TinleyNet FAQ

  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Here you'll find the answers to a few frequently-asked questions from members of the two communities.

[Adult Literacy]   [Book Repair] [Books for the Sight-Impaired]
[Camping] [Cell Phone Recycling] [Computer Recycling]
[English for Non-English Speakers]    [55 Alive Classes]
[GED or High School Equivalency Test]   [Notary Service]
[Public Internet Access]    [Section 8 Housing] [Shelter for Homeless]
[Social Security]   [Tax Forms]  [Tutors for Children and Adults]
[Unemployment Benefits]  [Voter Registration] [PublicAid and Food Stamps]

Q: I need a particular tax form -- and quickly!
A: The Tinley Park Public Library distributes commonly-requested federal and Illinois tax forms. We also have selected federal and state reproducible forms, from which you can make copies using our photocopy machines. For people in a hurry, though, both Illinois and federal tax forms and publications are available on the Web. In order to display and print the forms from home, you will first need to download and install a free program called Adobe Acrobat Reader.

To find federal tax forms (or publications), visit http://www.irs.gov/, and click on the "More Forms and Publications" button in the upper left-hand corner.

To locate Illinois tax forms, visit http://www.tax.illinois.gov/taxforms/index.htm.

Q: Where would I go to file for unemployment benefits?
A: The Illinois Department of Employment Security operates a number of offices, called "Illinois workNet Centers," where one can apply for unemployment benefits. The IWC Center nearest to Tinley Park and Orland Hills is located in Harvey, Illinois, at the following address:

16845 S. Halsted
Harvey, IL 60426
(708) 596-2325

For more information about services provided, visit the following website:

http://www.ides.state.il.us/

Q: Where can I attend classes to help me earn a General Education Development (GED) or High School Equivalency (HSE) credential?
A: Classes are held locally at Moraine Valley Community College and South Suburban Community College. Call Moraine at (708) 974-5340, or South Suburban at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2385, for detailed information. To find other locations in the Chicago area, call the Adult Learning Hotline at (800) 321-9511.

Q: I know someone who was evicted from their apartment. Where can the homeless find temporary shelter?
A: There are several shelters in the area, but some are open only during the winter months (typically, mid-October to mid-April). Also, some shelters are only available to victims of domestic violence. Contact the following agencies for details:

Catholic Charities
7000 W. 111th Street, Worth, Illinois 60482
(708) 430-0428

CEDA Center for Community Action
53 E. 154th Street, Harvey, Illinois 60426
(708) 339-3610

Crisis Center for South Suburbia
7700 Timber Drive, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
(708) 429-7233 or 429-7255

Morning Star Mission
350 E. Washington St. Joliet, IL 60433
(815) 722-5780

Respond Now
1439 Emerald Ave, Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411
(708) 755-4357
(referrals to other shelters)

South Suburban PADS
414 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 754-4357
Description: An inter-faith program providing shelter and supportive services to homeless persons.

South Suburban Family Shelter, Inc.
P.O. Box 937, Homewood, Illinois 60430
(708) 335-3028

Q: I know someone who has trouble with reading, writing, and mathematics. Where can they find a tutor?
A: If your friend is still attending elementary or high school, check with the school's guidance counselor for suggestions. Alternatively, the local yellow pages has a list of possibilities under the heading for "Tutors." Some tutors meet with students regularly at the Tinley Park Public Library .

If your friend is an adult, there are a number of options. Programs to improve adult literacy, as well as Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, are available at many academic institutions in our area, including Moraine Valley Community College, Prairie State College, and South Suburban College. Typically, your friend will be asked to make an appointment for a placement test to determine the level of help needed. Afterward, depending on the situation, the individual may meet with a tutor at a mutually agreeable location, or they might attend group classes at the community college.

Moraine Valley Community College
9000 College Parkway
Palos Hills, IL 60465
(708) 974-5331

Prairie State College
Corner of Halsted and Vollmer Road
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 709-3500

South Suburban College
15800 S. State Street
South Holland, IL 60473
(708) 596-2000

Another literacy program that offers assistance in our region is ProLiteracy Worldwide (formed by the merger of Laubach Literacy and Literacy Volunteers of America), as well as the following:

South Area Literacy Council
14037 Lincoln Avenue
Dolton, IL 60419
(708) 849-0300

ProLiteracy Worldwide also sponsors a hotline (888-528-2224) to help you to find additional tutors in the area.

