News from the Reference Desk

Wait List For One Bedroom Units In Cook County To Open Mar. 27

According to The Journal & Topics Newspapers, the city of Des Plaines Health and Human Services Division has received notification that the Housing Authority of the County of Cook’s Public Housing Wait Lists for one bedroom units will open Mar. 27 at the certain Elderly and/or Disabled Designated Developments, including the Henrich House in Des Plaines. Please click here for the list of these sites.

Forms and instructions for the wait list for section 8 or subsidized housing be found here: http://www.thehacc.org/docs/WL_Open.pdf

By Patricia Smolin on March 30, 2012 Categories: Housing

State plans veterans job fair in Chicago 3/28/12

The Illinois Department of Employment Security is planning a job fair for veterans on March 28 in Chicago.

The department says it expects more than 100 Chicago-area businesses to send representatives to the four-hour job fair.

High numbers of veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars have had trouble finding work when they leave the service. Unemployment rates among veterans have been consistently higher than for the population in general the past few years.

In its announcement, the department says veterans should come to the fair dressed appropriately and with resumes.

The fair will be at The Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue starting at 9 a.m.

Other online resources for veterans in a job search include:

America Wants You (recent news article on AWY)

VetJobs

MilitaryHire.com

U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs recruitment website

National Veterans Association

By Patricia Smolin on Categories: Employment, Jobs, Veterans

Looking for volunteer opportunities?

Check out Serve Illinois. It’s fully searchable by type of volunteer opportunity or keyword and zip code. The site is maintained by the Illinois Serve Commission, which is appointed by the Governor.

By Patricia Smolin on Categories: Employment, Jobs

E-payments to Americans receiving federal benefit and non-tax payments

The U.S. Department of the Treasury moved in late 2010 to make all federal benefit payments electronic by March 2013, a change that will impact everyone nearing retirement and the more than 10 million Americans are already receiving benefits by paper check. Please click here for more information to ensure benefits continue without interruption.

By Patricia Smolin on Categories: Employment, Health, Seniors, Taxes

NEW! Sign up for the Experience Mount Prospect Text Marketing Program

Sign up for the Experience Mount Prospect Text Marketing Program to receive the latest news on shopping, dining and events in Mount Prospect.

Using a cell phone, just text EXMP to 36000 and you will be ready to receive news, coupons and special offers from your favorite Mount Prospect businesses!

This program is sponsored by the Village of Mount Prospect. To stop receiving messages, text STOP to 36000.

By Patricia Smolin on Categories: Uncategorized

Copyright Questions

We often receive questions about copyright; e.g. ownership of one’s work, what is needed to use another’s work, public domain, etc. A helpful guideline is provided by the U.S. Copyright Office.

Steps to copyright an image can be also useful, as well as how to determine which images provided by Google may have restrictions on use, especially for advertising.

By Patricia Smolin on Categories: Uncategorized

Voting for Judges

A new tool has come to our attention – voteforjudges.org. This site stresses the importance of doing some background research the judges we cast our votes for, their impact and records. The bar groups who participate in the evaluation of judicial candidates have reviewed some of each candidate’s legal work, talked to other lawyers and judges about the candidates, and had the opportunity to interview each candidate. For judicial evaluation results from the Alliance, please CLICK HERE.

By Patricia Smolin on Categories: Elections, Voter Info

E-file Your Income Tax Forms

If you have not yet attempted to file your state and federal income tax forms electronically, be aware that e-filing has personal benefits. If you are receiving a refund, you can elect to have it directly deposited in to your bank account, and you will get your money much faster than if you wait to have a check sent to you. By filing electronically and choosing direct deposit, the time lapse from submitting your form to getting your refund can be less than a week! And you will not be using any paper in the entire transaction.

The IRS allows anyone to e-file their federal forms for free: Free File.

The State of Illinois also allows e-filing: e-Services for Individuals and direct electronic deposit for refunds.

Make this the year you go electronic: save paper and time!

By julie collins on February 26, 2012 Categories: Uncategorized

Illinois Tax Rate Finder

Interested in where your sales tax goes when you make a retail or food purchase? The Illinois Tax Rate Finder tracks the breakdown of state, county, and municipal taxes for all cities and towns in Illinois. Additional definitions for what specific taxes mean are in their online glossary.

By julie collins on February 25, 2012 Categories: Business, Consumer, Finance

Access to the Social Security Death Index

There is current legislation working its way through Congress which seeks to block public access to the Social Security Death Index. The SSDI is a critical piece to genealogy and ancestry research. More information about the SSDA Call to Action Kit provided by the Records Preservation and Access Committee is available.

By julie collins on Categories: Genealogy