Financial Literacy and the Academic Library: Exploring the Peer-to-Peer Approach

Abstract

Colleges and universities employ a variety of strategies to deliver financial education to students. Among these approaches is peer-to-peer financial education, which has been explored in many settings but never in an academic library. Following a review of financial literacy approaches used on college and university campuses by libraries, and other units and departments, this article describes the Student Financial Education Center located at Pennsylvania State University Libraries and discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of implementing a peer-to-peer financial education program in this setting.

KEYWORDS:

• financial literacy
• academic library
• financial education
• peer education
• peer-to-peer