Library sets financial workshops, more

“It’s not like everyone grows up and dreams of working two essentially meaningless part-time jobs while collecting food stamps.”

Yet, this is the reality for more than 87,000 households living in poverty in Idaho and over 130,000 households that barely make ends meet (according to the 2015 ALICE Report for the Pacific Northwest).

Whether financial woes come as a result of an unexpected circumstance, or generational cycles of poverty, feelings of worthlessness and despair can be paralyzing.

“Nobody gives enough thought to depression [regarding poor people]. You have to understand that we know that we will never not feel tired. We will never feel hopeful. We will never get a vacation.”

Is hope really out of reach for people who struggle with serious economic challenges? Linda Tirado, quoted above and the author of Hand to Mouth*, knows the reality of living in poverty. Her book exposes the motivations behind the bad decisions that people make when trying to make ends meet under crushing economic conditions.

On the outside looking in, we might wonder why people who have so little don’t do something to improve their situations. Why do they fail to consider the long-term, larger picture when making decisions? Why do they smoke and engage in self-destructive behavior?

“I make a lot of poor financial decisions. None of them matter, in the long term. I will never not be poor... It is not worth it to me to live a bleak life devoid of small pleasures so that one day I can make a single large purchase.”

Tirado’s book stares poverty straight in the face and exposes the underlying beliefs that drive poor people to make terrible decisions. Confront-ing those beliefs may be the first step in controlling them.

We know that there are people who succeed in overcoming poverty. If we are living in poverty ourselves, we may hear rags to riches stories and see them as surreal, maybe even heroic. But, we don’t see ourselves doing what it takes to change our financial circumstances. In fact, we may not even be willing to admit that the word “poverty” applies to us. Still, those beliefs that become habits keep us swimming in the mad cycle of living hand to mouth. Is there any help for those who are too overwhelmed to know where to start making changes?

First, let’s acknowledge that poverty is a situation that exists or will exist for about half of Americans at some time in their lives. It is not “us” and “them,” but rather “when.” The problem is much larger than individual lives and the beliefs that drive them. We find ourselves in these situations for a myriad of reasons, most of which are not of our own choosing, whether consciously or not.

“So it’s not just one or the other: nature or nurture, poor or not poor. Poverty is a potential outcome for all of us.”

Armed with the knowledge that people who struggle with financial decisions are not in some way doomed to live out their life that way, we can start looking for ways to make small changes.

Next week, April 22-28, is National Money Smart Week. We commemmorate it every year at The Library with classes, workshops, and events for people of all ages. This year, our big construction project is getting in the way of hosting our usual programs, but we’ve still got you covered.

While we will not be hosting our customary teen and adult programs, we have some great resources to get you started with simple budgeting and other spending and saving hacks that will turn small changes into encouraging results for your household’s bottom line. For a free Money Smart packet, get in touch with Lifelong Learing Coordinator, Mike Bauer at 255-2665 or mike@ebonnerlibrary.org. If you would like a little more individualized coaching, reach out to him to schedule some time to put the tools from the packet into action.

Learning money smarts should begin early. Our children’s story times will include a special Money Smart Week piggy bank painting activity at Creations on the Cedar Street Bridge this Tuesday (see schedule below).

Money Smart Week may be the perfect time for all of us to take a good look at our personal finances. Get your free Money Smart packet, check out Linda Tirado’s book, Hand to Mouth*, and bring your kids to our Money Smart Week Story Times to make the hope of something better a reality.

*Hand to Mouth is available for check-out in paperback and e-audiobook formats. Ask a librarian for recomendations on budgeting and money saving books and other materials available from The Library.

- Daily – Visit eBonnerLibrary.org daily to make sure your materials are available during construction. Computers are out of service while carpet is installed upstairs. We are working on making a few computers available for ciritical uses.

- Friday, April 20 and April 27 — American Sign Language course. 9:30 a.m. at the Sandpoint Branch. Learn American Sign Language from Certified Instructor Susan Schaller. This is an ongoing course in progress. For more information, contact Susan Schaller, susan.schaller@gmail.com for information on other courses.

Saturday, April 21 and 28 — American Sign Language course. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Branch. Learn American Sign Language from Certified Instructor Susan Schaller. This is an ongoing course in progress. For more information, contact Susan Schaller, susan.schaller@gmail.com for information on other courses.

- Monday, April 23 — Teen Center Game. 3:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Teen Center, 104 S. Division. Teen Librarian, Morgan Gariepy hosts a library-sponsored game or STEAM activity for teens. For more information about the current week’s theme, call Morgan at 263-6930 ext. 1245 or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, April 24 — Special Money Smart Week Story Times. 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Creations for Sandpoint on the Cedar St. Bridge. This week’s Mother Goose and Preschool Story Times will include a special Money Smart Week piggy bank painting activity. For more information, contact Suzanne Davis: 263-6930 ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, April 24 — Robotics with Lego Mindstorm - canceled. For more info. call 266-1321.

- Tuesday, April 24 — Intro to 3D Printing Workshop for Adults. 5 p.m. Sandpoint Branch. Only 3 spots left! Learn what 3D printers are used for and how to design your own 3D printable object. This class is beginner level. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Register online at www.ebonnerlibrary.org on the Events page or call 263-6930.

- Wednesday, April 25 — Clark Fork Stories & More. 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. Story time, crafts, prizes, and snacks for kids ages 3-8. Call 266-1321 for information.

- Wednesday, April 25 — Make It at the Library. 2 p.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. Kids make a variety of age appropriate projects. Info: 263-6930 ext. 1245.

- Wednesday, April 25 — Crafternoon – Haiku Poetry Art – CANCELLED. For more info, call Suzanne Davis at 263-6930 ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, April 25 — Fake News: Media Literacy Series – The Future. 6-7:30 p.m. at the Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St. The third of a three-part discussion series organized by the East Bonner Co. Library District. How can media consumers affect the future of information? What role can local/community media play in meeting the future needs of information consumers? Understand the role of local media in our community in serving the needs of citizens and their issues. The workshops will be conducted in a casual discussion format. This session’s guests will be Suzy Prez, Station Manager, KRFY Community Radio, and Cameron Rasmusson of the Sandpoint Reader. Free program. Info: Mike Bauer 265-2665 or mike@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Thursday, April 26 — Poem in Your Pocket Day. April is Nat’l Poetry Month and April 26th is Poem in Your Pocket Day – a day to carry a poem with you and share it with friends, co-workers, and others you meet throughout the day. The Sandpoint Friends of the Library will be out in the community with baskets of poems for your enjoyment. For more information or to help distribute poems, call Julie Smith at 208-263-1501.

- Friday, Apriil 27 and Saturday, April 28 — Used Book & Media Sale. 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. Help us leap into spring with some great deals to support the Clark Fork Friends of the Library. Call 266-1321 for more information.

- Saturday, Apriil 28 — Organic Seed Saving. 1– 3 p.m. at the Sandpoint Branch. Come and discuss organic gardening and seed saving. Bring food and seeds to share if you can. If you can’t, come anyway! Information: Camisse Nitkowski 263-6248.

- StoryWalk — StoryWalk is a children’s book posted along a trail with actitivies to go with the story line. At Dover City Park, read “Curious George Plants a Tree” by Monica Perez. At McNearney Park in Ponderay, enjoy “The Busy Tree” by Jennifer Ward. Info: Suzanne Davis 263-6930, ext. 1211, or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of the library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay.