Fort Smith Public Library receives grant

Times Record (Fort Smith, AR)

Oct. 4--The Fort Smith Public Library is expanding its personal finance collections following receipt of a $5,000 grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, according to a news release. The additional tools and resources will help ensure that residents have the information they need when making critical money decisions as they repair, rebuild and clean up following flooding events from earlier this summer or in future natural disasters, the release states.

Filing claims, accessing government resources, managing lump-sum payments from insurance companies, and meeting immediate expenses when income might be disrupted -- these are just a few of the money challenges that residents in disaster areas must navigate, the release continues.

"Many of us lack experience with these decisions," FINRA Foundation President Gerri Walsh states in the release. "Nonetheless, we have to get it right the first time around or face long-term financial consequences. Fortunately, the library has information that can help."

The FINRA Foundation has provided the library with multimedia materials that explain the red flags of financial fraud and what people can do to be vigilant and counter the persuasion tactics that fraudsters use, the release states.

"Recovery follows disaster, but the path to recovery can be smooth or very bumpy. And financial fraud can be one of the biggest potholes along that road," Walsh states. "The Fort Smith Public Library has information to help people avoid the financial potholes and bring the route to recovery into sharper focus."

The Fort Smith Public Library has four locations throughout the community. Digital resources are available online 24/7 through the library's website, fortsmithlibrary.org. The Main Branch is at 3201 Rogers Ave. For information, call (479) 783-0229.