The following is from the Maplewood Memorial Library
Thinking Money: a Financial Expedition is a museum-quality exhibit traveling the country, and Maplewood Library is the only New Jersey location where it can be seen! Thinking Money strives to teach tweens, teens and their parents, caregivers and educators about financial literacy topics—like saving, spending and avoiding fraud—in a way that is not only understandable, but fun. It features an adventure-themed storyline, interactive iPad content and other hands-on activities.
The 1000 square foot exhibit can be experienced at the Main Library at 51 Baker St. from December 17, 2016 to January 19, 2017.
A kick-off event will be held on Saturday, December 17 from 2-4 pm. The exhibit will be open for exploration, and there will be Scrooge piggy bank and Scrooge duct tape wallet crafts, in conjunction with Dickens Village. Kids can make a craft for themselves or as a no-cost gift! Refreshments will be served. Programs for kids, teens and adults will be held in December and January.
Thinking Money comes to Maplewood thanks to Hilton Branch manager Irene Langlois. Irene’s application was one of 50 selected from among 137. The host libraries were selected in a peer-reviewed, competitive application process. Irene, who previously worked in the financial services field for over 15 years, has a special understanding of the need for the young adults of our community to become financially literate. As she says in her application, “Due to societal changes, many teens have little experience managing their own finances until after college and have little understanding of wants vs. needs or planning for the future and investments.”
Hosting the exhibit aligns with several of the Library’s Strategic Plan initiatives, including “provide learning opportunities for all patrons in life skills, health and finance” and “find innovative ways to work with the schools to support learning and achievement”. The exhibit supports Columbia High School’s personal finance curriculum. The themes cover many of the state standards, including money management and becoming a critical consumer.
Pick up a Thinking Money brochure or go to the library’s Thinking Money Webpage.
Thinking Money was developed by the American Library Association Public Programs Office in collaboration with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, whose support made this exhibition possible.
