Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Offered at Mishawaka Library
VITA offers free income tax preparation to individuals with low-to-moderate-income, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speakers.
VITA is an Internal Revenue Service initiative designed to support free tax preparation services for the underserved through partner organizations. Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc. is the proud local sponsor of the VITA program for the third year in a row.
VITA services are a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns.
All VITA volunteers who prepare returns must pass a tax law training course that meets or exceeds IRS standards.
Taxpayers with an income level of $64,000 or less qualify for the program.
VITA assistance will be available at MPHPL every Tuesday, February 7 through April 11.
Learn how to apply for a free MPHPL library card by visiting the MPHPL website.
Construction to Renovate the Harris Branch Has Started
Improvements are coming to the Harris Branch, and we can't wait to share all the details!
The first phase of the renovations started in mid-January.
Currently, hours of operation at the Harris Branch will remain the same, and dropbox access for returned materials will remain at the front desk and at our external drive-through return.
Guests can still visit the location and check out materials; however, meeting rooms are unavailable for booking, and all programming has been suspended.
Study room availability is limited as well as adult computer access.
Construction is expected to be completed this year.
You may also visit one of our other MPHPL locations for full access to all our services.
Read more about our Harris Branch construction project by visiting our MPHPL article.
MPHPL Now Offers Youth Access Card Options
Adults may choose between Child, Teen or Unlimited access when registering their minor for a Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library card.
Current MPHPL cardholders may visit the library to review or change their minor’s access level at any time.
Adults have the choice when registering their minor for a new library card to choose between Child, Teen or Unlimited access.
“We want to work with parents and guardians and respect their right to choose what is best for their child,” said MPHPL Director Donna Meeks.
To learn more about what the various access levels mean, visit our MPHPL website article.
Local African American History and the Powell Family
John Charles Bryant, one of the last remaining South Bend members of the Powell family, shares the story of his descendants.
In the 1850s, Farrow and Rebecca Powell, their children and their grandchildren settled in the South Bend and Mishawaka, Indiana area.
Bryant, shared the story of his Powell family heritage in December of 2021; he passed away less than a month later on January 3, 2022, at the age of 84.
Bryant was proud of his heritage, passionate about Black history and cared deeply about Michiana.
He contributed many artifacts to MPHPL archives at the downtown Mishawaka Library that can be viewed in a permanent exhibit in the Heritage Room.
To learn more about Bryant and Michiana Black history, watch the Powell Family Tribute videoproduced by the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library.
A special thank you to Mishawaka historian laureate Peter De Kever for appearing in our video and sharing his knowledge about the Powells.
All MPHPL Cardholders Have Free Brainfuse HelpNow Access
The Brainfuse HelpNow online platform provides free online tutoring help for students in grades K-12 - seven days a week!
All Brainfuse tutors are experienced professionals who hold a bachelor’s degree and complete an intensive onboarding process before assisting HelpNow users.
Live Tutoring & Homework Help: Expert tutors in math, science, social studies and English - plus writing and reading assistance tutors available online seven days a week from 2-11 p.m.
Skills-Building: Master an academic concept through standards-aligned expert tutoring.
24/7 Help Center: Submit a question, and a tutor will provide you with a response (usually within 24 hours).
Foreign Language Lab: Expert assistance and support for students learning a foreign language.
Live Writing Assistance: Connect with an online tutor for expert writing assistance.
Intensive Writing Lab: For a more thorough analysis, submit your paper and within approximately 24 hours, receive a detailed word choice, sentence fluency and organization analysis.
MPHPL Winter Reading Challenge Wraps Up Tuesday, February 28
You still have the whole month of February to participate in the MPHPL Winter Reading Challenge!
Reading Challenge cards are available for pick up by visiting any MPHPL service desk, or you can download the card by visiting our website.
All ages can participate.
New this year, when you complete the five challenges tagged with a snowflake, you can bring your challenge card to the library for a small prize!
Mark off each unique reading or listening activity you complete on the card.
Once all challenges are met, return your Winter Reading Challenge card by Tuesday, February 28 to any MPHPL location. You'll receive a new book of your choice from a list of pre-selected titles. *Book title selections are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
When you turn in your completed card, you are automatically entered into a special prize drawing where six children 12 and under, three teens and three adults will be chosen as winners!