Q: I have recently immigrated to the country, and speak very little English. Who can help me?
A: The community colleges listed above all have ESL ( English as a Second Language) programs (as well as the literacy, ABE, and GED assistance programs described above). Contact them for more information.

Q: How do I apply for welfare (public aid) and food stamps?
A: Both the "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" and Food Stamp ("SNAP") programs are provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services. The following DHS field office is nearest to Orland Hills and Tinley Park. Contact them for further information:

Family Community Resource Center
3301 Wireton Road, Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 293-4700

Q: Where can I attend a "55 Alive" class?
A: The "55 Alive" program is sponsored by AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons). Officially known as the "AARP Driver Safety Program," 55 Alive is an eight-hour course taught in two 2-hour sessions spanning two days, and costs $10.00. Motorists aged 50 or over may take the course (AARP membership is not required), and those who complete the course may be eligible to receive a multi-year discount on their auto insurance premiums. Visit the following AARP webpage to locate the class time and place most convenient for you:
http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/

Q: I'm visiting from out of town, and brought along my laptop computer. Where can I connect to the Internet?
A: Tinley Park Public Library has a free wireless network suitable for laptops and other mobile electronic devices. Tinley Park PL also has public Internet access through desktop computers at the library. Residents of Tinley Park or Orland Hills may use our public Internet workstations at no charge; the non-resident fee is $4.00. The library does not provide open telephone lines for connecting laptops via modems, but it is possible to connect to the Internet if you have a network cable.

Three nearby businesses also provide wireless Internet access for the public. Panera Bread, Staples, and Starbucks Coffee all have retail stores in the area. To find the most convenient location (as well as information about cost, printing availability, etc.), click on these links:

                 Panera Bread                  Staples                    Starbucks Coffee

Q: I have a relative who can no longer read books, newspapers, and magazines because the print is too small. What are her options?
A: Depending on the person's degree of sight impairment, there are several options to consider. For those who can still read regular books but with increasing difficulty, we have a substantial Large Print collection at the Tinley Park Public Library, including many current popular fiction authors (and a small number of non-fiction works). The text in these books is roughly twice the size of text in a standard paperback.
When even "large type" is a challenge, we have a collection of "Books on Tape." In this format, professional readers are recorded as they read aloud popular works, and the sound of their voices is stored on cassette tapes or compact disks. Both abridged (summarized) and unabridged (complete text) versions of your favorite books may be available.

More comprehensive programs are also available. The local Voices of Vision Talking Book Center, based in Geneva, Illinois, provides audible reading materials for all ages in conjunction with the "Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped." Their service includes access to over 50,000 books and 70 popular magazines, using various types of cassette players to listen to the tapes.   (Note that the tapes are not standard cassette tapes; they require a special player to use them.) Although this service is free, the applicant must be certified to have a valid sight impairment by a doctor, nurse, social worker, librarian, or other "competent authority." Our staff would be glad to help you apply for this program; afterward, the patron deals directly with "Voices of Vision" staff.

Similar service is provided by Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. This national group, based in Princeton, NJ, specializes in educational materials. Membership with RFB&D costs $25.00 per year, with a one-time registration fee of $50.00.

There are other services that provide specialized reading materials, as well as   video reading machines that can magnify the image of any print source (Tinley Park PL owns one of these machines for use in the library). Ask one of our reference librarians for more information about these possibilities.

Q: How do new residents of Tinley Park and Orland Hills register to vote?
A: You can register to vote at either the Tinley Park or Orland Hills Village Hall. Bring two forms of identification, with at least one showing your current address. (Note that you must be a resident of a precinct for at least 30 days before applying for voter's registration.) You may also register to vote at any other city or village main offices, at township offices, and at driver's license facilities when applying for other services. You can register to vote year round except for 27 days just prior to an election and the two days immediately following an election.

