Smart Investing Starts @ your library

By Betsy O'Neil, Reference Librarian

September 17, 2008

Most people are not born able to tell a good investment from a poor one. Whether or not you are an experienced investor, it can be a challenge to locate appropriate, unbiased information and guidance to help make important financial decisions for yourself and your family.

Sometimes you might assume too much risk or select investment options that are inconsistent with your financial goals or situation. You might be unaware of the tools and resources available to help research choices or to protect yourself from fraud.

Improved investor education can help.

Your library has been chosen as one of 13 grant recipients nationwide to promote investor education through a “Smart Investing” program sponsored by the American Library Association and FINRA. The grant is being used to provide Smart Investing programs for kids, tweens, teens, adults and seniors and to buy additional investment-related materials.

Numerous resources have been added to the library collection, including books and DVDs to assist children and adults as they learn about financial planning and investment. Visit our website at www.natronacountylibrary.org and click on the “Smart Investing” logo to view new library materials and online investing resources.

A special feature of the NCPL program is its focus on providing information tailored to each age group and life situation.

A seminar will be held for seniors and retirees on September 18 at 5 p.m., covering the unique challenges and investing strategies seniors and those nearing retirement can learn from. Please visit the library to sign up for this event, or call 577-READ ext 2 to make your reservation.

Local financial professionals will be teaching a four-part investment series for adults beginning on September 25th at 6:30 p.m. and continuing each Thursday for four weeks. The series is suitable for young families and individuals, with all participants welcome.

Topics include basic financial planning, stocks, bonds & mutual funds, investing for retirement, estate planning, and money & happiness.

A pizza dinner will be provided for each class, and door prizes including jump drives, Money magazine subscriptions and financial books will be awarded to participants. Please visit the library or call 577-READ ext 2 to register for the four-part series.

Programs about spending, saving, and sharing will be provided for children and tweens, with parents encouraged to participate. A Moneybox will be given to each child at the programs to reinforce the important concept of saving.

The program for children will be offered October 8th at 4:00 p.m. and the tween program for 4-6 graders on October 11th at 1:00 p.m. Teens will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of credit card use on October 30 th @ 4 p.m.

Investing can be daunting without the proper resources, but it is vital that we each take control of our personal finances. Your Library has just the tools to help you do so.

Smart Investing @ your library® is administered by the Reference and User Services Association, a division of the ALA, in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The program helps public libraries meet investor education and protection needs at the community level.

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