PBS made me smarter

There was a time, long ago, when ordinary folks did not have cable, Hulu, satellite, or digital television.  They walked over to the television and turned it on.  "Channel surfing" was when a child sat by the television knob and changed the channels for their parents.  The TV was a part of the living room furniture, sometimes housed inside of a lovely wooden cabinet.  Average households owned one television and the family watched whatever mom or dad wanted to watch.
I recall sitting next to my father getting a history lesson while he watched The World at War on TV.  Was I enthralled with history at the tender age of five?  Absolutely not.  I was there because I wanted to spend time with my Dad and that's what he was doing.  Because I was so young, I believed for a time that the world was still at war and that Adolf Hitler was coming to get me.  My father reassured me that I didn't need to worry about Hitler but then jokingly told me to beware of my mother, whose ancestry is German.
Our family must have been big fans of PBS during my childhood because I remember watching Masterpiece Theatre with my mother.  There must have been something I liked about Upstairs, Downstairs even though I didn't understand the story.  I enjoyed the majestic musical introduction more than anything else.  The introduction to the show Mystery! was also a favorite of mine along with the host, Vincent Price.  Again, I didn't fully understand what I was watching but I did learn to recognize Hercule Poirot and to laugh when Rumpole spoke of "she who must be obeyed".

During my childhood, kids were already being told to stop watching television and go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  (This was also known as the "TV will rot your brain" speech that has been made by millions of mothers through the years.)  Without getting too deeply involved in statistics, I don't recall anyone I knew being rushed to the hospital for TV brain rot.
Those moments of sharing with my parents did spark some diverse interests in me.  Thanks to my dad, who continues to faithfully watch every military history documentary available, I have a deep and lasting interest in history.  Thanks to my mom, I have a special place in my heart for English authors like Charles Dickens, Robert Graves, Graham Greene, Jane Austen, and  Charlotte Bronte.  So, despite my mother's adamant warnings every summer, I don't think the television rotted my brain, at least not until much later when my dad started to experiment with buying cable and MTV invaded our home.

Sometimes during my work at the library, I have the opportunity to share the books that are the source of a patron's favorite movie, documentary, or TV show.  The History Channel produces the show, "How the States Got Their Shapes".  I love walking patrons back to the 973's so they can check out both of Mark Stein's books on the origin of our states and the unique people that populate them.  Someone might mention to me how much they enjoy the mini-series, Band of Brothers.  This leads us to Stephen Ambrose, whose body of work is large and varied, a veritable buffet for the history lover.
Many patrons are unaware that the show Downton Abbey is based on a memoir by Margaret Powell.  This memoir was also the basis for Upstairs, Downstairs.  There are also companion books to the Downton Abbey series as well as a book about Highclere Castle, the setting for the TV series.  Are we all enamored by the tremendous differences in lifestyle that are highlighted so clearly by this show?  Perhaps we are enthralled with the idea of loyal, deferential servants at our beck and call.  It might be the lovely setting and the fabulous costumes.  Whatever the case may be, clearly I am not the only child who learned to appreciate the world of the BBC at her parents' knee.  And maybe those memories are what drives us back to shows like Downton Abbey and books like Pride and Prejudice.

It's Inevitable, Unavoidable, Inescapable

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  This quote from Benjamin Franklin's correspondence is particularly appropriate this time of year when thoughts of W-2s and 1040s preoccupy our thoughts.  Starting in January every year, tax form and booklet questions become the FAQs at your local library.  Unfortunately, those people behind the desk cannot predict when the forms and booklets will arrive any more accurately than they could predict the patron's demise.  They don't know when, they simply know that these events shall come to pass.
"Can you tell me which form I should use?"  This is the beginning of a transaction in which the patron reveals a variety personal information while the person behind the desk waves their hands frantically to stop them.  The simple answer is "No".  They can show you where the state and federal forms are located in the building.  They can give you booklets and a toll free number to receive tax help from the state or the IRS, but they cannot tell you which forms to use or give out any form of tax advice.
There are several library resources available to the public which your local librarian will be overjoyed to share with you.  Every year the J.K. Lasser institute publishes a personal income tax guide.  Ernst & Young also publishes income tax guides for the fiscally confused.  In addition to those items, the library also houses large binders (courtesy of the federal government) that contain a variety of current tax forms as well as binders with forms from the past six years.  If patrons still can't find the information they seek, librarians will print forms and give other informational aid but they cannot, they will not, do your taxes.  Don't ask them.  They can't do it; it is verboten.
Some may prefer Margaret Mitchell's take on Benjamin Franklin's famous quote from her book Gone with the Wind.  "Death, taxes, and childbirth!  There's never any convenient time for any of them."  So true for the average person.  The pattern seen at the library is that those expecting a refund are requesting forms almost before the new year begins while those who pay tend to wait until the bitter end.  These must be devotees of Mark Twain, the originator of the statement, "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."
Just because the librarian can't do your taxes for you doesn't mean that there is no reason to visit the library during tax season.  After all, if you're the patron who is waiting until April to do your taxes, now is the time to catch up on your reading or get those movies you were considering watching.  If you are more like the ants than the grasshoppers and are busily getting your tax information together, what could be more appropriate than finding some soothing music to enjoy during the task?  For those who prefer to procrastinate, try something with a little heft like The Hour of Peril:  The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower.  For those in the process of getting things done, there is a large box set called That's Entertainment:  The Ultimate Anthology of M-G-M Musicals.  A good round of cheery show tunes can certainly help pass the time during an onerous task.

If you don't know which category you fall into (ant or grasshopper), go to your local library to inquire about tax forms and booklets.  If they don't have any yet (and many of them don't or only have a limited supply) use the opportunity to browse the various library collections.  Find that movie you've been thinking about but weren't quite sure you would like it.  Take The Artist for example.  It's an award winning film that's in black and white with old-fashioned sub-titles.  It's may not be your usual fare but it is certainly different (the story line is a little "Singing-in-the-Rain-esque") and the little dog is talented and adorable.  One could spend time browsing the CD collection.  If show tunes aren't for you, take the time to peruse the large selection of musical genres or find your favorite artist or group.

What if your library does have the necessary tax forms and booklets that you require but you choose to be a procrastinator?  Don't fret.  The wide variety of items at your library can now become your excuse to delay working on your tax return.  Maybe the IRS will accept that you were too busy watching all three seasons of Downton Abbey to fill out a 1040 so you sent them form 4868 instead.  Take heart, just because you may be a procrastinator doesn't mean you'll never get it done.  Some people believe in the power of procrastination, others believe they work better under pressure, still many believe the early bird gets the worm or the return. Whatever the case for you may be, eventually, Uncle Sam will require that it get it done.