91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) Public Programs Office, in partnership with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation, invites applications for Thinking Money, a traveling exhibition to U.S. public libraries.

Money affects all Americans, but many of us lack the knowledge we need to make smart financial choices that will prepare us for whatever the future brings. 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.

Thinking Money is a museum-quality exhibition that will travel to 50 U.S. public libraries between 2016 and 2018. Through an adventure-themed storyline, interactive iPad content and other fun, hands-on activities, the exhibition explores themes like wants vs. needs, preparing for a rainy/sunny day and imagining your future self.

Each selected site will receive:

• the 1,000-square-foot traveling exhibition — including two iPads preloaded with fun educational content and four low-tech activity stations — for a six-week loan;

• travel and accommodations to attend an orientation workshop at the 2016 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Orlando;

• online training modules for library staff;

• tips and tools for related programs; and

• a $1,000 programming allowance.

For guidelines and to apply online, visit . Applications are due Jan. 29, 2016.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend one of two informational conference calls about the exhibition on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. CST or Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. CST. To register for a conference call, please email Brian Russell with your preferred date.

91´«Ã½ and the FINRA Foundation have partnered since 2007 on , a program that funds library efforts to provide patrons with effective, unbiased educational resources about personal finance and investing. Now in its eighth year, the program has awarded over $10 million to public libraries, community college libraries and library networks nationwide. 91´«Ã½ and the FINRA Foundation are also working together on a research study of financial literacy resources and services available in U.S. public libraries.

About the 91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 55,000 members in academic, public, school, government and special libraries. The mission of the 91´«Ã½ is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

About FINRA

FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business — from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms, writing and enforcing rules and the federal securities laws, informing and educating the investing public, providing trade reporting and other industry utilities and administering the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and registered firms. For more information, please visit .

About the FINRA Investor Education Foundation

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life. For details about grant programs and other FINRA Foundation initiatives, please visit .