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Education Resources at the Library

We’ve made some changed to the education-related resources at the library:

• New Section for EDU Books
  To make college directories and test study guides easier to find, we pulled them out of the normal non-fiction shelves and places them in a special section. These new shelves are located by the Teen Services Desk on the lower level, and are marked in the catalog by the call numbers EDU.

  Also on these shelves you will find financial aid information, FAFSA forms and worksheets, and college catalogs.

• New database: Testing & Education Reference Center
  This database replaces the Learning Express Library, and offers high school, college information, tools, practice tests and study guides, as well as application builders, and profiles of colleges.

  This database is also create for career and employment research. It has many practice test for career and proficiency exams, an online resume builder, a career research library, self-assessment test, and much more.

  The Testing & Education Reference Center, can be used from home or in the library – to get started, visit http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/reference/databases_alpha.html#TERC

For help with these education resources, please contact the Reference Desk at askus@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x211.

Town-Wide History Project

The Chelmsford Library and many other groups in town are beginning a Town-Wide History Project. The goal of the project is to create a master index of local historical records, preserve these original and irreplaceable records, and digitize as much of it as possible.

The first step of the project was to ask local organizations and Town departments with historical records or artifacts to complete a Preliminary Survey (download the survey [pdf]). This was to give us an idea of how much and what kind of historical records each group has, and where this information is stored. The next step will be visiting each location to conduct a direct inventory of the records.

The project will also include inviting experts in the field to speak at the library about preserving historic information, both for Town and personal use. We expect this project to take years to complete in full, especially the digitization of records. But once information is preserved and digitized, it will be much easier for historians, genealogists, and anyone curious about the history of Chelmsford, its buildings, parks and citizens, to access through the internet.

We’ve created a Chelmsford History Project webpage to keep track of the project progress, and we invite the public to participate as much as possible. Although the project is currently focusing on local churches, organizations and Town departments, we recognize that many private collections in peoples’ homes are of great value as well.

If you’d like to be involved, know of a historical collection, or just have questions about the project, please contact Brian Herzog, Head of Reference, at bherzog@mvlc.org or 978-256-221 x111.

Upcoming Election Issues

On November 4th, Massachusetts voters will get to elect many national and state officials, and also decide on three state-wide ballot issues.

The MA Secretary of State Office has published the Information for Voters booklet [pdf], which includes these ballot questions and outlines what a Yes or No vote means in each case. Copies of these booklets are available online [pdf] and at the Reference Desk, and the issues are summarized below.

Question 1: State Personal Income Tax
This proposed law would reduce the state personal income tax rate to 2.65% for all categories of taxable income for the tax year beginning on or after Jan 1, 2009, and would eliminate the tax for all tax years beginning on or after Jan 1, 2010. Complete summary…

• Voting Yes would lower and then eliminate personal income tax as a source of revenue for the state government.
  More information: SmallGovernmentAct.org
• Voting No would make no change to state income tax laws.
  More information: VoteNoQuestion1.com

Read how Question 1 could affect the Chelmsford Library, in a statement by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Question 2: Possession of Marijuana
This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce of less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state’s criminal record information system. Complete summary…

• Voting Yes would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce of less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties.
  More information: SensibleMarijuanaPolicy.org
• Voting No would make no change in state criminal laws concerning possession of marijuana.
  More information: Mass.gov/MDAA

Question 3: Dog Racing
This proposed law would prohibit any dog racing or racing meeting in Massachusetts where any form of betting or wagering on the speed of ability of dogs occurs. Complete summary…

• Voting Yes would prohibit any dog races on which betting or wagering occurs, effective Jan 1, 2010.
  More information: MSPCA.org
• Voting No would make no change in state criminal laws concerning dog racing.
  More information: RaynhamParkFun.com

Additional information on these questions, candidates for office in 2008, and registering and voting in Massachusetts is available from the Elections Division of the Secretary of State.

Have You Done Your Taxes Yet?

Federal and State income taxes are due in less than two weeks, on April 15th, 2008!

The Library still has both Federal and State tax forms and instructions, available downstairs near the Reference Desk. Forms are also available on both the IRS website (index of forms) and the MA Dept. of Revenue website (index of forms).

If you need help with your taxes, the AARP offers volunteer tax assistants through their Tax-Aide program. All of the appointments with the Library’s tax assistant are filled, but you can check other area sites for appointments.

The Federal government is also offering a Tax Rebate this year, otherwise known as the Economic Stimulus Payment. Please note that even if you are not normally required to file taxes, you may be required to file this year to receive the tax rebate – read more about this. The IRS has also released the tax rebate payment schedule, so you’ll have an idea of when your check will arrive.

If you need tax forms or have questions about the tax rebate program, please contact the Reference Desk.

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Do Not Call Listings

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs is promoting the Massachusetts Do Not Call Registry.

This registry allows Massachusetts residents to list their home or cell phone number as one that does not want to receive calls from telemarketers. Listing here will not eliminate all telemarketer calls, but should reduce them.

To add your number to the list, please visit http://www.mass.gov/donotcall.

In addition to the Massachusetts Do Not Call List, there is also a National Do Not Call Registry. Usually, adding your number to one list is good enough, but adding your number to both doesn’t hurt.

To add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry, visit http://www.donotcall.gov.

Also, more information is available on the MA Do Not Call List and the National Do Not Call Registry, including how to verify your number’s status and instructions on filing a complaint against a telemarketer.

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