LSTA 2016 Competitive
Grant Round
Shelley Quezada
Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Marlene Sue Heroux
Webinar Segments
Introduction, MBLC Website & Long-Range Plans
Needs & Target Audience
Shelley Quezada
Project Design, Goals, Objectives, and Timeline
Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Evaluation, Sustainability & Budget
Marlene Sue Heroux
Presentation Resources
• Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/index.php
• FY2016 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant
Round
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/opportunities/index.php
• FY2016 LSTA Grant Application Resource Page
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/forms/index.php
• Sample Fact Sheet :
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/opportunities/fy2016/Serving
TweensTeens_FY2016.pdf
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LSTA Long Range Plan Goals 2013-2017
1. Support learners of all ages with their individual educational
and learning goals
2. Improve access to library services and resources for all
residents of the Commonwealth
3. Enhance the quality of library services offered to residents of
the Commonwealth
Check out the Massachusetts Five Year Plan at:
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/plan/lrp_2013.pdf
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LSTA Review/Notification Process
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grant writing webinar available Dec. 2014-April 2015
Conference Call with questions, Jan. 7, 2015 10 AM
Proposal writing January- March 2015
Draft Proposal due on or before Feb. 27, 2015
Completed application due April 10, 2015 (postmark date)
State Advisory Council (SACL) review May 19, 2015
Final decision on project awards MBLC Board meeting July 9,
2015
• Applicants notified July 10, 2015
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LSTA Grant Timeline
• Application
Posted
January 2015
Draft Applications
Due
• Feb. 27, 2015
• Applications
Due
April 10, 2015
July-Aug. 2015
• Awards
Announced
• Funding
Begins
October 1, 2015
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THE GRANT CYCLE
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Statement of User Needs
• Describes problem
• States needs of target group
• Can be accomplished within a specific timeframe
• Gives proof. i.e., statistics, commentary, accounts
from reputable sources, interaction with users
• Stated in terms of user not applicant
• Makes no unsupported assumptions
• Explains why specific solution was selected
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Describing the User Population (Example)
The primary audience for this project is elderly citizens in our community whose
age‐related visual or physical limitations make it difficult for them to read print books.
The library will provide assistive technology, along with appropriate training and
support, so that these elders can read more easily. The library will serve
facility‐bound elders through outreach to residential elder care facilities, and
home‐bound elders through collaboration with the local Elder Affairs council that
provides supportive services for older adults. Our community has four nursing homes
and adult care homes licensed to serve 320 residents. The council coordinates
transportation for approximately 400 seniors to two public community centers for
congregate meals and activities.
This project targets elders in our community because:
• Reading is especially important to older people
• The county demographic is aging
• All residents deserve to enjoy library services regardless of age related disabilities
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Describing the Need (Example)
There is high demand for library services among our town’s older residents.
The existing outreach program is robust; last year, library staff made 27 visits
to homebound patrons and patrons in elder care facilities, circulated 1372
items and offered a variety of well‐attended programs designed for older
people, e.g. senior craft classes and computer instruction. However, many of
our older patrons cannot take full advantage of the library’s services.
The most common problem among our older patrons is vision loss. Macular
degeneration and cataracts are common ailments among elders that affect
the ability to see print. Additionally many suffer from arthritis and have little
strength or dexterity in their hands. They find it frustrating or painful ato hold
heavy large print books, turn pages, or use book magnifiers. Though these
patrons have access to talking books through the Braille and Talking Book
Library many enjoy the simplicity and social engagement of requesting and
receiving books through their local library rather than by mail, and some
older patrons just prefer the printed word over audiobooks.
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Ways To Include Demographics and Other Data
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Project Design, Goals, Objectives,
and Timeline
Winning Proposals
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Goals
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Goals
• Broad, point towards future
• Must relate clearly and directly to
the statement of need
• Should name project audience
• Relate to Library’s Long-Range Plan
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Goals
Problem or Opportunity?
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Goals
The Who!
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Goals
• Keep it simple:
“The goal of this project is to…….”
• Single, declarative sentence
• Present tense with action verbs:
Build
Conduct
Deliver
Demonstrate
Enhance
Establish
Implement
Increase
Plan
Prepare
Produce
Provide
Reduce
Select
Strengthen
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Goals
• Who is the target/project audience?
– Children, parents, caregivers, researchers
• What is the problem or opportunity?
– Provide early literacy skill-building or
– Provide a non-threatening environment?
– Engagement or Educating?
– Researchers have difficulty accessing materials
because use is limited to on-site use
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Goals -Examples
• “The goal of this project is to help parents and
caregivers develop early literacy skills in
children from birth to age five.”
