Several virtual resources and opportunities were recently announced that will help libraries celebrate Money Smart Week, April 10-17, 2021.
Official Money Smart Week programming will be offered daily during the event by national partner organizations and government agencies.
Here is the tentative schedule of programming:
| Saturday, April 10 Talking About Money University of Chicago Financial Education Initiative | Sunday, April 11 Saving FINRA Education Foundation |
| Monday, April 12 Basic Banking Economic Awareness Council | Tuesday, April 13 Student Loans U.S. Department of Education |
| Wednesday, April 14 Fraud & Identity Theft Internal Revenue Service | Thursday, April 15 Managing Personal Finances Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center |
| Friday, April 16 Rent + Mortgage Assistance Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Saturday, April 17 Budgeting UW-Madison Center for Financial Security |
More details are forthcoming at https://www.moneysmartweek.org/, and FAQs are available here: https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/MONEYSMARTWEEK/0dc76ea3-b2a2-4393-930b-05f6e06df6ba/UploadedImages/2021_Money_Smart_Week_Supporter_FAQs_FINAL8.pdf.
If you’re interested in providing programming and resources outside of Money Smart Week, consider checking out the Financial Literacy Group LibGuide: https://libguides.ala.org/finra-ore/personalfinance. Our guide, maintained by FLIG member Aiden Street of the Pioneer Library System, curates recommended books, websites, periodicals, databases, and professional development resources related to financial literacy for all age groups. Aiden also wrote a great blog post explaining how to use our guide at the Programming Librarian Blog: https://programminglibrarian.org/blog/keeping-your-personal-finance-collections-relevant-and-date.
Our partners at FINRA, along with ALA, have introduced a virtual Thinking Money for Kids exhibit featuring four interactive games designed to teach children ages 7-11 money management skills, available at http://tm4k.ala.org/. Your library can use the games for in-person or virtual programs, and can share them on social media.
The games include:
- Earning It: Follow the paths of characters Grace, Emma, and Kenji to see how their childhood interests translate into successful careers and opportunities to “give back” by volunteering.
- Balance My Budget: Make choices about how to meet basic needs and treat yourself with a splurge here and there, while sticking to a monthly budget.
- Money Trail: Starting with $500 in your bank account, make decisions about how to earn and spend.
- Let’s Deal: Hear from buyers and vendors at a farmers’ market as they swap goods and learn about money.
The new games supplement the Thinking Money for Kids traveling exhibition, currently paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thinking Money for Kids is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office. To learn about future Public Programs Office grant and exhibit offerings, sign up for ALA’s Programming Librarian e-newsletter: https://programminglibrarian.org/about/get-our-enewsletter.
ALA and the FINRA Foundation have partnered since 2007 on Smart investing@your library, a program that supports library efforts to provide patrons with effective, unbiased educational resources about personal finance and investing. Additional financial literacy resources for library workers, including model programs and professional development, are available at: https://smartinvesting.ala.org/.
Finally, do you know someone who has made significant contributions to investor protection or financial capability in the United States? Consider nominating them for the Ketchum Prize awarded by the FINRA Foundation. Nominations are currently open and must be received by March 3, 2021. The prize consists of national recognition and $10,000. Eligible nominees must have exemplary service or research achievements related to the prize theme. More information about the prize and nominations is available at www.finrafoundation.org/ketchumprize.