BRISTOL, Pa. – Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today highlighted Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library’s efforts to provide financial literacy education to the community and to promote the Pennsylvania Library Association’s (PaLA) PA Forward® Initiative as part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to help build the next generation of financially secure Pennsylvanians.
“Pennsylvania libraries offer more than just books—they are a central knowledge hub where you can access a multitude of resources for free,” Auditor General DeFoor said. “One of the biggest benefits to having a library card is that it gives you access to information about money and will help you on your road to becoming financially literate. Financial literacy is vital to Pennsylvania’s growth, and I’m excited to see how the Grundy Library continues to educate their community in the future.”
The Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library provides a place as community commons, for quiet contemplation, for children afterschool, for assembly of individuals and groups; resources for accurate and timely information, for leisure reading, listening and viewing; informative and fun programs for the young and the young at heart; an extensive collection of local history and genealogy materials; access to information from in-house or from anywhere the Internet travels; and a knowledgeable and professional staff.
“The Foundation’s proud to support Grundy Library’s financial literacy initiative, in partnership with PA Forward,” said Eugene Williams, executive director of the Grundy Foundation. “Patrons come to understand the concept of money, learn the skills needed to make good decisions using it, and as a result gain life-long personal independence and stability.”
The Pennsylvania Library Association was founded in 1901 with a mission to advance libraries and librarianship. More than 1,200 members from public, academic and special libraries turn to the Pennsylvania Library Association for professional growth, leadership, and continuing education. The PA Forward® initiative started in 2009 and focuses on five literacy hubs: basic literacy; information literacy; civic and social literacy; health literacy; and financial literacy.
“The PA Forward® Initiative helps Pennsylvanians to develop literacy skills that are fundamental to gaining success in our 21st Century Society,” Rob Lesher, PA Forward® Program Manager, Pennsylvania Library Association said. “Our libraries carry out programming, like the financial literacy children’s programs occurring today at the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library, so that the books and resources available at the library can be applied to your own situation. Getting a public library card is the best financially literate action any Pennsylvanian can do for themselves and for their families. We are pleased that the Auditor General is helping communities understand the importance of financial literacy, and where they can take action to help themselves with great library services!”
Through Auditor General DeFoor’s Be Money Smart financial literacy initiative, the Department of the Auditor General has been raising awareness about literacy in Pennsylvania and providing residents with tools they can use to help them on their journey to financial independence.
Auditor General DeFoor has spent the last three years promoting financial literacy across the Commonwealth as part of the Be Money Smart initiative. Since its launch, DeFoor has:
- Completed a statewide financial literacy tour to raise awareness about the need for financial literacy legislation in Pennsylvania;
- Visited all state and state related universities in Pennsylvania to talk about job and internship opportunities within the department and the importance of knowing how your money works;
- Met with students participating in the State YMCA of Pennsylvania Youth and Government program and visited several YMCAs across the state to talk about financial literacy;
- Worked with Junior Achievement to emphasize financial literacy messages to elementary school students;
- Partnered with local financial institutions to provide financial literacy resources to the public; and
- Partnered with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Members 1st to coordinate a statewide financial literacy competition for high school students in Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Department of the Auditor General’s financial literacy efforts, visit www.PaAuditor.gov/BeMoneySmart and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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