• “The goal of this project is to conserve the
Alice Smith papers so that they can be
accessed by researchers.”
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Goals -Examples
• “The goal of this project is to digitize the
Marvin Jones collection to make it much more
accessible to researchers.”
• “The goal of this project is to offer early
literacy programming to parents and
caregivers to support the development of
early reading skills in children, which is an
important indicator of later school success.”
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Objectives
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Objectives
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Objectives
• State in terms of who, what, when and how much
• State how objectives will be measured
By the end of the project, having completed the preservation survey,
the library will know the extent of its preservation needs and will begin
to address them to make more materials available to its patrons.
• State how much change will be expected
Increase attendance by the hearing impaired at captioned film showings
by 50% over current levels by the eighth month of the grant.
• State in numerical terms (# and %)
Circulation of science-related library materials will increase by 100
(25%) compared to previous year.
• Note: if project does not lend itself to outcome- based evaluation, define
clear outputs to demonstrate success.
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Developing Measurable Criteria
Activities, timeframes, benchmarks:
• Time units/frequency
– Within three months...
– By end of project year(s)...
– Meet quarterly
• Percentages
– Increase use of historical records by 20%
– Increase use of adult new reader collection 15%
by end of project year (Presumes you have
collected baseline data)
Objectives
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Objectives - Example
After completing one early literacy class 70% of
parents and caregivers will be able to share 3
early literacy activities with their children.
Specific
Attainable
Parents &
Caregivers
Yes
Measurable
70%
3 activities
Timephased
Relevant
After
completing
one class
Yes
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Objectives - Example
Parents and caregivers will be introduced
to the functionality of the Early Literacy
Center with 80% of these contacts
returning to the Center within one month.
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Outputs vs. Outcomes
Outputs
Checked out a book
Attended a computer
class
Used the library’s local
history collection
Signed up for summer
reading
Outcomes
Read for pleasure
Created a resume
Traced family history to
1850s
Maintained or
improved reading level
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Objectives: Outputs
Outputs ~ measures of service or products
•
•
•
•
•
Examples:
Will add 75 foreign language books to collection by ninth
month of project
Will arrange and describe three manuscript collections by
the end of the project year
Will hold 8 1-hour workshops with a total attendance of
200 during project year
Will meet 4 times with Advisory Committee by
September 30
Will digitize 4,326 images by the end of the project
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Objectives: Outcomes
Shows impact on target group by changes in:
• knowledge – knows how to apply for a job online
• behavior –reads regularly to preschooler
• attitude – comfortable downloading digital content

life condition/status -“I have a new job”
For more information on outcomes see:
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/manage/obe/
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Objectives: Outcomes (Examples)
• Change in user behavior in those trained to use a computer
for job hunting: 75 out of 100 people (75%) report they now
use computer for job hunting (survey)
• Change in user attitude in comfort level of teens in old vs.
new library teen space: 50% increase in number of teens who
felt comfortable in teen space or 50 vs. 100 teens (survey)
• Changes in knowledge, behavior, attitude: By end of target
year, 50% increase in number of families accessing materials
and information about autism at library (38 vs. 19 (Circ.
statistics and user survey)
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Tools to Measure Outcomes
• Baseline data prior to project start
• Existing records (circulation, reference data,
collection size)
• Surveys (in-person and online; pre- and post- project)
• Interviews (in person and by phone)
• Observation (by staff and neutral outsiders, e.g.
contracted evaluators)
• Testing (pre- and post-project to demonstrate
achievement)
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Activities
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Methods/Activities
• Answer the question: how will you carry out project?
• Describe who does what, when?
• Flow from needs statement and program goals/
objectives
• Describe step-by-step sequence
• Describe program activities, dates and places, not
grants management activities
• Show reasonable scope of activities within
timeframe
• Link to timeline of major project activities
• Justify costs/resources
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Timeline
Shows when major project milestones will
begin and end during the funding period.
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Timeline
Task
Responsible Party
Time Frame (Dates)
Find dedicated space in Library Director
library for Early Literacy
Center
Completed by
October 1, 2015
Order Early Literacy
materials (toys, books,
furniture etc.)
