Learn About Investing at the Library

People often get confused when it comes to the stock market and mutual funds. As a librarian, I’m often asked if one investment is more desirable than another. Honestly, if I knew all the answers when it came to investing, I probably would not be working as a librarian. Also, as a librarian I am unable to give any real investment advice. That kind of thing is best left to a financial advisor.

The good news is that at the library you can get books and access online resources to widen your knowledge base. Interested in the stock market? Check out Value Line. Available in print and online, it’s a fantastic way to locate current information on virtually any publicly traded company. Value Line even has a top ranked stocks list. This can give you a pretty good idea of companies that Value Line has determined to be potential winners.

Mutual funds are an entirely different matter. Try out Morningstar. Available in both print and online, Morningstar has information on a variety of funds. Learn about any fees, the top five holdings for the fund, and even find out who manages the fund. These things can be more important than you may realize. For instance, the analyst’s report can be a great help. Likewise, the commentary in Value Line can be helpful too. While a librarian may not be able to provide an opinion on a stock, these two guides are happy to provide an earful. For instance, some mutual funds encourage “shareholder advocacy” and Morningstar provides commentary on the picks. Okay, that may sound a little different. That’s because some fund managers actually seek out and encourage suggestions from fund owners. Essentially, it’s a feedback box where you can suggest new companies to buy. Stocks offer an even greater say for shareholders. Think of proxy statements. If you own shares of stock, often you get the opportunity to vote in corporate governance. Owning a little bit of a company can be quite an adventure.

In terms of programming, we have an additional presentation from Donnelly College on Tuesday, August 10 from 6:30-7:30 pm. If you missed the first presentation on business education, here’s a great opportunity to catch it again. The focus of the presentation will be on business education. The talk will take place in the second floor auditorium at the Main Library on 625 Minnesota Avenue. Until next time, catch me in the library.