Adults

Included In This Section

How can we help you?  If you’re searching for a captivating read or need a document notarized, the Library has these and many other useful services that will save you time and enhance your quality of life.

Select from a broad variety of books, magazines, music, films, and even board games that you can check out, download, or use in the Library.  For information on a variety of topics, online resources are available to everyone through public computers in the Library. 

​

The Library provides many services to accommodate the needs of seniors in our community. The collection includes large print books, an impressive collection of audiobooks, and resources through the Illinois Talking Book and Braille Service.

If you have a physical condition that prevents you from visiting the Library, ask about our home delivery service or the supplemental delivery service to select retirement centers. 

So go ahead and ask for our help—it’s what we do best! 

Look no further for ideas about what to read next. Check out our Adult Reader Resources for Staff Picks, Best Seller Lists, Award Winning Book Lists, and Reading Recommendations & Reviews . We also hope you'll stop by the library for our awesome selection of books, CDs, movies, magazines, and newspapers - or just to use the Internet or hang ou.
 

Is there a book you hope we'll buy? Fill out our Suggest a Purchase Form!  Do you have a comment or an idea for us? Need help finding something or have a question about the library? Contact us at or chat with a staff member.

​

Looking for ways to get involved at your library?

Come to Library Programs!

The library offers regular programs each month, and other seasonal programs throughout the year. Check the library calendar each month for latest updates on adult programs, or sign up to receive email notifications.

• Manga Club meets on the first Friday of most months from 4:00-5:00 p.m in the Lewis Auditorium. All things manga, with snacks and prize drawings every month.

• Board Games from 2:00-6:00 p.m. in the MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room on the second Saturday of most months.  Choose a game to play from the library's collection of board games for adults and families. Never played these games before? No problem. We'll have staff and volunteers standing by to lead demonstrations on how to play.

• Teen Open Lab meets most Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:30 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium. Activities include film making, 3D printing, creating music, reading, drawing, crafting, gaming, or just hanging out. The Teen Open Lab has something for everyone!

Do you enjoy lively book discussions? Then we have a book discussion group for you!  The library provides the book (either from our collection or borrowed from another library) and you provide the discussion. Refreshments will be provided.  Already read the book? Join the discussion anyway! We'd love to hear from you.

The Library provides many services to accommodate the needs of seniors in our community.

​

Large Print Books 

The Library has a collection of large print materials including best sellers, biographies, Christian authors, and non-fiction.  The Large Print section is located on the Main Floor.  Cannot find what you are looking for?  Ask at the Circulation Desk for help.

​

Audiobooks

If you prefer to listen to books, the Library has an impressive collection of audiobooks.

The Library also offers 24/7 access to eBooks and audiobooks through our eResources. 

The Illinois Talking Books & Braille Center at the Illinois State Library provides a FREE audio library service to central Illinois residents whose low vision, blindness, or physical limitation makes it difficult to read. Application forms are available at the Circulation Desk on the main floor.

​

Home Delivery

If you have a physical condition that prevents you from coming to the Library you may qualify for the Library’s very convenient Home-Bound Delivery service.

Library cardholders residing in Liberty Village & Hawthorn Inn may also receive delivery and pickup of library materials.

​

Helpful Sites for Seniors

• AARP

• ACL Administration for Community Living

• Aging--U.S. Department of Health & Human Services portal for information on aging

• Drugs.com

• Illinois Department of Aging

• Illinois Healthcare Porttal Seniors Page

• Justice in Aging

• Medicare

• National Care Planning Council--Eldercare and Senior Services

• National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped

• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Illinois

• Road Scholar

• SeniorNet

• Social Security

• ThirdAge

Home-Bound Delivery Service offers delivery and retrieval of library materials to and from patrons who cannot drive due to a medical condition.  This service is provided free-of-charge.

​

Home-Bound Delivery Information

A notary public is almost always available whenever the Library is open.  There is no charge for this service.  Notary service is offered at the Main Floor Circulation Desk.  Questions?  Call 217-935-5174.