Youth Services
Librarian
Completed by
November 1, 2015
Order Computers and
Software for Early
Literacy Center
Tech Services Librarian
Completed by
November 1, 2015
Set – up Early Literacy
Center
Youth Services
Librarian,
Tech Services Librarian
Completed by January
31, 2016
Submit Mid-year report Project Director
to State Library
March 1, 2016
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Input Measures
• Quantifying the effort expended on a program
– Funds expended
– In-kind funds expended
– Number of project staff and staff time
– Extended library hours
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Output Measures
• Quantifying the level of service and materials
provided
– Circulation
– Visits
– Number of programs
– Attendees at library programs
– Collection size
– Website visits
– Etc.
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Output Measures - Examples
• Average number of users per week in the
public computer center(s)
• Total hours per week of training provided at
the public computer center(s)
• Number and type of marketing materials
distributed
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Outcome Measures
• Documenting the effect a service has on the
program’s stated objectives
– Changes in user behavior
– Changes in user attitude
– Changes in user knowledge, behavior, and attitude
– Changes in life condition/status
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Outcome Measures - Examples
Early Learning Center will…
• Be well received
• Create a welcoming space, resulting in:
– Increase in the productivity of parents who are more
comfortable visiting the library with their children
– Increase in the number of families visiting the library
– Increase in circulation of early learning materials
– Increase in the cognitive abilities of the children who
benefit from their parents being educated
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Outcome Measures - Examples
• Researchers have greater access to the
materials resulting on less handling and
damage to the originals
• Increased donations of historical materials to
the library's historical collections
• Participants who complete the class have a
greater comfort level in using electronic
resources
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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Evaluation, Sustainability &
Budget Segment
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Evaluation Section
• Describes methods and tools to gather
quantitative and qualitative data relevant
to your project
• To determine success of project
• May include formative evaluation
throughout the project as well as
summative at the conclusion
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Evaluation Considerations
• What will success look like?
• How will you know that the project had an
impact on the target group? (more than just
bodies in a room)
• Were goals & objectives met?
• What baseline data will you use?
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Evaluation & Your Needs Statement
“The needs statement is a compelling argument with
facts and statistical data that describe a problem in the
community that the library has identified.”
-Hall-Ellis, Bowers, Hudson, Williamson, & Patrick, 2011
• Refer to needs section, as you are ultimately
evaluating effectiveness of project in meeting needs
of target group
• Evaluation - quantitative and qualitative
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Evaluation Methods
• Quantitative – bean counting
• Qualitative – deeper relationship
between target group needs & project
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Evaluation
Inputs/Outputs –
library contributions
and effort expended
by target group
Outcomes –
 impact project has on
target group
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Available Tools & Data Sources
Inputs/Outputs can be determined and
evaluated using existing records:
• Circulation
• Reference data
• Usage statistics
• Collection size/age/coverage
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INPUTS
what library contributes
to the project:
staff
hours
space
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OUTPUTS
OUTPUTS
measures of services or
products provided by
library:
measures of efforts
expended
by target group:
circulation
materials acquired
programs/meetings held
circulation
# new acquisitions
program attendance
collection more up-to-date
library card registrations
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OUTCOMES
measurable change in target
groups’:
skills
knowledge
attitudes
behavior
condition in life
For additional guidance, see Outcome Based Evaluation at
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/manage/obe/index.php
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TOOLS TO MEASURE OUTCOMES
Baseline data prior to project start
Existing records (circ., reference, collection)
Surveys (in-person, online, pre- & post)
Program evaluation forms
Interviews, focus groups (in-person, phone)
Testing (pre- & post)
Assignments, other demonstrations of achievement
Observation
Anecdotal
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User
Outcomes
– Tell Me a
Story
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Outcomes Examples
• Job seekers report increase in interviews or
job offers as a result of programming and
resources provided for job seekers
• Students now view library as a resource for
completing assignments & improved grades
• Faculty now view library & staff as a teaching
resource (faculty and librarian collaborated to
align library materials with common core
standards)
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More Outcomes Examples
“As a result of this library project I can…”
• Learn about my family’s involvement in our town’s
creation through local digitized historical records
• Apply for unemployment insurance online
• Borrow and read multi-cultural books with my
children that I got from the library
• Write and post my a resume online
• Post pictures of my grandchildren on a social
networking site (FaceBook, Instagram, etc.)
• Evaluate the quality of information on the web
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Outputs vs. Outcomes
Outputs
Checked out a book
Attended a computer
class
Used the library’s
genealogy collection
Attended library job
seeker classes
Outcomes
Improved reading
comprehension
Communicate with
friends overseas via
Skype
Created a family tree
Created resume for job
hunting
Sustaining your project after grant
period
classes
online
databases
programming
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Sustainability & Commitment to Project
Strategies…
• Incorporate project continuation costs into
the library’s operating budget
• Resources from a third party
• Include fund-raising initiatives
• Assistance from project partners
• Transfer of a portion of the project to
another entity
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Commitment to the Project if Not
Funded
What will you do to meet the needs of the target
group as described in the application?