Q: I have an old computer that I'd like to donate to a worthwhile cause. Where can I bring my PC?
A: The Assistive Technology Exchange Network (ATEN) recycles computers and other technology donated by corporations and individuals to benefit learners with disabilities. Affiliated with Infinitec, Inc., the program has distributed nearly 20,000 complete computer systems, free of charge, to disabled students in public schools throughout the state of Illinois. They are happy to accept older equipment as long as it is still in working condition. The Infinitec Southwest office is located at 7550 W. 183rd Street in Tinley Park (the Arthur and Mary Rubloff building). Their phone number is (708) 444-2836, ext. 231, and they accept donations from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Q: I would like to apply for Section 8 (HUD) housing. How can I do so?
A: The "Housing Choice Voucher Program," more commonly known as Section 8 housing, provides financial assistance to low income renters and homeowners. The assistance is in the form of a rental subsidy, which limits the monthly rent payment of the recipient. This federal program is operated nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but administered locally.

In our region, the Section 8 program is administered by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). Applicants are added to a list, and recipients are chosen by lottery. For more information, call the CHA at (312) 935-2600, or visit their website at www.thecha.org.

Q: I own several old books that are falling apart. Some need basic repairs, and some need to have a new binding. Where can I have this done?
A: Most book binderies will only deal with large institutions like libraries, but the Houchen Bindery will also restore books for individuals. The service is not inexpensive, however; prices range from $95.00 to more than $400.00 for the restoration of a single item like a family Bible. Their general office, located in Utica, NE, can be reached at (800) 869-0420; however, note that materials must be evaluated before they can quote a price, so you must ship the item to them. The cost is a minimum of $25.00 plus shipping and handling.

Q: I lost my Social Security Card and need to get a replacement. Can I request one online? Where is the nearest office?
A: You can request a replacement card, apply for benefits, find documents and forms, and obtain other services online at the following URL: http://www.ssa.gov.
You may also call the following toll-free number to obtain the same services plus a few additional ones: (800) 772-1213.
There are two offices serving the south suburbs of Chicago. Before you visit, please call the number given above to make an appointment.

104 S. Halsted Street
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
OR
10718 S. Roberts Road
Palos Hills, IL 60465

Q: I changed cellular providers, leaving me with an old cell phone I can no longer use. Where can I donate or recycle this phone?
A: South Suburban Family Shelter continues to collect used cell phones as a fundraising venture. They have collected over 3,000 cell phones which are shipped to a company in Florida that recycles and refurbishes the phones. Phones which offer the most value are those under 5 years old, with smaller digital handsets, not older analog phones. There is one collection box in Tinley Park (DeVry University, 18624 West Creek Dr.), but there are many others throughout the south suburbs. For a longer list, click here.

Q: I need to have some papers notarized. Where can I find a Notary Public?
A: Notary service at the Tinley Park Village Hall (16250 S. Oak Park Ave.) is free of charge for residents and non-residents, but you must have a photo ID. Also, most banks offer free notary service for their own customers, but non-customers sometimes pay a fee. The Founders Bank just two blocks north of the library is a good example; they told us that they are allowed to charge $5.00 per notary signature, but they often notarize simple documents for free.

Q: Are there any RV or tenting campgrounds in the area?
A: The only campground in Tinley Park (Windy City) closed in 2008, but here is a list of others in the region:

Enchanted Shores (Public Campground)
11018 W Wilmington-Peotone Rd, Peotone, IL 60468
708-258-6040

Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve (Will County Campground)
27064 Dutton Road, Beecher, IL 60401
708-946-2216

Emerald Trails (Private Campground)
3132 E Goodenow Rd, Crete, Illinois 60417-5018
800-870-8357

Martin Campground Inc (Private Campground)
725 Cherry Hill Rd, Joliet, Illinois 60433-9739
815-726-3173

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (National Campground)
1420 Munson Road, Porter IN 46304
219-926-7561, ext. 3

This site is provided as a community service by the Tinley Park Public Library.
This page was last updated on 03/04/10