In the old days, doing just about anything with your money—getting cash, looking up an old statement, depositing a check—meant visiting a brick-and-mortar bank. These days, cash mostly comes from ATMs, looking up a statement is as easy as logging onto the computer, and anyone who can take a photo with a mobile phone can deposit a check. But as efficient as they are, some of these technological advances have left some populations behind: people who are older, don’t have bank accounts, are less educated, or earn less money are likely to lack the necessary computer skills to use mobile banking. 

Now, thanks to a collaboration between Capital One and the Public Library Association (PLA), hundreds of seniors and unbanked (those who do not have bank accounts) or underbanked (those who have bank accounts but also use alternative financial services such as payday loans and auto-title loans) individuals have become more comfortable with the world of mobile banking. The collaboration draws upon Capital One’s turnkey financial wellbeing curriculum designed to help people navigate the world of online banking: Ready, Set, Bank (in English) and Listos, Clic, Avance (in Spanish). The curriculum consists of an online library of 44 microlearning videos, each no more than two minutes long, that cover topics such as the benefits of online banking, staying secure online, getting started with online banking, best practices for money monitoring, and performing common banking functions online. 

Capital One reached out to two library systems as launch partners: Houston (TX) Public Library and Queens (NY) Public Library. Over the past two years, about 500 people have taken part in Ready, Set, Bank or Listos, Clic, Avance through these two libraries. In January 2018, Houston Public Library (HPL) became the first library system to roll out Ready, Set, Bank, which it implemented in seven of its branches as well as in a local senior center. 

On HPL’s end, one reason the program was such a success was that it required no additional resources. “We have meeting space, and we have technology already, so we did not have to purchase new equipment,” points out Nicole H. Robinson, deputy director of Houston Public Library (HPL). “That’s the beauty of why libraries are uniquely positioned to support this program. 

Like HPL, Queens Public Library (QPL) sees a lot of patrons in need of greater financial literacy. “Our customers are job-seeking. A lot of them are looking for new opportunities or a career change. And as part of that, a lot of them also need to learn how to manage finances,” explains Monique Hector, who manages QPL’s Job & Business Academy, adding that Listos, Clic, Avance excellently complemented the library’s English to Speakers of Other Languages Job Search program and Spanish-language High School Equivalency workshops. Since QPL rolled out the program in 2017, it has seen about 400 participants complete it. And it has expanded from its original six locations. In fiscal year 2020, it plans to offer the programming at 12 branches—Ready, Set, Bank at six, and Listos, Clic, Avance at six. 

Participants in the programs reported increased confidence and ability to securely bank online and a commitment to use the online banking tools they had learned. For more information on how the Houston and Queens Public Libraries integrated Ready, Set, Bank into their programming, look for the full article, “Helping Patrons Navigate Online Banking,” in the November-December issue of Public Libraries, which mails mid-December.

The post Helping Patrons Navigate Online Banking first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

This article was emailed to me by no more than seven different people, and shared widely on social media, but I can’t help but feel we’re preaching to the proverbial choir. What was different about Nieman’s article is that she specifically called out how unhelpful it is when people tout the feel-good wistfulness of libraries of old: “If we allow ourselves to indulge in nostalgic middle-class ideas of quiet places and well-stuffed bookshelves, then we have failed to understand them too. In fact, we have endangered them.”³

Nieman argues that portraying libraries in this golden-hued light inadvertently labels them as a non-essential service. When deciding how to spend a shrinking municipal budget, a quiet haven for books palls in comparison to a new police car. Additionally, this representation of libraries of the past is simply not accurate. While books have been a mainstay of libraries since their inception, public libraries have always been institutions where those of lesser means can come and access resources and information. By not specifically highlighting how the work of public libraries impacts disadvantaged populations we’re simultaneously selling ourselves short, reinforcing the idea that libraries are for some and not all, and slowly but surely digging our own grave. Our advocacy must start getting real about who is using our libraries and for what reasons. A public building is intended for public use, and not just the version of the public that people feel comfortable being around. Our facilities, services, programming and materials should be able to be used by even the most marginalized in our societies. Otherwise we’re not doing our job and assisting in its demise.

The Pennsylvania Library Association recognized the need to assist libraries with reframing their advocacy to highlight the essential services that they provide. The PA Forward program leverages public-private partnerships to bring programming to libraries that address five literacies that are necessary to succeed in the 21st century. These literacies include Basic, Financial, Information, Civic & Social, and Health. When libraries demonstrate that their services, programs, and materials fit one of these literacies, their impact and value are demonstrated more clearly. By talking about story time as basic literacy instruction we elevate the work being done to its rightful position. The skills associated with these literacies are necessary for success in today’s world and we provide that support- for free! So, while it may be uncomfortable, I believe it is our duty to crawl into the dark corners of our communities, shine a light on their needs, and adjust our services to serve them. When we tell those stories, its harder to ignore our value. By doing this we’re remembering our whole community, and not just those that wax philosophical about the dusty shelves of their small-town library. There is value in that perspective, but it’s not the whole story.

References
1. The Age, “Libraries are About Democracy, Not Just Books,” by Christie Nieman, published 10/8/18. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/libraries-are-about-democracy-not-just-books-20181009-p508k7.html. Accessed 10/19/18
2. The New York Times, “To Restore Civil Society, Start with the Library,” by Eric Klinenberg, published 9/8/18. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/civil-society-library.html. Accessed 10/19/18
3. Nieman, ibid.

