Library Enhancement Grant Scoring Rubric

Scoring Rubric

Point Distribution

Community Needs (Question 3), 45 points

Project proposal (Question 4), 40 points

Promotion (Question 5), 5 points

Evaluation (Question 6), 10 points

Total, 100 points

Community Needs, 500 words or less, 45 points possible

Questions: Demonstrate that your community has a critical need for this project by addressing each of the following questions and providing supporting evidence: (1) Who is your target audience? (2) What specific challenges do these groups face that are not currently being adequately addressed? (3) What evidence or data have you gathered to support that these challenges exist? (4) What are the potential consequences if these challenges are not addressed?

Excellent: 38–45 points
A strong and clear need is demonstrated. The response clearly identifies the target audience, the challenges they face, evidence that supports the need, and what could happen if the need is not addressed. The response provides strong supporting information and makes a convincing case for why the challenge needs to be addressed.

Mid: 25–37 points
A community need is identified, but the strength of the need or supporting information varies. The response addresses most or all the questions. At the higher end of the range, the response is complete and provides good evidence. At the lower end, the response may be missing some information, providing limited evidence or data, or providing a less clear explanation of why the need is important.

Poor: 0–24 points
Little or no clear community need is demonstrated. The response may not clearly identify who the project will serve, the challenges they face, or provide enough evidence to show that the need exists. It may also provide little explanation of what could happen if the need is not addressed. The response may be incomplete, too general, or not answer the questions being asked.

Project Proposal, 500 words or less, 40 points possible

Questions: Provide a clear description of the project, detail all planned project activities and answer the following questions: (500 words or less):

(1) How will the project respond to the critical community needs identified in the Community Needs section? (2) In what ways will the project create meaningful change? (3) What specific impacts can realistically be achieved within the project timeline?

Excellent: 34–40 points
The project clearly responds to the community needs identified in the application. The response explains how the project will address those needs, make a meaningful difference for the target audience, and achieve specific and realistic results within the project timeline. The proposed results are achievable and show strong potential to improve library services, access, learning, or the library’s ability to serve its community.

Mid: 22–33 points
The project responds to the identified community needs and has the potential to make a positive difference, but the strength of the response varies. At the higher end of the range, the project has a clear connection to the identified needs and includes realistic and meaningful results. At the lower end, the connection between the need and the project may be less clear, the expected changes may be general or limited, or the proposed results may not be specific or measurable.

Poor: 0–21 points
The project does not clearly respond to the community needs identified in the application. The response may provide little explanation of how the project will make a difference, identify results that are unclear or unrealistic, or fail to explain what can reasonably be accomplished during the project timeline. The response may also be incomplete, too general, or not answer the questions being asked.

Promotion, 150 words or less, 5 points possible

Question: Explain how the project will be promoted to the target audience

Excellent: 5 points
The project has a clear and effective plan for reaching the people it is intended to serve. The response identifies specific and appropriate ways the library will promote the project and shows an understanding of how to reach the target audience.

Mid: 3–4 points
The project has a reasonable plan for reaching the target audience, but the details could be stronger. At the higher end of the range, the response provides several appropriate and specific ways to promote the project. At the lower end, the response may provide a general promotion plan but does not clearly explain how the target audience will be reached.

Poor: 0–2 points
The project has little or no clear plan for reaching the target audience. The response may simply list methods such as “social media” or “flyers” without explaining how those methods will reach the intended audience. The response may also be incomplete, too general, or not answer the question being asked.

Evaluation, 150 words or less, 10 points possible

Question: Describe how you will evaluate the overall success of your project

Excellent: 9–10 points
The project has a clear and useful plan for measuring success. The response identifies specific things the library will measure to determine whether the project met its goals. The evaluation methods make sense for the project and will help the library understand what worked, what changed, or what participants learned.

Mid: 6–8 points
The project has a reasonable plan for measuring success, but the details could be stronger. At the higher end of the range, the response identifies specific results and appropriate ways to measure them. At the lower end, the response may provide a general evaluation plan but does not clearly explain what will be measured or how the library will know whether the project was successful.

Poor: 0–5 points
The project has little or no clear plan for measuring success. The response may use general statements such as “we will evaluate participation” without explaining what will be measured or how the information will be used. The response may also be incomplete, too general, or not answer the question being asked.