10 February 2015

10 February 2015----------There is a lot of good news this month. First off we are now in the second half of winter. The sun rises earlier and sets much later. The second part of the good news is we now have a new Children's Services Librarian! Stephanie Willoughby is a Vicksburg resident and is leaving her job at the Kalamazoo Museum. She is looking forward to working with the children and officially starts on 16 February. Over the rest of the month she will be learning the procedures of the library, planning storytimes and preparing for Summer Reading. Stop in and say hello to her beginning next week.----------Speaking of storytimes, they are scheduled to restart on Monday, March 2. More details about the storytimes will be publicized as soon as the programs are put together. We are also getting near the mid-point for the Adult Winter Reading program. There is plenty of time to register and get a slip in for the main drawing. It is very easy, read, listen or watch a book, audiobook or movie from the Vicksburg District Library and score a point for each book, movie or audiobook. After 15 items checked out, you get a slip for the big drawing. For every five books, movies or audiobooks you read after that and you get another chance for the drawing. The more materials you use from the Library, the more entries in for the big drawing. The prizes this year are gift certificates for the Main Street Pub, the Vault and Rise n' Dine. Enter now and get reading, watching and listening.---------- This year we are in an awkward situation as far as tax forms. We have received the Michigan Tax Booklets which include the most popular Michigan tax forms and we also have the home heating credit forms. The Federal Tax forms are a totally different situation. We had placed our annual order back in November but late last month we were informed that because the IRS mailing and distribution program had been cut by $300 million. The message we received told us not to expect any tax forms to be delivered this year. Since the first of February we did receive 100 1040 Forms but no instruction books. We have printed off three copies of the instruction books for forms 1040, 1040-A and 2040-EZ. Two of the copies are available for checkout for one week with a $1.00 fine per day if not returned on time. The third copy is for use in the Library. We ask that you be patient with staff this year when looking for tax forms because we may not have received them----------For February the Library is once again inviting you to go on a Blind Date With a Book for Valentine's day. There are many books wrapped in red paper, pick it up take it home and read it. Let us know what you think of the book and if you would read anything else by the author of the book you chose. These books have been donated to the library so you do not need to check them out and you can keep them if you so desire.----------The annual budget meeting of the Library will be held on February 19. The budget meeting is part of the regular meeting. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. and the public is always welcome to attend.-------Until next time, keep warm and keep reading.-----John