The post Reframe Advocacy to Highlight Library’s Essential Services first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

FCPL is a pilot site for a newly developed program by SirsiDynix. According to Justin Swain, end user services consultant for SirsiDynix, FCPL was one of the library systems chosen to try the pilot program because of its openness to innovative services. “FCPL stays ahead of the game when it comes to providing new and unique services to their patrons,” says Swain. FCPL initially offered the dual use card just at their main branch but rolled out the program to all locations in the beginning of September.

I Love My Library Card is a Visa® prepaid card that has few additional fees for the cardholder, compared to many of the traditional options out there. Currently, about sixty cards have been given out at FCPL and about a third of the recipients have registered to use the debit side of the program. There’s hope those numbers will expand as the community becomes more aware of the platform.

“Customers have plenty of choices for prepaid debit cards, but this one offers a couple perks. For one, customers know that a portion of their fees are donated back to the library. For two, the card offers ‘Linkable,’ which is a rewards program that allows customers to get special deals from local and national businesses,” says Marie Slaby, FCPL’s interim manager of community and corporate partnerships office.

Swain agrees. He adds that patron privacy is upheld. It is up to library card customers to sign up for the debit card services. Library card information is not shared with the producers of the debit card and vice versa. “We ensure that all of our products comply with the most stringent privacy standards,” says Swain.

A third perk of the card is the involvement of the library with financial literacy programming. The card can be part of a larger lesson on financial responsibility. There are a number of “unbanked” individuals in the country and in Frederick County. Lower fees allow struggling patrons, who may lack the financial resources and knowledge many of us take for granted, to use the card. Also, no credit check is required.

It can be a bit of a challenge to educate library staff on the positives of this program. Although libraries and fundraising often go hand in hand, staff can be reluctant to understand the value of such a card. Slaby says, “Librarians are wary of offering any product that has a cost. We’ve offered things for sale before—t-shirts, used books, tote bags—but never a financial product. We are having to do a lot of education so that librarians know what prepaid debit cards are and how our card compares favorably to others that are available. But librarians often rise to the challenge of learning new roles in their communities.”

Swain says he is working with libraries in Mississippi and Illinois to implement similar programs, with the hope that other library systems will come on board in the future.

For a more in-depth article on this partnership, visit here.

The post I Love My Library Card: A Dual Use Library/Debit Card first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

My library system (Palm Beach County Library System) has two programs scheduled for September called Be Scam Smart. Tasha Carter, Director of the Division of Consumer Services under the Florida Department of Financial Services, will be leading an informative workshop for seniors, their families, and caregivers. The 90-minute workshop is part of Operation S.A.F.E. (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) and will cover how to spot a scam, outsmart the scam artists, avoid identity theft, and more. Libraries are a valuable resource for patrons on many topics, and assisting senior citizens with keeping their finances and identity safe, is another opportunity for libraries to step up in our communities.

I encourage you to visit the FTC website and order their free folder with six articles and six bookmarks that you can display at your library. The materials are available in English and Spanish. It is possible to order more as needed. Maybe you do not have the time or resources to conduct a program, but you can link your library website (or blog) to the informational video that is also on their page. If your library has conducted a similar program, or you plan to conduct one, please reply in the comments section below with anything you feel is valuable to report to other library professionals. I believe we can all agree that it is unfortunate that rip-off artists exist, but it would also be unfortunate not to take advantage of these free resources to educate our local citizens.

The post Pass It On at Libraries to Help Seniors Avoid Scams first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

One easy and great place to start is the Public Library Association’s own financial literacy resources page. The sites linked there cross all age groups and include games for kids, direct services for patrons, and also opportunities for libraries to apply for funding. One of the most significant sources of funding for public libraries looking to create new and innovating financial literacy programming, linked on the PLA site, is Smart Investing @ Your Library. This partnership of ALA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation has awarded 94 grants totalling over $7 million since 2007.[1] Even though libraries must be invited to apply for the grants, rather than submitting to an open request for proposals, the Smart Investing website includes its own set of resources for libraries, including downloadable tools, promotional multimedia, and lessons learned from the projects that can be applied to other libraries.

 Possibly most useful, though, is the list of libraries that have participated in the grant, with their project descriptions. Regardless of whether your library is invited to apply for a grant, these projects can help you brainstorm ideas to jump-start your own programming. Some inspiring examples include:

• Chesapeake Public Library (VA)’s Jim Blanton became a 2012 Library Journal Mover & Shaker with his FINRA-funded creation of a financial literacy game, $ave $teve.
• Dakota County Library (MN) used its grant to design a year-long series of programs called “Know Your Money” that offers fun financial literacy lessons for all ages.
• Multnomah County Library (OR) received multiple years of funding to implement and continue traveling financial literacy labs that bring touch-screen-based trainings to vulnerable populations.
• San Diego Public Library (CA) is partnering with local nonprofits to provide a seamless continuum of financial services to local military families.
• Hartford Public Library (CT) is focusing on educating young adults and families with children, including college partnerships and integrating financial literacy into their summer reading programs.

Those are just a few ideas. What are some ideas you’ve had, challenges you’ve faced, and/or successful programs you’ve launched at your library?

The post Financial Literacy @ Your Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.