Much has been written about libraries’ support for financial literacy, both through programming and our collections, but collections discussions have thus far focused almost exclusively on our non-fiction collections. This article intends to explore how libraries’ fiction collections might play a role in financial literacy, encouraging librarians to expand their awareness of financial literacy concepts embedded in popular fiction. In this literature study, the author explores the top 10 most checked out novels from the New York Public Library System, focusing on how financial literacy concepts from the Financial Literacy Education in Libraries: Guidelines and Best Practices for Service are either accurately or, more often, inaccurately portrayed in these bestsellers. Financial content is plentiful in popular fiction and could provide further opportunities to incorporate financial literacy in libraries. This study will benefit librarians by enhancing their understanding of financial concepts in popular literature and prompting them to consider how fictional finances may interact with their reference and programming work.
Ash Faulkner (Wed,) studied this question.