Need help with your taxes? We’ve partnered with United Way of Monroe County to offer free personal tax preparation by a Certified Tax Preparer. This free service helps residents who made less than $58,000 in 2021 file their federal and Indiana state tax returns and claim the earned income tax credit (EITC), if eligible.

Virtual Appointments

The Downtown Library is a virtual tax preparation site. Two-visit same-day drop off or two-visit scan options are available February 1–April 12 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 2–6 PM. To schedule an appointment and get more information, please call 812-747-4836 or email MCPLtaxaide [at] gmail.com. You can expect to leave a message with your contact information and a volunteer will contact you to schedule an appointment.

  Read more about Free Tax Help

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re celebrating Black lives and remembering the tremendous life and accomplishments of Dr. King with a day full of events and opportunities to serve our community. 

MLK Day Activities at the Downtown Library

We’ll start the day at 9:30 AM with a storytime featuring "Hands Up" by Brianna J. McDaniel and "Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race" by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, followed by crafts to celebrate Black lives and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Following storytime, at 11 AM, the Bloomington Peace Choir, a community choir that sings to uplift their spirits and the world, will join us for a short all-ages performance in the atrium. Read more about MLK Day Celebration

We are excited to announce Josh Wolf as our inaugural Assistant Director of Public Services! We sat down with Josh to talk about the new role and his history at the Library.

Q. How long have you worked at the Library?

A. I've worked here for over 14 years, first as the Children's Services Manager from 2007 until 2015, then as the Community and Customer Engagement Manager, supervising a variety of public services staff. Before coming here, I was in children's services at Bartholomew County Public Library and Johnson County Public Library in Indiana, and at Fairfax County Public Library in Virginia. I've been working in public libraries since 1999!

Q. This position is new to our Library. Can you tell us more about the role of Assistant Director of Public Services? Read more about Library Announces New Assistant Director of Public Services

November is National Family Literacy Month––an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the important role that families play in the education of their children. This month we encourage you to explore our literacy resources and visit the Library with your family!

Family Literacy Month Giveaway

One of our favorite sets of children’s book characters is the timeless Frog and Toad. Arnold Lobel wrote and illustrated countless children’s books and received several awards for his work, including a Caldecott Medal, two Caldecott Honors, and a Newbery Honor.

In support of Family Literacy Month, we’re giving away 40 copies of the classic early reader, Frog and Toad are Friends. We are also giving away two gift cards for a pair of one adult and one child tickets to Cardinal Stage's upcoming production of A Year with Frog and Toad! Read more about Family Literacy Month

Energy Assistance Program

South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP) is once again providing financial assistance with winter fuel/heating bills for households in Monroe County for the upcoming 2021–22 season.

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is an annual program that assists members of our community who have household incomes at or below 60% of the State Median Income. This program is available to Hoosiers renting and for those who own their home. You do not need to have fallen behind on your heating or electric bills to qualify.

The EAP offers a direct-pay benefit to a household's utility company, or a benefit in the form of a check from the State for those households whose utilities are included in rent.

Eligibility for the program is based on total household income. For program year 2021–22, income limits by family size are as follows: Read more about Energy and Water Assistance for Hoosiers