For Immediate Release: January 25, 2010

Oakland Public Library and AARP Offer Free Tax Assistance
Popular Program Runs February 1 – April 15, 2010

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( Oakland, CA)—Looking for some good news about tax time? How about some free help finishing and filing all those forms? The Oakland Public Library, in partnership with the American Association for Retired Persons, offers free tax assistance from February 1 through April 15, 2010. Trained volunteers will help residents fill out their forms at several library locations (see below for locations and schedule).

Participants need to bring copies of last year’s federal and state tax returns and all materials pertaining to their 2009 tax forms (including details of stimulus checks, if they received any in 2009) for themselves and their spouse (if filing jointly).

For walk-in appointments (at specified sites), be sure to arrive in time for the beginning of the day’s session in order to receive a time slot. The Library’s Tax Assistance program is very popular, and not everyone is guaranteed a time slot. Seniors, ages 60 and up, will be given preference at walk-in sites.

The Tax Assistance Program will not take place on official City holidays and Mandatory Business Closure days. The Oakland Public Library will be closed on Friday, February 12 for Lincoln’s Birthday and on Monday, February 15 for Presidents’ Day; for Presidents’ Day, the branches will close on Tuesday, February 16 (the Main will be open on this date). The Library will close Wednesday, March 31 and Monday, April 5 due to budget cuts; the branches (but not Main) will close Tuesday, April 6 due to budget cuts. Tax Assistance will not be available on those days. Hours may be subject to change; please call ahead to confirm times.

Oakland Main Library-West Auditorium
125 14th Street
Mondays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesdays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Fridays, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(510) 238-3134
No advance appointments; arrive early to sign up for a time slot.

César E. Chávez Branch Library
3301 East 12th Street, Suite 271
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bilingual Spanish/English
(510) 535-5620
Call for an appointment. Some walk-ins may be accepted; call for information.

Dimond Branch Library
3565 Fruitvale Avenue
Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(510) 482-7844
Call for an appointment. Some walk-ins may be accepted; call for information.

Eastmont Branch Library
7200 Bancroft Avenue
Fridays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
No advance appointments; arrive early to sign-up for a time slot.

Golden Gate Branch
5606 San Pablo Avenue
Thursday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Call for an appointment.

For more information, please call (510) 238-3134, or see the Oakland Public Library’s Web site: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/taxhelp/taxhelp.html . This free service is being brought to you by the Oakland Public Library and the American Association for Retired Persons. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland. All library facilities are wheelchair accessible.