"INVESTOR EDUCATION @ YOUR LIBRARYŽ"

Norfolk, VA (January 30, 2006) - Norfolk Public Library (NPL) received a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and the Investor Protection Trust (IPT) to conduct a series of beginner investor classes. These workshops, one each month January - March, are being taught by Amanda Blanks and Franklin Herbert. Ms. Blanks is the Investment Education Coordinator for the Virginia Division of Securities and Mr. Herbert is an IT instructor with Norfolk Public Library.

"Getting Started on the Path to Financial Success" was held on January 26. The first session helped attendees access their net worth, establish a budget, develop a savings plan and learn the first steps to investing. The second half of the class included a hands-on look at investment resources offered by NPL's website, including the Valueline Research program. Future classes will follow the same format as the first, with the first hour being taught by Amanda Blanks and the second hour being conducted by Franklin Herbert.

The 2nd class will be taught on Saturday, February 25 at Kirn Memorial Library. This session, "Investment Basics," will cover stocks, bonds, mutual funds and different retirement savings plans such as 401k's, IRAs and Roth IRAs. "Avoiding Investment Fraud", the last in the series, will be taught at Barron F. Black Homework Center on Thursday, March 23. The most common types of investment frauds seen by the state office and across the nation will be discussed. Ms. Blanks will also share tips on how to spot these frauds and therefore, avoid them. Franklin Herbert will present pertinent investment resources on the library's web-site at each session.

For more information concerning these and future investing classes please contact Franklin Herbert at 671-7596 or email: franklin.herbert@norfolk.gov.