New Investment Program Grants

The American Library Association's (ALA) Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), in partnership with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation, has awarded 13 grants, totaling more than $853,000, to public libraries and library networks. The grants form the basis of RUSA's new program, Smart Investing @ your library, which will give library patrons greater access to investing information and resources.

Grants last from one to two years, although the projects are designed to be sustainable. ALA will provide ongoing assistance to the projects throughout the grant period, helping libraries evaluate their progress and engage target audiences through effective marketing and outreach strategies. The grantees will use those funds to establish online and in-person programs, partner with community organizations, augment library collections, train staff, and engage in promotional efforts. For example, Alliance Library System, East Peoria, IL, plans to use its $100,000 grant to offer onsite and web-based workshops to provide investor information and operate a Smart Investing outreach van.