1000 x 90

Ashe, Watauga Libraries To Launch New Financial Education Programs With Grant

Ashe and Watauga County Libraries are pleased to announce that access to better financial and investor information and educational programs is coming to West Jefferson and Boone with the launch of Smart investing your library.

Appalachian Regional Library’s Ashe and Watauga locations were among 14 public libraries nationwide chosen through a competitive process to receive a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation as part of Smart investing your library. This prestigious grant will help to build the capacity of our area’s public libraries to provide effective, unbiased financial education to the community.

With the funding, the Ashe County and the Watauga County Public Libraries will provide a series of personal finance workshops to women across three generations.  For young adults high school through college ages programs will focus on understanding the fundamentals of money management especially financing educational needs, basic budgeting, making major purchases and learning to invest.  Financial workshops for adults will include topics such as budgeting basics, saving for college and retirement expenses, dealing with unforeseen financial events, and outsmarting investment fraud.

Programs will be held monthly beginning in August 2015. Each of the ten workshops will be held at the two libraries as well as at other locations in the counties. Information on financial literacy and resources for managing financial needs will be shared on library websites in a virtual program guide.  The library’s circulating collection will be updated with current informative books and materials to assist patrons with financial literacy needs. Library staff will receive training to enable them to assist patrons in the use of these materials and resources.

“It’s an honor to be tapped for this generous grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The funding will make an array of free, unbiased financial information programs possible in our community,” said Jane Blackburn, Appalachian Library Regional Director. “Smart investing at your library gives us the chance to innovate. We’re excited by the prospect of collaborating in new ways with trusted community partners to deliver information that helps people build a brighter financial future.”

The Appalachian Regional Library will be working with a number of local organizations including local high schools, the Ashe campus of Wilkes Community College, Appalachian State University, Ashe Services for Aging, Ashe Family Central, Watauga Family Resource Center, Boone Hospitality House, Oasis Women’s Shelter, and A Safe Home for Everyone (A.S.H.E.).

Call your local library to register and for further information. Contact Ashe County Public Library at 336-846-2041. Contact Watauga County Public Library at 828-264-8784.