The United States ranks 14th in the world in financial literacy, with 43 percent failing the financial literary test given to them.

“Literacy is not just the ability to read and write but the ability to think and reason,” said Theresa Trawick, director of the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library in Brundidge.

“Soft skills, which are needed to effectively communicate, problem-solve, collaborate and organize, are becoming more important for success as the workplace evolves socially and technologically.”

On Saturday, the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library will kick off National Library Week with “The Literacy Connection @ Your Library” that is designed to strengthen individuals, families, communities and the workforce.

The ‘Literacy Connection’ will be from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday. The event is offered free to adults and students but limited to the first 50 reservations.

“Those who participate will have the opportunity to visit experts in different areas of literacy to ask questions, listen to presentations and receive handouts in order to learn more about literacy, Trawick said.

“More than half of adults do not have a budget and 39 percent of American adults have zero non-retirement savings. Financial literary is extremely important in today’s world. The information that will be available will be beneficial to a wide range of adults and will be provided by members of the community in the areas of faith, reading, information and media, civic involvement and health.”

Samuel Valentine, who has a master’s degree in theology, will be the faith literacy expert. He is a science and math teacher at Pike County Elementary School. The reading literacy expert will be Jennifer Amlong, assistant director at the Tupper library. She is the coordinator of children and youth collections and services.

Trawick will be the information and media literacy expert and Jimmy Ramage, former city mayor and president of First National Bank and supporter of the Business and Finance Academy at Pike County High School, will be the financial and civic literacy expert. The health literacy expert will be Paulette Lee, Pike County First Care coordinator for the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Attendees who visit each table will be given free awards including a lunch ticket and eligibility for door prizes including two grand prizes of $50.

To register for the “Literacy Connection @ Your Library” event, call 334-735-2145. Only registered attendees will be admitted. The Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library will be open only to attendees on Saturday.