Hello, F is for February and finances! For those of you starting to think about your taxes – we're here for you. AARP Tax Aide begins on February 14. We’re grateful for the partnership with AARP, now in its eleventh year here at Berlin-Peck, which provides free tax assistance for people aged 50 and over with low to moderate income. Did you know that AARP tax preparers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure they understand updates and changes to the tax code? Appointments are required and can be made by calling the library 860-828-7126.
This time of year, we’re also thinking about the Connecticut State Budget. CT has a biennial budget meaning that a budget is adopted every two years. During the odd years (2023) a budget is adopted, and during the even years (2024) it is reviewed and then the process starts over again. While we are supported by the Town of Berlin, we also receive benefits from the State of Connecticut – money for items we loan out to other libraries and through our membership in the Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) which is funded in part by the CT State Library. CLC's superpower is that it provides discounts for libraries on a variety of items by negotiating contracts with vendors on their behalf. By purchasing off these contracts in 2021-2022, the Berlin Peck Memorial Library saved approximately $52,000! This year, CLC celebrates 20 years of supporting CT libraries. These savings allow us to bring you Hoopla, Niche Academy, and more books because we get a discount on print materials!
Is there a product or service you’d like to see at your local library? Let us know! If you have a suggestion for how we can better serve you, please drop me an email at kmcnally@berlinpeck.org. We might even be able to get a discount on it! I’ll see you soon at the library!
Warmly, Kim McNally Library Director | 
