Ms. Ash E. Faulkner’s project, Global Financial Literacy Study, was selected by the Emerald Research Grant Award Committee as the winner of the 2020 Emerald Research Grant Award. The research project will explore the roles libraries are playing in financial literacy education movements beyond the United States, focusing specifically on the education movements in the top ten most financially literate nations in the world. The research proposal is based on Ms. Faulkner’s previous research into, and systematic review of, financial literacy. This research project intends to fill a gap in current literature with an in-depth exploration of the roles that librarians play in financial literacy education in multiple nations. Her research proposal demonstrated the strong potential impact of the research on business librarianship. Results will enlighten both public and academic business librarians, and any librarians who may encounter the financial literacy needs of their patrons on a regular basis. In focusing on an information literacy topic that particularly addresses the needs of disadvantaged populations, it is hoped that the research will shed light on how libraries can help these groups in meeting their financial literacy needs. The research responds to ALA’s organizational core values in literacy, life-long learning, diversity and inclusion. The research will further strengthen the stature and reputation of RUSA in serving patron’s needs.
Ash is the Business Librarian at The Ohio State University Libraries. She has been involved in service activities with RUSA since she became a librarian. She began her service as a member of the Business Reference And Services Section (BRASS) Education Committee in 2014, before taking over as Chair of the Committee in 2015 and then Co-Chairing in 2016. From 2017-2018 she served on the BRASS Publication Committee, and she has been the BRASS Representative to the RUSA Conference Coordinating Committee since 2017. From 2018-2019 she served as the Chair of the BRASS Program Planning Committee and is currently serving as a member of the BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee.
BRASS Research Grant Award selection committee: Yan Liu, Chair; Paul Brothers, Tom Diamond, and Diane M. Zabel.
