<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[A Life in Libraries]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[cbecker53]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com/author/cbecker53/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Financial Wellness]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class="youtube-player" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_awAH-JJx1k?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation"></iframe></span></p>
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<p>Money. It&#8217;s what we all want, and need. It may not buy happiness, but it sure does buy a lot of other things: food, shelter, clothing, entertainment. . .</p>
<p>The lack of money, especially money for our retirement years, is <a href="http://www.plansponsor.com/Employees-Are-Stressed-Out-and-Stretched-Thin/?p=1" target="_blank">stressful</a>.  Lots of libraries, especially perhaps small public libraries, may not pay employees well, and may not have great retirement plans. If you&#8217;re a library director, you&#8217;re in a position to try to help make that better for your employees. Do your best. Everyone deserves to be paid a living wage.</p>
<p>Libraries are also in a position to help their users, not just their staff. You can&#8217;t help them make more money, but you can help them plan for retirement. You can offer public programs on financial wellness.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://ozzie.ala.org/library/events-and-celebrations/financial-wellness-month.html#.VkDslL8utAM" target="_blank">Financial Wellness Month</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hcpl.net/content/financial-wellness-workshop-planning-and-retirement" target="_blank">Financial Wellness Workshop</a> (Harris County (TX) Public Library)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2015/04/financial-wellness-clinics/" target="_blank">Financial Wellness Clinics</a> (Lawrence (KS) Public Library)</li>
</ul>
<p>It&#8217;s the right thing to do. And, just another way &#8220;libraries are essential.&#8221;</p>
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