The IMLS Wants You to Be Financially Literate

Improve your money management skills with free online financial literacy resources.

Given the current unpredictable economic conditions, it often feels like no matter how much money one has, it's never quite enough. While the economy does bear a significant portion of the blame, the lack of financial literacy education in America is also a contributing factor. 

Even if you’re mindful of your spending and savings, you may still lack important financial literacy skills that could make things more difficult than necessary. To address this issue, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has created a financial literacy page full of high-quality resources to test your know-how and fill any gaps needed to protect your financial future.

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Why Is Financial Literacy Important?

You might wonder why the IMLS—which is dedicated to libraries and museums—is invested in financial education. As a promoter of libraries, the IMLS aims to serve library patrons by increasing access to knowledge, and that includes financial awareness (which is not often taught in schools).  

Without adequate financial literacy, the odds are stacked against you. Many modern institutions are designed to make a profit, often relying on people not fully understanding how to manage their money.

Take, for example, the practice of credit card companies handing out high-interest cards to young college students. As many of these students have never dealt with credit cards before, they’re much more likely to make irresponsible decisions and struggle to make payments, resulting in compounding debt from the interest. Some do this simply because they haven’t been taught about the risk of credit and how to use it wisely.

Financial literacy education teaches people to avoid such pitfalls and helps them lead comfortable lives even when money is tight. With the right education, the IMLS hopes to help Americans weather the storm that is our current economy and come out on the other side equipped with valuable lifelong financial literacy skills.

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IMLS Financial Literacy Resources

The IMLS offers online financial literacy lesson plans for all ages, ranging from foundational skills for children to more advanced topics for adults looking to secure their future. 

Resources include games, useful financial tools, informational articles, and more—everything you need to learn fundamental money management skills that you can apply in your everyday life. Whether you’re currently in a good financial position or not, we recommend checking out the IMLS’s Financial Literacy page to prepare yourself for anything that lies ahead.

If you’d like to learn more about the countless resources offered by the IMLS at your local library, visit the IMLS site or browse through more stories on our Public Libraries feature page.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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