The FL-PL project proposal is aiming to increase the level of FL of adults through new approach and by using the huge potential of public libraries аs non-formal educators and lifelong training institutions. Participant into the project are 5 organisations from 4 countries in Central and Eastern Europe where financial literacy is significant problem. Four of the partners are representatives of library sector, the other one is financial literacy foundation deeply involved in social projects on national and international level. The overall objective of the project is to equip librarians – a key group of adult trainers in their every day work, to be able to provide financial literacy to their adult uses. We live in a rapidly changing and very complex financial environment – each life situation requires important and thought-out financial decision/s. At the same time, financial products and services, among which we must choose, are becoming more numerous, more complex and more risky. Moreover, the majority of modern financial services and information are offered online - their use requires knowledge of new technologies: the use of computer and Internet. The project target group are librarians from public libraries in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. Special emphasis is given on librarians in small cities and rural areas where different educational activities and lifelong training on key competencies are so necessary. Indirect target groups are all adult users of library services into the targeted courtiers. Public libraries within partners’ networks have free Internet access and modern ICT equipment. The project outputs will provide new service in these existing educational ecosystems. The main project outputs are a new training program and e-learning tools and a model of informal education for adults users in public libraries. Project results will be available in four European languages and some of them also in English. Financial services have long been beyond the national borders and contemporary FL must reflect market globalization. This project is transnational bringing together the efforts of different organization but facing the same deeply recognized need of the population in CEE countries. FL-PL project supports also the implementation of specific growth, education, and cohesion policies related to EU 2020 Strategy and Digital Agenda for Europe. In EU 2020 to libraries is assigned significant role in expanding access to education, training and social inclusion of all citizens. Modern libraries are not book-depositories but information and community centres that offer a variety of services to its users, working in partnership with NGOs, public and business organizations, schools, etc.
The project aimed to increase the level of financial competence of adults through a new approach and use of the potential of public libraries as informal educators and institutions of lifelong learning. Project implementers are 4 organizations from 4 Central and Eastern European countries where financial literacy is a significant problem. Two partners are representatives of the library sector, and the other two are foundations engaged in informal adult education, including financial education, in cooperation with public libraries. The overall goal of the project was to equip librarians - a key group of adult educators - with the financial literacy skills to support adult library users in the daily management of their household finances. The target group of the project are librarians from public libraries of different levels in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Slovenia, especially from small towns and rural areas, where the library is usually the only open and accessible cultural institution, education and information center. Indirect target groups are all adult users of library services. As a result of the project implementation, the following results have been achieved: 1. An innovative, free and web-based learning management platform for adult educators in four European languages; it is tested and ready for use for librarians and library users finlit.eu; 2. An educational programme for adult educators on financial literacy in 4 languages has been developed; 3. Developed curriculum and e-learning courses for financial education of adult users in 4 languages; 4. 56 librarians from 4 countries trained for the platform and for financial education 5. More than 220 adult library users in 4 project countries have improved their financial competences and tested the use of the educational platform; 6. Educational and dissemination webinars were broadcast - their recordings are available through the project web sites and finlit.eu; 7. A network of local and international exchanges of adult library trainers has been established; 8. Awareness has been raised among public libraries, financial institutions, banks, adult organizations and associations, NGOs and other educational institutions about the benefits and advantages of ICT-based learning; 9. International partnerships have been established among participating organizations, and methods of distance collaboration in a distributed team have been improved, providing perspective and potential for further collaboration; 10. A model of librarian-delivered financial education for adult users of public libraries was developed, ready for multiplication in other countries. Additional (supernumerary) outcomes are: 11. Report on mapping of financial education resources and offerings in 4 project countries 12. E-learning course for librarians - how to conduct online training (tips and tools). The results of the project will be long lasting in time and provide new services in these locally existing educational ecosystems. The project supports the implementation of growth, education and cohesion policies related to the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Digital Agenda. It is already known that the project has attracted the interest of state institutions responsible for financial education and its implementers will participate in the development of national strategies for financial education (Bulgaria, Poland). The inclusion of a financial education training program for librarians in the standard training provided by central libraries (Slovenia, Romania) will contribute to the long-term goal of the project, which is to increase the level of financial literacy of the population, as well as offering financial education opportunities that are accessible and tailored to the needs of the audience.