Franklin, NC — Macon County Public Library will host a traveling exhibition designed to teach kids and their families about money, thanks to a competitive national grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.
Thinking Money for Kids is a new multimedia experience for children ages 7 to 11, as well as their parents, caregivers and educators. The interactive exhibit uses games, activities and a fun storyline to help children understand what money is, its function in society, money choices, and money values, such as fairness, responsibility and charitableness.
The exhibit will be on display at Macon County Public Library, along with a series of related special events, from February to March.
“Money is such an important topic, and it’s one that we often forget to discuss with our kids,” said Library Director Karen Wallace. “We encourage people of all ages to come explore Thinking Money for Kids. We hope that increased financial knowledge will benefit young people by giving them a foundation for knowing how to manage money. It will give parents and others an opportunity to guide their children (and themselves) in budgeting, comparison shopping, and establishing savings and investments. As a result, this may help people to live financially stable lives.”
Macon County is one of 50 sites selected to host Thinking Money for Kids on its two-year tour of the United States. Nearly 130 public libraries across the country applied for the opportunity, according to ALA.
In addition to the traveling exhibition on loan, Macon County Public Library will also receive $1,000 to hold public events related to the exhibit. The library also received funding to send a staff member to a Thinking Money for Kids workshop which was held during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., where they learned about the exhibit and financial literacy topics.
About Macon County Public Library
Macon County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library. Fontana Regional Library (FRL) is located in the rural mountains of Western North Carolina, serving Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties, as well as residents of the nearby Qualla Boundary, which is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The library facility has 30,000 square feet and a full range of services for all ages, including collections of print and audiovisual materials, digital resources, makertools, programs, and exhibits. Outdoor gardens and proximity to the local Greenway enhance the library’s position. All K-12 public school students in our service area have library accounts linked to their student identification numbers, without any separate application process. The mission of the Library is to provide all segments of our dynamic population with excellent service and convenient access to resources for their educational, informational, and recreational needs.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.
About the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The FINRA Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. For more information about FINRA Foundation initiatives, visit www.finrafoundation.org.
