Friends Information

Collier received a nice acrylic stand to house Friends information for the public. Currently, there is 1 copy of the newsletter (more should be coming from HPL PrintShop), the cards for the Book Sale, and membership forms. There is an address on the forms for people to send in their money to join. If someone insists they want us to send it in, you can, but only if it is a check. DO NOT ACCEPT CASH!! It can go in interoffice mail to the Friends.

Sundays and temperature

Sunny was here today to restart the AC and I asked him about Sundays. He doesn't know why it has been so hot. He thinks that the blips in electricity that we have had may be turning off the chillers.

He suggested that if it is hot when we first get to Collier on Sunday we call 1-866-635-1395 to report that it is too hot.

All of the guys who are on call live far away so it takes them a while to get here. They have to be on site to make any adjustments.

New Pharos Link

https://192.168.132.21/Pharos/Logon.aspx

Same password as before. A security certificate warning comes up; you should accept even though it recommends that you not accept to continue.

IT sent some instructions. They are on the Reference Desk. Take a look when you get a chance.

New tax issues for 2009

• Your stimulus payment from last year should not be included as income when you file your 2008 tax return. Most people received the maximum Economic Stimulus Payment in 2008. However, some people may be eligible for a first time credit or for a larger payment than they were eligible for last year. This amount is called a Recovery Rebate Credit . You'll need to have the amount of your Stimulus Payment from last year so you can figure out whether or not you're eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit. Use this link to determine your amount from last year. https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC&selectLanguage=en
• People have asked about claiming hurricane damage (apparently talking about it some in the media). They can use Form 4684 to claim. We have the form but not the instructions. Additional instructions are in Publication 547.

Checking Voting Records

I found an interesting website last night when looking for an individual member of Congress's voting record. The site is http://www.votesmart.org/. You can search by last name or zip code and then click on the right hand side for Voting Record. You can look at all or select a topic such as Abortion or Immigration. It lists the date, bill name, how the particular voted, and if the bill passed.

Tax Help 2009

There is a map for the various tax sites (both HPL and other locations around Houston) on the HPL Wiki at http://10.34.145.39/twiki/bin/view/HPL/TaxHelp. There is also a list and a link that allows you to search by zip code.

PBS Young Writers Contest

According to Sarah Worthen at Ring:

A commercial on PBS about the Reading Rainbow Young Writers Contest says to see your public librarian. You can print the application and rules off the website.

http://www.houstonpbs.org/houstonpbskids/contests.html