Category: First 2 Know

By: Kelly Kautz

Did you know you can reserve a community meeting room at seven branches in the Dauphin County Library System?  Up county and down county locations offer meeting rooms to accommodate as few as three people in the Solarium at Alexander Family Library in Hummelstown to groups as large as 75 people in rooms A and B at East Shore Area Library in Colonial Park. 

Our rooms are ideal for business meetings, non-profit meetings, programs, interviews, or quiet study spaces.  While we love social gatherings and parties, we are unable to accommodate those types of events so, we can keep these spaces focused on learning and collaboration.

Need a laptop for your meeting?  You can borrow one at any of our locations, and many of our libraries also have projectors to use for your meetings.  In most cases, meeting room use is free, except for private meetings and meetings that generate revenue now or in the future.  Our Meeting Room Guidelines provide additional details. 

Learn more about policies, availability, and reservations by visiting your local Dauphin County Library System branch or online at https://www.dcls.org/services/.  We look forward to helping you find the right space for your next meeting.

The Library doesn’t offer tax advice or tax preparation services, but we do connect our community with trusted resources, local programs, and the materials you need to file confidently.

Each year, The Library provides access to essential tax forms and instructions. Our locations will have the federal 1040 and 1040-SR forms and instructions onsite. Our staff can help you locate any other forms you need on the IRS and PA Department of Revenue websites, so you can be sure you’re accessing the most up to date versions. We can also print out those forms for you. Printing costs twenty cents per page, but the first five pages are free!

If you are looking for free tax assistance, we can provide you with information on the programs offered by AARP (Tax-Aide) and the United Way (Money in Your Pocket). Tax-Aide focuses on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. The service does not have any income restrictions, and you don’t have to be an AARP member to use it. Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) offers free tax preparation for families who made $69,000 or less and individuals who made $48,000 or less in 2025. They also offer free remote tax preparation through their Touch-Free Taxes program. Both programs require appointments for most of their sites. 

To make it easy to convey this information to our community, we have combined the information for both programs into a one-page handout. It lists the locations, days and times for all of the sites in Dauphin County. You will also find the contact information to schedule an appointment. For those who want to file their own returns, it includes links to reputable, free online websites.

A highlight on this year’s handout is a change in procedure. The IRS began phasing out paper checks in September 2025. Because of this, you should take bank account information with you when you go to your appointment; MIYP sites will not be able to file a return without it. For individuals who do not have a traditional bank account, we’ve included some suggestions for alternative sources to have your refund direct deposited. If you don’t see this handout when you are at The Library, ask a staff member to print it out for you.

Whether you’re printing forms, searching for tax information, or locating reliable assistance, The Library is here to support you throughout tax season. Stop by any location; we’re always happy to help you connect with the resources you need.

The Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., proudly co-hosted community viewings of The 1619 Project series with the Dauphin County Library System East Shore Library, featuring panel discussions following all six episodes.

These powerful conversations created space for education, reflection, and dialogue around the lasting impact of slavery and systemic inequities. The collaboration strengthened community connections, deepened historical understanding, and reaffirmed the Sorority’s commitment to Arts and Letters and social action by highlighting the positive roles and artistic contributions of African American people of the past and present, while empowering attendees to engage thoughtfully with our shared past and present.

If you are interested in joining The Library and the Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Sorority, Inc., as we continue our 1619 Project discussion series, visit https://dcls.libcal.com/event/15588915 to register. Program is for ages 16+ years. Registration is required.