Each application should include:

• 2006 LSTA Library Adult Literacy Services in Public Libraries Grant Application (form)
• LSTA Priorities Addressed in Proposal (form)
• Narrative typed and no more than 10 pages with-
  • Description of Need
    Include:
  • Community need to be met by the project.
  • How community need was determined.
  • How requested funds meet LSTA priorities.
  • Identification and description of the local targeted group
  • Note: If this proposal is for a program already in place, please demonstrate the need for continued funding. Provide statistics or outputs as well as outcomes that demonstrate the program’s ongoing value to justify renewed Library Literacy grant funding.
  • Plan of Operation
    • Include:
    • Stated goals and objectives of the library strategic or long range plan that relates to the proposed project.
    • Stated goals and objectives of the project plan (should be more specific than the related goals and objectives of the library plan)
    • How intended activities address OLIS goals as outlined in “Adult Literacy Grants for Libraries General Information.”
    • List the intended inputs, outputs, outcomes of the project.
  • Budget Plan -- See Budget Plan Instructions.
    
  • Evaluation Plan: IMLS/LSTA requires that state agencies include monitoring and evaluation in reports. OLIS considers an evaluation component to be a critical part of any Library Literacy Grant project.
    • Include:
    • Program management tools to be used to quantify expected inputs, outputs and outcomes against actual inputs, outputs and outcomes. (i.e., surveys, pre-and post-tests, evaluation forms)
    • Evaluation methods to be used to provide short and long-term indications of the project’s effectiveness. (i.e., OBE Logic Model)
    • Types of evidence to be collected. (i.e., anecdotal evidence, statistics)
    • Monitoring schedule
    • Percentage of project’s total budget to cover the cost of evaluation.
  • Project Activity Chart form
  • Total Project Budget form
  • Budget by Library Facility form (if applicable)
  • Appendices
    • Letters of commitment from directors of participating public libraries
    • Letters of support from directors of partnering non-library agencies (letters must indicate the partner’s role in the project)
    • Job Descriptions of paid project staff

  Submission of Application

  Paper Submission:

  Applications submitted in paper must be received at OLIS by July 15, 2006.
  Submit 4 copies and the original application by Library Delivery (DSL) or by U.S. Mail to:

  LSTA Adult Literacy
  Attn: Ann Piascik
  OLIS
  One Capitol Hill, 4th floor
  Providence, RI 02908-5872

  Selection Criteria.

  • Professionals from the literacy community will be appointed by OLIS to review Library Literacy proposals. The reviewers will review the applications and score the applications according to the criteria listed below. The OLIS Literacy consultant will make recommendations to the Chief of Library Services based on the reviewers’ scores.
  • The maximum score for each proposal is 100 points with each criterion assigned a maximum number of points as follows:
  • Description of Adult Learner Needs (20)
  • Plan of Operation (35)
  • Budget Plan (10)
  • Evaluation Plan (35)
  Definitions
  • Data sources: tools, documents and locations for information that will show what happened to your target audience; sources of information about conditions being measured. (For example, pre-post test scores, surveys, focus groups, attendance records, program records, assessment reports, records from other organizations, observations, etc.) Anecdotal self-reports include interviews and open-ended surveys.
  • Evaluation plan: a clear representation of the links between the program’s or project’s activities, the results these activities produce, and how the results will be measured.
  • Goals (targets): the stated expectations for the performance of outcomes. Goals are stated in terms of a number and/or a percent. They may be estimated by program's past performance.
  • Inputs: how much you use or put into a program. [What amounts of time, materials, staff, etc. you utilize in carrying it out.]
  • Outcomes: what good you do. Your target audience’s changed or improved skills, attitudes, knowledge, behaviors, status, or life conditions, brought about by experiencing a program. Outcomes may be immediate, intermediate, or long-term. Outcomes rarely include institutional benefits.
  • Outputs: how much you do. Outputs are measurable; they can be counted.
  • Program: activities and services leading toward independent outcomes. Programs generally have a definite beginning and end and are designed to change attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, or increase skills and abilities based on assumed need.
  • Program purpose: relates to the organization's mission statement (or long-range plan) and defines the audience, outcomes, and services. The program purpose is driven by assumptions about need. Assumptions can be drawn from formal or informal research, the program's prior experiences, or a program partner’s experiences.

  Budget Plan Instructions

  Include in the Budget Narrative:
  • Links between the Financial Budget objectives and the Project Plan objectives
  • Management of project budget
    • Staff
    • Tools
  • Cost-effectiveness of the project.
    • Detail of salary budget.
      • Provide basis of salary or hourly rate per position detailed.
    • Travel expense justification.
      • Provide breakdown of the travel budget.
    • Equipment purchase justification
    • Provide cost analysis of equipment requested.
  • Why LSTA grant funds are needed. *
  • Sources of other funding**
  • Outsourcing services justification

  Complete the Total Project Budget form and Budget by Library Facility form, if more than one library facility is funded.
  

  * LSTA funds should not be used to supplant other funding.
  ** Explain if the receipt of other funding is contingent on receiving LSTA Library Literacy grant funding.

  1. LSTA Stories: As part of our evaluation of the Library Services and Technology Act, both for us and the Federal government, we gather anecdotal information about the ways that LSTA grant projects have benefited individuals and community groups. For examples and guidelines see LSTA in Rhode Island (http://www.ala.org/washoff/RI.html) or contact Beth Perry, bethpy@gw.doa.state.ri.us, 401-222-5775.