Between the Stacks: 8/28/2024

I can hardly believe it will be September at the end of this week! Where did the summer disappear to? These are the most common comments I hear from almost everyone at the Whitehall Community Library! We had two mini-seasons this summer that remind me of the songs Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and We Have a Heat Wave!

Speaking of September, the Curiosity Untamed group is taking a break until October. They will be back again with new fun things to do for those with memory loss. I couldn't help but listen in as they explored Marco Polo's travels earlier this year.

September 2nd is Labor Day, and we will be closed on Monday but open the rest of the week at regular times. I am hoping to have a new copier by then. The old one had a meltdown, but we can still fax, scan, and make a few copies at a time. Machinery is great until it isn't.

Those wanting to apply for the property tax rebate can fill it out online or print a paper copy to take home. The information is very basic, and the letter sent to everyone has the property GEO code. If you do not know the GEO code for your property, go to https://svc.mt.gov/msl/cadastral to locate your code. If you want to fill out the form at home, just go to https://mtrevenue.gov/taxes/property-tax-house-bill-222. You can also type in Montana Property Tax Rebate in your search engine, which will bring up the site. I have assisted several patrons in filling it out online, and it only takes about five minutes.

The September calendars are almost finished. As usual, I am waiting for a few more program presenters to work out their calendars with mine. It is always interesting to meet new people who want to share their knowledge on everything from crafts to history to nature with us. With the cost of everything going up, it is nice to host free programs for everyone from toddlers to adults. If you are interested in something and would like the library to host a speaker on that topic, please call us at 287-3763, and I will see who I can find to share their expertise with everyone.

I have been reading many of the new children's books we received this summer, and it is a pleasure to see multiple excellent series in the mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction genres. Being a huge mystery fan myself, I am pleased to be able to introduce our young readers to a good who-done-it story. They get so excited at the end and always want to ask me if I know who the culprit is before the end of the book!