Insurance Commissioner Launches Partnership with PA Library Association to Provide Consumer Information at Libraries Throughout Pennsylvania

YORK, Pa., May 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller today joined with leaders of the Pennsylvania Library Association and the York County Library System to announce a partnership to provide consumer information on insurance issues to Pennsylvanians at libraries throughout the state.

"I am pleased the Pennsylvania Insurance Department is becoming a partner with the Pennsylvania Library Association, and specifically with the association's PA Forward initiative, to make important information available on issues such as flood insurance, annuities, renters', homeowners', health, and auto insurance, at hundreds of locations throughout the state," Commissioner Miller said in announcing the partnership at Martin Memorial Library in York.

As part of the agreement, the Insurance Department and PA Forward will provide links to each other's websites, as well as information on each organization's ongoing efforts to serve the public in communities throughout Pennsylvania.

Specifically, the Insurance Department will work with the Pennsylvania Library Association to conduct public information sessions on various insurance topics to help improve the financial literacy of Pennsylvania citizens. This initiative began today with Commissioner Miller presenting Insurance 101, an interactive lesson on auto insurance developed jointly by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to high school students from the Helen Thackston Charter School in York.

"Insurance 101 is a perfect example of Governor Wolf's initiative to improve the financial education of Pennsylvanians so they can better understand how to get the most from their money, in this case by helping high school students learn more about how auto insurance works, and what actions they can take to help control those costs," Commissioner Miller said.

"Libraries are central hubs for community activities, events and learning. They are more than books, more than places to research school reports, more than pre-school story times and they are more important than ever," said Carrie Turner, Pennsylvania Library Association President. "We are delighted that the PA Insurance Department has signed on as the latest PA Forward partner.  Together, with the support of Pennsylvania's libraries, we will help residents throughout the commonwealth deal effectively with the complexities of modern life, by providing access to programming and resources that they might not otherwise have."

"Libraries can help ensure that our youth are equipped with the necessary basic skills in financial matters to become confident and informed consumers. From understanding money, to consumer literacy; from personal finance, to money management; this partnership will provide youth with the knowledge, resources and skills to be able to secure and improve their financial wellbeing," said Robert Lambert, President of York County Libraries.

The Insurance Department is now part of the PA Library Association Financial Literacy Team, and will provide resources to libraries throughout the state. This includes conducting programs on various insurance topics for members of the communities served by various libraries in Pennsylvania.

"Being part of PA Forward gives us access to 629 outlets run by Pennsylvania's 456 public libraries, which serve 6 million people each year.  Libraries have long been a source of important information for residents of our state, and this association with the Insurance Department will continue that tradition," Commissioner Miller said.

For more information, visit the Insurance Department website at www.insurance.pa.gov, or the PA Forward website at http://www.paforward.org/home/financialliteracy.aspx.

MEDIA CONTACT:   Ron Ruman, Insurance, 717-787-3289

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Insurance