​

The purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud and forgery. A notary acts as an official and unbiased witness to the identity of persons who comes before the notary for a specific purpose.

• Please do not sign your documents before you come to the library. We are required to see you sign your documents.

• Each person signing the document must be present for us to notarize that signature.

• An ID with your signature is required so that we can verify your identity. PLEASE NOTE: Under recent changes in state law, the ID must be issued by a state or federal government agency and must bear the photographic image of the individual’s face and signature.

  • Examples of acceptable IDs issued by a state or federal government agency with both a photographic image and signature are a valid state driver’s license or ID card, a United States military ID, or valid passport.

  • Examples of IDs we cannot accept are Social Security cards, a United States passport card, or school IDs that do not bear a photographic image or signature.

• Some documents require one or more witnesses. If your document requires witness(es) as well as your own signature and notarization, please bring with you a sufficient number of people willing to serve as your witnesses.   If you so not have enough witnesses, library staff can also witness if available.

• The library cannot notarize government I-9 forms or Cook County deeds, nor can we provide an Apostille. 

​

We offer test proctoring to homeschooled students, post-secondary students, and professionals taking licensing exams.

There is no fee for this service.

It is the student’s responsibility to verify that the proctoring conditions provided meet all requirements of the school assigning the test. The student is responsible for following test instructions and making all necessary arrangements with their instructor and the Library staff member who will proctor the exam.

Public computers are available for online testing, but the student will have only limited privacy and will be subjected to noise. Testing systems requiring additional software will not be permitted on Library computers. The proctor will be the Library staff member on duty at the time of the exam.

​

Scheduling Your Exam

Exams must be scheduled with Janet Ward by email () or by phone at least three days in advance. If the student is more than 15 minutes late for their exam, he/she will need to reschedule. 

The Summer Reading Club is open to anyone ages 3-103!  

​

Summer Reading Club Information!

Income Tax Filing and Payment Extensions

​

Federal Tax Extension - July 15, 2020

​

Illinois Tax Extension - July 15, 2020

​

​

​

The Library receives a limited supply of forms and instruction booklets each year. In addition, we are happy to assist you in finding other forms through the IRS website. 

​

You can obtain your own forms and instructions from the IRS by choosing one of the following options:

• IRS.gov/Forms-&-Pubs - to view and download

• IRS.gov/uac/Forms-and-Publications-by-U.S.-Mail - to order tax products to be delivered by mail

• 1-800-829-3676 - to order tax products to be delivered by mail

Other resources available include photocopiers and a fax machine.  

​

Local Tax Assistance and Counseling

AARP Tax-Aide

The AARP Tax-Aide service is offered yearly February through April. This free service can answer most of the tax issues faced by middle- and low-income taxpayers, 60 and older.  Volunteers are trained by the IRS, through a Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant. Location and hours are typically announced by early February.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Phone Assistance

You may ask questions to help you prepare your tax return, or ask about a notice you have received.

Individuals: Toll-free, 1-800-829-1040
People with hearing impairments: Toll-free, 1-800-829-4059 (TDD)
Businesses: Toll-free, 1-800-829-4933

Illinois Department of Revenue (IDR)

The local IDR office closed in 2002, but phone help is available.

Individuals: Toll-free 1-800-732-8866 or 1-217-782-3336
People with hearing impairments: 1-800-544-5304 (TDD)
Business Hot Line: 1-217-524-4772

Tax Resources Online

• Free File: If your adjusted gross income was $60,000 or less you can use Free File to file federal taxes online.

• Illinois Department of Revenue (IDR): Consult this site for Illinois tax info or to file your IL-1040 online.

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

  • IRS e-file

  • IRS Forms and Publications

  • Tax Tips

• Tax Information for Non-English speakers

  • East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center (ECIRMAC)

  • Centro de Refugiados

  • El IRS en Espanol

  • IRS Tax Terminology Glossaries (Publication 850)