Forms & booklets

Although we will not have tax forms and booklets to give away, we will again have a folder of reproducible forms and booklets at the library.  If you are doing your own taxes, printing out federal tax forms from the IRS and state forms from the  Oregon Department of Revenue is the best ways to get your forms. We will have computer access to these sites and get help you get the forms you need.  Prints are 10 cents a page.  The library has a tax page with useful links and information, including phone numbers to have tax booklets sent to your home.

Free tax filing

If you need more assistance, the AARP tax aide volunteers will again provide free electronic filing at the library — no forms required!   The tax aides will be at the Corvallis Library accepting drop-in clients from January 31st through April 17th on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am to 3:00 PM.  The tax aides will also provide drop-in assistance at The Elks Building, 1400 NW 9th St. in Corvallis, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11:00 to 3:00.  Appointment-only sites include The Philomath Public Library (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 to 2:00), and the Chintimini Senior Center (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 10:00 – 2:30 and Thursdays 6:00-7:00 PM).  Please call 541-766-6704 to make an appointment.

Nobody loves tax season, but we want it to go as smoothly as possible for you.  Our tax page has the most up to date information and you can also call us at the Reference desk, 541-766-6793 if you have any questions.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

This survey is sponsored by The American Library Association (ALA) and the Public Insight Network from American Public Media (APM), a producer of public radio programs that broadcast nationwide (e.g., Marketplace and Performance Today). They are partnering to learn more about how people use libraries, and the information, social and civic needs of communities.

On the survey website you can read an inspiring story about Oscar, once a young teen father who says he never would have graduated from high school without audiobooks and the libraries that provided them.  We hope you will consider sharing your library stories with us whether they are lighthearted or serious.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Image credit

You can check out the Kill a watt monitors directly from the circulation desk for two weeks.  The monitors are provided in partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon.

The library also has books like the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings about reducing household energy consumption.  Click here for a list of titles, and feel free to contact us at the reference desk at 541-766-6486 with any questions.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

This is the last week to send us your photo of you with your library card.  We are posting these photos to Facebook in celebration of library card sign-up month in September.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Wednesday, September 21 the Library book club meets at 7:00 in the Library Board Room to discuss The end of overeating by David Kessler.  Contact the reference desk at 541-766-6793 for more information.

Thursday through  Saturday
The 10th Annual Fall Festival Fine Arts Showcase will be held in the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library’s Meeting Room and features the work of over 30 local artists who were invited to be a part of the show.  Hours are: Thursday 10:00 – 5:00; Friday and Saturday 10:00 – 5:00. Click on the link to the Corvallis Fall Festival website for more information.

On Saturday, September 24, from 10:00 to 4:00, the Friends of the Library will be having a used paperback book sale on the Library’s front plaza.  Cake in honor of the Friends  50th anniversary will be served at 2:00 pm.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Image credit: “The Perfect Place to Take a Book” by Brian Hathcock on Flickr

alexandra.regan@ci.corvallis.or.us

Click here to see a fun slideshow of folks with their library cards.  If you like, you can post your own photo to this slideshow, which was put together by the American Library Association,  or email it to me and I can do it for you.  Don’t worry, I won’t post it to the slideshow without your permission.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Photo credit:  Ari’s Library card by Edgar Crook on Flickr

Quilt County 2011

If you come to the library today you will notice that it has been temporarily transformed by color and pattern.  The gorgeous quilts hanging from the atrium and on the walls of the second floor today through September 29th were made by members of the Santiam Scrappers Quilt Guild of Lebanon.  The variety of quilt styles and sizes reflect the diversity of the Guild.  Curated by Erin Kahle and Jean McDaniel.

