Seeker Resources
• Congressional Offices & Liaisons
• Consumer Protection
• Senior & Caregiver Resources
• Postage Stamps
• And much more!

On Saturday, July 31 at 5:00 p.m., Central Library drive-up services will close for renovation. The drive-up is located on N. 8th St. between Wisconsin Ave. and Wells St. on the east side of the library. The renovation is expected to be complete in the fall of 2010.

During the renovation, please return items to drop boxes located farther south on N. 8th, just north of Wisconsin Ave. For all other library services, please enter Central Library or use a neighborhood library if more convenient.

Highlights of the renovation include adding an automated library materials handling system for returns, improving lighting and insulation to increase energy efficiency, adding digital signage, improving the exterior driveway, and improving ADA accessibility to Centennial Hall.

This weekend the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is hosting a "Shredfest" in Milwaukee. You can show up with up to 3 boxes of personal documents and the BBB will shred them for you for free. You can also bring in your old cell phones, which will be wiped clean of all information and then recycled.

For additional information and advice on what you should shred check out the BBB Website.

Do you need legal forms or guidance related to divorce, child custody, child support, landlord/tenant disputes, name changes, or small claims? The new website of the Milwaukee Justice Center may be able to help. The Milwaukee Bar Association and the Marquette University Law School have formed a partnership to provide services to low-income people who need to represent themselves in court. Legal advice is not provided, but their extensive guides should help people navigate Milwaukee County's court system on their own. In addition, volunteer staff are available in Room G9 of the County Courthouse. They also host free, walk-in legal clinics for civil cases:

Family Law Clinic:

Monday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Small Claims & Foreclosure Clinic:

Thursday 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Submitted by Jacki @ MPL Central.

Think you know everything there is to know about the Milwaukee Public Library? Make sure you're taking advantage of these five MPL offerings.

1. Regardless of your residency or card-holding status you can call MPL's Ready Reference service at 414-286-3011. This service is offered Monday-Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Wednesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Librarians will answer non-research, factual questions that don't take more than 3-5 minutes to answer.

2. During the hours above you can also ask questions through instant message or text and an MPL librarian will answer them.

3. MPL has a number of digital collections and we're working on more. Collections include Milwaukee Historic Photos, Milwaukee Leaders, Remember When and more.

4. MPL is a Patent and Trademark Depository Library. This means we maintain a large collection of patent and trademark materials, including copies of patents granted all the way back to the 1800s. We also offer patent classes.

5. Using our CountyCat catalog you can access links and RSS feeds to new materials divided by subject, genre and format. You can always find the link to new materials on the CountyCat home page under the More Information heading. Click here to check it out.

Six Milwaukee Public Library branches now have laptops available for library cardholders to check out and use in the building. Technology specialists will be available at each of the branches to provide training and assistance for laptops and desktop computers. The laptops are available at:

Atkinson Library, 1960 W. Atkinson Ave.
Center Street Library, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Forest Home Library, 1432 W. Forest Home Ave.
Martin Luther King Library, 310 W. Locust St.
Villard Avenue Library, 3310 W. Villard Ave.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.

Four of these libraries, Forest Home, Martin Luther King, Villard Avenue, and Washington Park, offer bi-lingual computer assistance for Spanish speakers.

Funding for this program is provided by Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant which was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding also improves the free broadband Internet service at all 13 MPL locations.

This program is available only to library customers with a valid library card. For more information, call (414)286-3011.

Kindle users rejoice! Now you too can take advantage of the library's eBook collection. Early last week Amazon announced Kindle users can now borrow Kindle eBooks from over 11,000 libraries across the United States. Milwaukee Public Library users have access to Kindle eBooks through the Digital Download Center. Accessing Kindle eBooks is as easy as entering your library card number and PIN (personal identification number).

Check out Amazon's Help and FAQ page for more information on Kindle eBook lending and don't forget to visit Wisconsin's Digital Download Center to begin checking out library Kindle eBooks. Happy Reading!

Today is the day of the recall election. Your vote will help determine who will be the Governor of our fair state. If you didn't get the chance to vote early, there is still plenty of time to make your voice heard today. To see where your polling place is, enter your address into the Wisconsin Voter Public Access' search form. If you need any other information regarding the election, and any requirements for same day voter registration, look at the City of Milwaukee Election Commission's website. Now you should have everything you need to make your voice heard. Make sure you tell your friends!

• Receive text notices about items available to pick up, items due soon and overdue items.
• Send a text to request a renewal and receive a text back with the result of your request.
• Send an ISBN to check whether a book is on the shelf at a nearby CountyCat library.

That's it!

To sign up for this text messaging service and to get more details, click here and use the online form or text "SIGNUP" to countycat@shoutbomb.com to get started.

Library Director Paula Kiely and the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees invite you to a presentation by the Project Team for the new East Branch. The presentation will include a preview of design concepts for the library space. Community feedback is welcome and encouraged.

Date: Wednesday April 10, 2013
Location: East Library, 1910 E. North Ave.
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM