It’s official title is “Progress on the Go,” but it’s actually a bus that will be parked at the East Surface Parking Lot of the Evanston Public Library, fully equipped with computers, wi-fi, and the like to dispense financial advice for free.
The 40-foot vehicle will be open for visitors on Saturday, Jan.13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to offer free tax help, credit advice, and money management tips.
As the library says: “Come aboard the bus to learn how to get smart about your money, your work, and your life.”
“Literacy comes in many forms,” says library director Karen Danczak Lyons, “and EPL offers access to an incredible variety of literacy resources including those related to financial literacy. We’re pleased to bring this innovative mobile center to Evanston to offer reliable, trustworthy financial education to our residents.”
This isn’t being funded by the library, I’m told
After reading about the library’s budget challenges, I wondered why it was getting into the financial advice business and not “sticking to its knitting.” I called and was told that the library is simply partnering with this group and “not spending a cent” on this project. Good, says this taxpayer.
financial advice……..
Perhaps they should give advice to Ms. Lyons and the board on finances……seems like they need it. Oh, wait…they just take money and spend it whenever and however they want to!
Never know what’s happening behind the scenes
It appears that this is run by the “center for economic progress” to help folks learn how to make helpful financial decisions for themselves. They also do tax returns, but of course in January most of us haven’t yet received the W2’s etc which are needed before we can submit. There’s some information (and a better picture of the vehicle, EN), at http://www.economicprogress.org/node/93008
Seems like a reasonable service, but it will occupy a few parking spaces in a city where parking is many residents’ greatest concern.