Seriously, if you are getting ready to prepare your taxes, the Grand Island Public Library may be a great "first stop."

Folks from AARP will offer tax help from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays starting Feb. 7 and running through April 10, in Meeting Rooms A and B. Those requesting help should bring their prior year's tax forms. For married couples filing electronically, both spouses must be present to sign documents.

Also available at the library is a tax display area with tax forms, booklets, and publications. If you do not see the form you are looking for, the Reference Desk staff may be able to find a copy for you online. A great place to start is www.irs.gov. Once you have the homepage on the screen, you will see (on the left side), "most requested forms and publications." If the form you are searching for is not one of these, then simply type in the form number in the search box. If you want to search this Web site in Spanish, just click on the "Espanol" link at the top of the screen.

Maybe you are not at this stage yet. Are you looking for a qualified financial advisor, planner or broker? Have you ever had any qualms about your chosen financial planner or broker? Well, fear no more. There are a variety of ways you can find a legitimate person or company for the job for free and online.

At the "Ten Questions to Ask When choosing a Financial Planner" Web site (www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/financial-planner/10questions.html#10qs) you can learn about financial planning online, get a checklist for interviewing a financial planner, check out the disciplinary history of a financial planner or adviser and find a financial planner in your area.

In addition to the above, you also can:

nCheck out the "Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards" Web site at www.cfp.net/search to get a list of Certified Financial Planner professionals authorized to use the CFP Board certification marks. Planners who have been publicly disciplined by CFP Board will also be listed. Conduct your search by name, zip code, city and/or state.

* Search the "Better Business Bureau" Web site at www.bbb.org for a listing of investment professionals. On the main page, click on the following links: Business/browse categories (under Type of Business), legal and financial/investments/search all of investments (or choose any subcategory). Type in desired postal code and choose desired area coverage (e.g. within 60 miles of postal code).

While you are in the library or if you are at home and log in to the library's Web site at www.gi.lib.ne.us , you can check out some of the new books on taxes and financial planning including "Lower Your Taxes Big Time!," by Sandy Botkin; named one of the best tax-slashing guides for small business by Entrepreneur magazine; "JK Lasser's Small business Taxes 2008," by Barbara Weltman; "Taxes 2008 For Dummies," by Eric Tyson; "2007 Turbo Tax Income Tax Handbook;" "Complete Estate Planning Guide" by Kathleen Adams ; written by an experienced financial planner; "Top Federal Tax Issues For 2008 CPE Course," by CCH Tax Law; and "You Can Do It: The Boomers Guide to Great Retirement" by Jonathan Pond. A PBS reviewer, Pond gives step-by-step advise, not just for baby boomers but for anyone retiring this year or 20 years from now.

Here's to a long, happy, and financially secured life!

Kathleen Nonneman is a librarian for the Grand Island Public Library.