“I like that it’s a beginning investing program.”  That’s Marjorie Sadler, adult services librarian at the Plymouth District Library, talking about the Investor Education @ your Library program.  In fact, the Plymouth District Library has a series of programs around money and money management, since, according to Sadler, the community has an interest in financial topics.

“With our programming, we wish to educate and entertain,” Sadler said.  “[Investor Education] falls into education.”

Investor Education @ your Library is a free, non-commercial, national public education and awareness campaign.  The program is administered through a partnership between the Investor Protection Trust, Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services and the American Library Association, and is designed to help individuals make informed investment decisions.

Sadler found out about Investor Education @ your Library through a letter from the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services.  Once she had signed the library up for a session, she promoted it multiple ways.  Through the library’s public relations staff person, Sadler posted flyers, sent emails, got newspaper coverage of the session, and included an article about it in the library’s quarterly newsletter that reaches every home in Plymouth and Plymouth township.

Sadler credited part of the 45-person turnout at the library’s July 28 session to radio features that aired on WWJ Newsradio 950 in the days leading up to the session.  “It’s a wonderful service that the radio station provided by advertising,” she said.  She added that several people signed up directly for the session via a link provided on WWJ’s Web site.

Many librarians, such as Nicolette Warisse Sosulski of the Portage District Library are happy that Investor Education @ your Library comes free of charge.  “This presentation is TOTALLY FREE—it did not cost us a penny except for photocopies for fliers,” wrote Warisse Sosulski in a recent letter.  She also liked the one-on-one free consultation for session attendees that followed the presentation. 

Local libraries can sign up to host a free session by contacting Peg Beckwith at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services at (517) 241-5519 or mkbeckw@michigan.gov.