Financial Literacy Programming in Libraries

• Are people in your community wondering where to go for unbiased financial training?
• Are you and other library staff frequently asked questions about bankruptcy, credit card debt, retirement planning and budgeting?
• Do you want to go beyond providing resources to address financial questions and provide financial literacy programming, too?

People everywhere are concerned about money – but financial information can seem complicated and inaccessible. Many Americans have not planned for retirement or have inadequate emergency funds – and they don’t know where to go to gain skills and discover successful strategies. Beyond providing resources to address these financial questions, the library, as a trusted institution within its community, is an ideal location for innovative financial literacy programming. This course will help library staff assess the financial literacy programming needs within their community and then develop a plan for innovative and effective programming that targets those needs. Instructor Jennifer Noble will share her practical experiences with planning and delivering library financial literacy programming. When you complete the course, you’ll be prepared and motivated to begin providing financial literacy programming at your library.

Course Description: This four-week online course will provide resources, tips and best practices that can be used immediately. Through weekly readings, assignments, and discussion forums, you will apply the concepts learned to plan innovative financial literacy programming that addresses the specific needs in your community. There will also be one live online meeting (date and time TBA). The meeting will be recorded and archived for those not able to attend.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Why is financial literacy programming needed?
  • What is financial literacy and why does the library need to be a place for it?
  • Tying programming to your library’s mission
  • Examples of financial literacy programming
  • Assessing what financial literacy programming is needed in your community
• Week 2: Planning a financial literacy program
  • Target audiences for library financial literacy programming
  • Types of financial literacy programs
  • Costs and required materials for programs
• Week 3: Partnerships and staffing for successful financial literacy programming
  • Potential partners for programming.
  • Staffing options for programming
  • Potential funders and grants for programs.
  • Reliable resources for patron referrals
• Week 4: Ensuring programming success
  • Marketing financial literacy programs
  • Helping other library staff know about resources and financial literacy basics

Pre-course Assignment: None

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Library staff who work with teens, adults, and seniors and develop programming.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Keywords: Programming