Visions of Home

Thursday, September 8th at 7:00 in the library’s main meeting room is an exciting local author event with Marjorie Sandor, Charles Goodrich, and George Estreich.  Please click here to read the previous blog post on this Thursday’s program.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Quilt image credit: Color study: log cabin 2 ~ 2007 by Sherri Lynn Wood on Flickr

House image credit: Kenyan farmhouse by Angela Sevin on Flickr

This year we are excited about a title that was a patron request called Tin House.  Here’s what the editors say about it:  “The first issue of Tin House magazine arrived in the spring of 1999, the singular lovechild of an eclectic literary journal and a beautiful glossy magazine. Publisher Win McCormack wanted to create a literary magazine for the many passionate readers who are not necessarily literary academics or publishing professionals.” Look for issues to appear in the Library’s reading room in January.

We also listened to requests from patrons that we add a second copy of The New Yorker and House Beautiful. Both of these titles are very popular, and we hope that a second copy will ease the waiting time for the recent issues.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Image credit: 19_Publication by wiccked on Flickr

Christopher Rumbaugh

I have worked as reference librarian at CBCPL for nearly eleven years. I self-identify as a history buff and gadget freak (old, new, electronic and mechanical). My interests include genealogy, ham radio and collecting junk. I particularly enjoy things that make noise. In my spare time I fix broken things and break things that work just fine. Have I told you how much I love ebooks? Read my blog posts here:

Alex Regan

I have been a reference librarian in Corvallis for six years. I select the art, craft and travel books for the second floor, and enjoy promoting the collection through our website, as well as blogging about books and ideas. When not working hard at the library, I enjoy checking out the local food scene, and I also love to be active, whether it’s playing basketball or hiking. Read my blog posts here.

Amy Spies

Almost two decades ago, I found my niche with the second floor librarians. I enjoy my vantage point, watching the changing landscape of technology, welcoming patrons as they crest the stairs, jingle our phone, arrive on chat, or read our blog. I select materials in subjects that interest me most, psychology, philosophy, religion and literature, with the capable assistance of you, our most literate, well-informed public. Keep your great suggestions coming. Read my blog posts here.

Sharon Grant

For the past ten years I have been answering questions, battling technology and making the world safe and productive for information seekers at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. I am an avid fiction reader and love sharing good reads both in person, and through our website. I also like to keep everyone updated on the great online resources available on our Research web pages and am committed to making sure we provide the best products and services on the market. From Consumer Reports to Mango Language we are the place to start your search for the best of the web.When not blogging about books and websites you will find me out walking my dog, doing yoga or dreaming about my next journey to an exotic land. Read my blog posts here.

Mary Finnegan

I have been the Adult Services Manager for 11 years. I supervise a team of highly motivated, tech-savvy, well-read professional librarians. Together we form the second floor librarians and staff an information desk, develop the materials collection and provide a well-loaded website. Previously I worked in libraries in Salem, Portland and Lawrence, Kansas. When I’m not hanging out at the library you might find me working in the yard, walking, knitting or reading.

Please stop and introduce yourself the next time you see one of us, or feel free to email us at askalibrarian@ci.corvallis.or.us  We’d love to hear from you.  Got any ideas for blog posts you’d like to read?  Let us know!

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Image credit: Rosie the blogger by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com on Flickr

Taxes by John-Morgan on Flickr

Well April rolled in yesterday, and that means Tax Day (April 18th this year) is quickly approaching. If you are a bit of a procrastinator (you know who you are) and haven’t started your taxes yet, this post is for you!

Here is a recap what the library has (and doesn’t have) at tax time.

What we do have:

• The AARP’s Tax Aide service – get your taxes prepared and e-filed for free! This happens on a first-come, first-served basis at the Corvallis Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00-3:00. There are additional locations (some with appointment service) in Corvallis and Philomath. You can find all of those details on our Tax Info page.
• Reproducible IRS forms (i.e. forms you can photocopy)
• Computers where you can print out forms for 10 cents per page
• Links to commonly-used IRS and state forms and instructions on our Tax Info page

What we do not have:

• Federal (IRS)  printed instruction booklets and forms to take away
• State (Oregon) printed instruction booklets and forms to take away

If you have questions about what the library has to help you at tax time, just ask!

Posted by Lisa, a second floor librarian