CFPB Libraries Survey/Participating Libraries

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Library Program
Group Discussion Guide – Suburban / Rural Libraries
Focus: Resource usage, participation, patron interest, recruitment
Thank you for participating in today’s discussion about the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau’s (CFPB) Library Program. A few years ago, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
(CFPB), a federal agency, started a program to assist libraries in providing financial education
programs and resources to their communities. Through the CFPB libraries program, training,
webinars, print and web-based resources about financial education are provided to libraries.
Libraries can then provide these resources to their patrons. Today’s discussion will focus on this
program and program resources provided to libraries. This discussion is one of several
discussions that we are conducting with library staff. The discussions are part of a project that
will be used in evaluating the use and implementation of CFPB financial literacy resources in
libraries. The goal of this project is to help improve CFPB library resources to better serve the
financial literacy needs of libraries and their patrons.
Over the next 45 minutes, we will be asking you a series of questions we have about these issues.
I will be leading the discussion and _______ will be taking notes. We will ask questions and take
notes throughout the discussion to make sure that we fully understand your answers to our
questions. All individual responses will be kept private. No identifying information will be used
in any notes or reports so your responses will not be linked to you.
We encourage you to raise issues or ask questions throughout the discussion if you feel that there
are additional issues related to the topics being discussed today. There is no right or wrong
answer to any of the questions discussed, but we do expect that you will respect the opinions of
others. Your participation is completely voluntary so if at any time you feel uncomfortable, you
are free to leave without any explanation. Your input today will be extremely valuable in helping
CFPB better serve libraries.
Do you have any questions? ANSWER QUESTIONS
Privacy Act Statement
5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(3)
The information you provide to RTI on behalf of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
(“CFPB” or “Bureau”) will assist the CFPB in providing feedback to assess and improve the
CFPB Libraries Program.
The CFPB will not obtain any personally identifiable information. RTI will be making audio
recordings of the focus groups, but only the transcribed text will be transmitted to the CFPB.

1

Information collected on behalf of the Bureau by RTI will be treated in accordance with the
System of Records Notice (“SORN”), CFPB.021 – CFPB Consumer Education and Engagement
Records, 83 F.R. 83435. Although the Bureau does not anticipate further disclosing the
information provided, it may be disclosed as indicated in the Routine Uses described in the
SORN.
This collection of information is authorized by Pub. L. No. 111-203, Title X, Sections 1013 and
1022, codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5493 and 5512.
Participation in this study is voluntary; you are not required to participate or share any
identifying information.
READ PRA STATEMENT
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and
not withstanding any other provision of law a person is not required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this
collection is 3170-0036. It expires on xx/xx/xxxx. The time required to complete this
information collection is estimated to average approximately 45 minutes per response.
Comments regarding this collection of information, including the estimated response time,
suggestions for improving the usefulness of the information, or suggestions for reducing the
burden to respond to this collection should be submitted to Bureau at the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552, or by
email to [email protected].
Do I have your permission to continue with the interview?
IF EACH PERSON SAYS YES- CONTINUE
IF ANYONE SAYS NO: THANK INDIVIDUAL AND HAVE THEM END CALL.
____________________________________
OK let’s begin.
Let me first introduce myself: my name is ____________. I am a survey methodologist at
(contractor name) who was contracted by CFPB to conduct the evaluation of the CFPB Library
Program.
I want to first confirm I have everyone on the line. MODERATOR TAKES ROLE
Thanks to all of you for participating in today’s discussion. I just wanted to reiterate that today’s
discussion will focus on financial program resources provided to libraries. Specifically, I want
you to be thinking about your own library as you respond to the questions. Does anyone have
any questions before we begin?

2

1. Does your library have an active focus on financial literacy (e.g., financial education seminars,
print materials, videos, social media, library website, etc.)?
a. If ‘yes’, what resources does your library provide?
b. If ‘no’, why not?
[MODERATOR: SPEND TIME INVESTIGATING BOTH YES AND NO RESPONSES]

2. Does your library have a designated physical space for financial literacy materials?

[MODERATOR: SPEND TIME INVESTIGATING BOTH YES AND NO RESPONSES]

a. Can you discuss that space (e.g., single bookshelf, bookcase, several bookcases in a specific section
of the library)?

3. Does your library participate in Money Smart Week?
[MODERATOR: SPEND TIME INVESTIGATING BOTH YES AND NO RESPONSES]

a. What other financial awareness events does your library support or participate in?

3

4. What are the most common financial topics that patrons ask about?

5. Do you direct patrons to online resources when they have financial questions?
a. If ‘yes’, is the CFPB website one of those resources? What other websites?
b. If ‘no’, why not?
[MODERATOR: SPEND TIME INVESTIGATING BOTH YES AND NO RESPONSES]

6. Would you recommend CFPB’s resources to other libraries that want to provide financial
literacy to their patrons?
a. If ‘yes’, why?
b. If ‘no’, why not?
[MODERATOR: SPEND TIME INVESTIGATING BOTH YES AND NO RESPONSES]

4

7. What additional resources could CFPB provide to support financial literacy in suburban/rural
libraries?

Thank you for your time today – we really appreciate your participation in today’s discussion.

5