Why is this important to the reviewer?
• Demonstrates library commitment to
highlighted needs of the target group
• Illustrates importance of the project to library
• Further ties project idea to long-range plan
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Budget
Actual expenses the applicant identifies as
essential to implement, manage, and evaluate
proposed project
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Some are good!
YOUR grant application budget……
Anything mentioned in the budget
for funding, whether LSTA, in-kind or
other sources, should be mentioned
earlier in your application as part of
the project design.
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Funder’s Guidelines
• Pay attention to funder’s guidelines and limitations.
• The amount of LSTA funds that should be requested
should be within range on grant fact sheet.
• Purchases and services must relate to your project.
• For K-12 schools, ALL library materials and
equipment purchased with grant funds must be
used in AND remain in the library. They can be
loaned to users, but they should not take up
residence in classrooms or at other locations.
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Sources of Funds
Two columns on grant application
form for grant expenditures:
LSTA
Cost Share
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Sources of Funds-Definitions
LSTA - your grant award. Categories to allocate use of LSTA funds
for your project are on the application budget form
Cost Share - total/combination of:
• Locally Appropriated Funds - explicitly appropriated by your
municipality or school for this particular project.
• In-kind funds - part of your library’s operating budget, but
not specifically in support of project. e.g., paper, supplies,
institution resources, hours library staff will spend on project
(converting hours anticipated to be spent on project as a % of
salary & benefits)
• Other Sources - donations made by Friends of the Library,
PTO or other organizations, or other grants (bank or business,
etc.) to support project
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Budget
Project costs may include:
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Budget Categories Guidelines
• Salaries/Wage/Benefits for staff on payroll
• Consultant fees
• Travel includes transportation to workshops, conferences, student trips, etc.)
• Supplies/Materials includes collections (but not content licensing),
equipment*, furniture, software, hardware, supplies, promotional materials)
• Equipment *over $5000
• Services includes printing, presenters, speakers, performers, equipment
maintenance, telephone, licensing of electronic content
• Audit (Required) - required if your city or town receives more than $500,000 in
total from the federal government. Must be paid for with local funds.
• Other (identify) – not otherwise covered
• *note CIPA regulation about prohibition of computer &
handheld devices Internet access
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Paying for People with LSTA $
• Salaried personnel - staff on institution’s payroll; use
LSTA funding to extend hours of current part-time staff
working on project; cannot use to pay benefits,
overtime or project director
• Consultants – pay for consulting services; not on staff
payroll (i.e., space design, website development, staff
development, series of workshops)
• Services – presenters/speakers/performers (authors,
lecturers, trainers for workshops)
(Note: Get some quotes in advance so that your budget is
realistic.)
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Staff Time/Resources =
Cash-match: Not required.
Desired: Commitment of staff TIME
and/or institutional resources in
support of proposed project show
organization’s commitment to project.
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Project Personnel Form
Do I need to complete a Project Personnel Form
for all people being paid with grant funds?
NO
• Only complete for organizational employees
listed under salaries,wages /benefits lines. No
form necessary for consultants or people
listed under services (performers, speakers,
etc.)
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Budget Details
Budget detail column- list equipment, hourly
rates for contract labor and salaries, and to
explain anything else that is not clear from the
budget table:
software names
database titles
names for speakers, consultants, brands
and models of equipment
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Children’s Internet Protection Act
(CIPA)
You may not request federal funds for either
Internet Service connectivity or devices
• MBLC does not fund Internet access through LSTA
• Federal funds cannot be used for computers,
tablets or hand-held devices such as IPads,
Kindles, Nooks and other devices that access the
Internet
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Budget Checklist
Yes!
• Check math
• Meet guidelines
• Include in-kind support
(audit)
• Investigate prices
• Detailed & realistic
• Explain, justify
• What library will
contribute to project
No! 
• Food!
• Paying the project
director
• “Double-dipping”
• Giveaways
• Giant honoraria
• Built-ins
• Unjustified expenses
• Surprises!
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Final Thoughts
Contact Information
Please call your project consultant with any questions:
Phone: (617) 725-1860 or 1 (800) 952-7402
Gregor x 236 Marlene x 250 Shelley x 235
Complete FY2016 LSTA Grant Opportunities, Fact Sheets, Policies
and Procedures & Fact Sheets on the web:
http://www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/lsta/opportunities/index.php
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