Tax Season The Library partners in many ways to provide important services to the community. This tax season, in conjunction with AARP and VITA, volunteers provided free Tax Help Sessions at Downtown, Sunset, and Hamilton Libraries. Over 1,600 individuals received assistance in electronically filing federal and Arizona state tax returns. This is an annual program serving low and moderate-income taxpayers, seniors, and those with disabilities. Spring Reading Was a Hit! The In-N-Out Burger Cover-to-Cover Spring Reading Program was joined by nearly 2,000 children aged 4-12. Our young readers logged more than 18,000 books read and earned 4,500 awards for free burgers. Battle of the Books Chandler Library partners with Chandler Unified School District each spring for the Battle of the Books. Fifth- and sixth-grade students read twelve assigned books, join teams, and compete at their schools and district-wide to answer difficult questions about the books. This year, over 550 students from 34 Chandler schools participated, and a group of 5th-grade girls from Tarwater Elementary won the State Regional Championship. Battle of the Books is sponsored by the Chandler Unified School District, Chandler Public Library, and Friends of Chandler Public Library. Read to Succeed Annually from October to May, the Chandler Library offers Read to Succeed, small group tutoring for first graders that are recommended by their teachers as reading below grade level. This year, Read to Succeed served 47 children. We thank our 21 volunteers who provided 912 hours of service! We also hosted a special program for student participants, Tender Little Hearts Mini-Tales, which provided the children an opportunity to showcase their reading skills to miniature horses and donkeys! Coming in June: CUSD Summer Food Service Watch for more information about a summer lunch program from Chandler Unified School District at the Chandler Downtown Library. |