‘Tis the Season
Posted by: Barbara Bibel
February is here and so are the tax forms. Our library, like many public libraries, offwers free tax assistance to seniors and low-income citizens filing uncomplicated forms. We have long lines at the door when we open and people fighting over who will be first since there are no advance appointments. We also get tax questions at the reference deks. Since we are neither tax attorneys nor C.P.A.s, we cannot advise patrons. All we can do is help them find forms and refer them to local state and federal offices. Of course people with tax issues are often cranky and upset and they take it out on us. It is not our fault that there is no longer a renter’s credit due to California’s budget mess. But, cheer up, it is almost Valentine’s Day. Perhaps some of those cranky folks will receive tokens of affection from the IRS! The history of this holiday is interresting, dating back to ancient Rome, when the Lupercalia, a fertiltiy festival took place on the Ides of February. Later, the Catholic Chuch made the 14th the feast of St. Valentine to christianize the celebration. There are actually three St. Valentines, all martyrs. The custom of sending greeting cards came along much later in the 18th century. You can learn more about it at
http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day#top
Happy Valentine’s Day and may your tax returns result in refunds.
