Yep, tax season is here and filled with changes.

If you’re wondering what has changed recently in tax laws, the IRS’ website has a page full of updates — https://goo.gl/4sU9RP. The page provides up-to-date tax law news, FAQs, and legal guidance information.

I'm sure the thought of having to wrangle with forms, tax schedules, and new laws probably makes you reach for the nearest source of dark chocolate. But never fear. The United Way offers free tax resources to get you moving through the tax morass — MyFreeTaxes and VITA/AARP tax preparation.

If you earned less than $66,000 last year and feel confident enough to prepare your own taxes, you can file through MyFreeTaxes (https://www.myfreetaxes.com/).

If you prefer a more face-to-face approach when it comes to filing your taxes, there are a number of free tax preparation sites sponsored by VITA and AARP across Polk County. You can find an in-person site near you on the United Way of Central Florida website (https://goo.gl/aFiqk1) or visit your nearest Polk County library and pick up a guide listing the countywide locations. The VITA/AARP free tax preparation sites offer their services from Feb. 1 through April 17.

Polk County libraries will not receive print copies of federal tax forms and booklets — 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ — until mid-February. However, online access to federal tax forms and booklets is available through the IRS’ website (https://www.irs.gov/).

If you'd like to ask questions about taxes before you tackle IRS forms, Lake Alfred Public Library has the resource for you. It hosts a free, bi-weekly tax Q&A class on Thursdays; February dates are from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 8 and Feb. 22. Call 863-291-5378 for more information.

Did you know?

Florida’s legislative session began in January. The Florida House of Representatives has a handy way of keeping up with all of the bills and House activities. Its new mobile app, FL House, allows users to track bills, view calendars, and get information about representatives. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play and Apple devices on iTunes.

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to save money, the IRS can help. You can use Form 8888 to send some of your tax return to your savings account. To learn more, visit the IRS’ website at https://goo.gl/S1r7MC.

PCLC Libraries

Lake Alfred Public Library

Lake Alfred Public hosts a free Beginner’s Genealogy class at 11 a.m. Feb. 24. The class is taught by Dorinda Garrard, a librarian at Polk County Historical/Genealogical Library in Bartow, and coordinated by the Lake Alfred Historical Society. For more information, call 863-291-5378.

Lakeland Public Library

Join Lakeland Public Library’s new genealogy club, The Generators, a hands-on workshop that focuses on family genealogy. Please bring your laptop or tablet AND family data to begin or continue your research. The group meets the second Thursday of each month in the Lakeland History Room at 7 p.m.; the Feb. 8 meeting covers a more detailed exploration of the subscription genealogy site, Ancestry.com. Contact LuAnn Mims at 863-834-4269 or LuAnn.Mims@lakelandgov.net for more information.

Beakers and Books, Lakeland Public Library’s monthly picture book science club for children ages 7-12, will meet at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 9. The club, which reads and conducts science experiments, meets the second Friday of every month. Contact Suzanne Connolly at 86-834-1828 or Suzanne.Connolly@lakelandgov.net.

The staff of Lakeland Public Library’s Youth Services offers a wide variety of programs for young people, from storytimes and puppet shows to improv and creative writing. Explore the upcoming programs and events for all Lakeland libraries on Lakeland Public Library’s Events Calendar at https://goo.gl/hAP81Z.

Lake Wales Public Library

You still have time to view the works of watercolor artist and teacher Willa Campbell in Lake Wales Public Library's Local Artist Gallery. Her paintings will be on display through Wednesday.  Contact Lake Wales Public Library at library@cityoflakewales.com or 863-678-4004.

Mulberry Public Library

Did you start your New Year reading? Join Mulberry Public Library’s quarterly reading contest. Open to tweens, teens and adults, the first New Year, New Books contest runs through March 31. Register at https://goo.gl/yvfQAU. Call Mulberry Public Library at 863-425- 3246 for more information.

Polk County Library Cooperative (PCLC)

It’s a new year and here’s another chance to keep up with PCLC libraries. Check out the January PCLC newsletter at https://goo.gl/KKfqJ6. For more information, contact Jennifer Kovac at 863-519-8524 or j.kovac@mypclc.information.

Winter Haven Public Library

Winter Haven Public Library hosts Music for the Masses concert, Classical Trio, at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15. Registration is required: whplprograms.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Cori Greear at cgreear@mywinterhaven.com or 863-291-5880.

Location and contact information of all PCLC libraries can be found at http://www.mypclc.org/libraries.

Brenda Joyce Patterson is Fine Arts/Adult Programming Librarian at Lakeland Public Library.