Children in grades K-12 are invited to sign up for the Chicago Wolves Read to Succeed Winter Reading Program on-line, in the library or on the Bookmobile.  Read 600 minutes before February 25th to earn a free book and grand prize drawing entry.  We are also hosting a visit with Chicago Wolves’ player Matt Clackson on Tuesday February 21st at 7pm.  He’ll talk about the importance of reading and explain how reading and education play a part in his life as a professional athlete.  Then both children & adults can stick around to try our sockey hockey shoot-out just for fun! Register EVERYONE who is attending.

Adults also have their own Winter Reading Club.  Sign-up on-line or stop at the reference desk or Bookmobile to sign up and receive your winter reading log. Just read 5 books and submit and entry in the weekly drawing. All submissions will be added for our grand prize drawing on February 25.

Teen grades 6-12 aren’t left out of the fun either.  This Saturday, Janurary 28th, is the Teen Read-A-Thon from 1-5pm.  Spread out in our large meeting room with your own books or chose from the library’s newest titles.  Bring sleeping bags and pillows.  Hot chocolate and s’mores will be served .  Hourly drawing for gift cards and free books for everyone!

The library is closed as of 5pm Friday due to severe winter weather. No materials will be due during this closure and the book returns will be limited for safety reasons.

Please remember that the library is available anytime your computer is online. In addition to the databases and catalog, you can also log on to manage your account, renew and request items, and register for programs.

Kim Ima, baker extraordinare, will  visit WNPL on Tues., Jan. 24, at 7pm to discuss her new book, The Treats Truck Baking Book: Cookies, Brownies & Goodies Galore! A winner of the Vendy Award for Best Dessert Vendor, the creator of The Treats Truck can be found baking and dreaming up new treats at The Treats Truck Stop. She will be demonstrating her style for visitors.

Books will be available from Lake Forest Book Store. Registration is required.

On Wed., Jan. 18, 2012, many popular web sites, such as Wikipedia and Reddit, became temporarily inaccessible as a protest against two bills currently being considered by the U.S. House and Senate, SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act). For more information on SOPA/PIPA, see “What You Need to Know about SOPA in 2012“.

The WNPL website remained up and running as usual on Jan. 18, as was our extensive collection of online databases for your research needs.

Our library has received a very limited supply of specific Federal tax forms and instructions so far, but we are expecting the delivery of additional Federal and Illinois tax forms within the next few weeks. Please feel free to check our tax form display in our lobby. In the meantime, most forms and instructions are available on both the IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue websites and can be accessed from our Federal and State Tax Information page, along with relevant phone numbers for the IRS and IL Dept. of Revenue.

For more help with taxes, volunteers from AARP will be at WNPL on Mondays and Fridays, Friday, February 3^rd – Friday, April 13^th, 2012. AARP volunteers will be in Meeting Rooms A & B to offer tax preparation assistance to the elderly and needy from 9 a.m. to 12 (noon) on a first come, first served basis. They are able to prepare federal and Illinois state taxes.