The Victoria Avenue Library is once again hosting free income tax preparation clinics for low income earners. Registration in advance is required for appointments for the following programs by visiting or telephoning 905-356-8080. Be sure to stop by the library to pick up the checklist of documents you must bring along in order to have your tax return completed. Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario will complete personal income tax returns during thirty minute sessions between 6 and 9pm on five Wednesday evenings beginning Feb. 20 through March 26. They are available to individuals whose total income is less than $17,000 with no dependants, or less than $25,000 with dependants. If two or more individuals in one household are employed, their combined income must not exceed the limits above. Income limits are waived for those with visual or a similar physical impairment - not simply because one is receiving a disability pension. The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program sponsored by Canada Revenue Agency will be offered from 9am to 3pm on March 3 and March 17. This program uses trained volunteers who give their time to assist you. They are not employees of Canada Revenue Agency, or tax experts knowledgeable in complicated tax returns. They are trained to assist in completing simple, straight forward returns. Net Income limits for this program are under $25,000 for a single person and under $30,000 combined for a couple. Interest income must be less than $1000. Complex returns with Business Income, Capital Gains or Foreign Pensions are not eligible....

The fourth Teen Night will be held on Friday January 25 from 7 to 10 pm at the Victoria Avenue Library with the rock group Don't Be Alarmed performing at 7 pm and the group Tom Skoal at 9 pm. Both bands are well known in the local music scene. At 8 pm local electronic musician, dj, and vj  Marinko Jareb (aka DJ Machine and $tink*$ki) will perform dj sets, and will perform vj sets as a backdrop to the other bands. Marinko has performed and given workshops across Canada and Europe. Tickets are $2 in advance at any of the four libraries in Niagara Falls, or $4 at the door with a limited number of tickets on a first come first served basis. Other teen nights will be held throughout the year, showcasing local teens who have formed their own bands. If you are a member of one of these bands and would like to perform, please contact Andrew Porteus at 905-356-8080 or online A lounge area and a new display unit featuring books of interest to teens has just been added in front of the graphic novel shelves in a section of the adult department lounge at the Victoria Avenue Library. We are continuing to add to the books featured in the "Of Interest to Teens" display and the graphic novels collection....

The beginning of each year brings many forecasts of the future. There are also books at the library which do likewise. Typing "future" as a keyword in our online library catalogue produces over a thousand results.

I predict that many people remember the ground breaking books "Boom, bust & echo" by David Foot and "Future Shock" by Alvin Toffler, but there are many others to read as we begin 2008 including "Revolutionary wealth: How it will be created and how it will change our lives " published last year by Alvin and Heidi Toffler.

Also published...

Begin the new year by registering your children for a variety of library programs. Saturday craft programs will be held at various times and libraries on Jan. 12, Jan. 19 and Feb. 9 for children starting as young as three years old. Regular story programs resume this week. Bouncin' Baby Time: Mommy & Me & Books consists of music, rhymes, tickles and bounces for children four to eleven months of age with an adult caregiver. Bring a blanket and let us introduce you and your baby to a variety of board books and activities. This program is about twenty to thirty minutes in length and runs six weeks for only $3. Great toys are provided. Stay awhile afterwards to meet and socialize with other new parents. Due to limited space, no other siblings may attend. The "Baby Time: Beginning With Books" program for children 12 to 23 months of age and the "Toddler Time: Growing With Books" program for two year olds are thirty minute one-on-one interactive morning programs designed for a parent or care-giver to enjoy with...