Smart investing website redesigned, new features

For Immediate Release
Wed, 04/15/2015

Contact:

Kim Olsen-Clark

Director

ALA Development Office

(312) 280-5049

kolsen-clark@ala.org

CHICAGO — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association (ALA) today announced the launch of a new, redesigned version of its website, smartinvesting.ala.org.

Libraries today play an increasingly vital role as civic centers and service providers for the whole community. Smart investing@your library ® program aligns with this role and builds the capacity of libraries to meet the need and growing demand for financial literacy education and resources.

Among the key features of the new website is a more engaging user experience with enhanced search and navigation that leads to dozens of library-led adult and children’s program models to help you get started or expand programming that reaches your target audiences. These sustainable models help children learn about money; teach teens and adults to save for college and develop a budget; help seniors plan for retirement and much more. Program resources are arranged by audience and topic showcasing ideas and a creative mix of multi-media tools to help libraries reach out to community partners.

Other key site features include the capability to download a new staff training toolkit and skill-based and programming webinar recordings.

Join the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and ALA in San Francisco at the 2015 ALA Annual conference on Saturday, June 27, to learn more. You’ll hear from project directors and learn about replicable model programs and materials that take an active learning approach to personal finance. We'll take you beyond the workshop series and share innovative approaches that attract audiences and build sustainable financial literacy programs through peer learning, networking and idea sharing. Check the ALA Conference Scheduler in May for time and location.

Smart investing@your library® is administered jointly by ALA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The program funds library efforts to provide patrons with effective, unbiased educational resources about personal finance and investing. Now in its eighth year, the program has awarded a total of $10 million to public libraries, community college libraries and library networks nationwide.