The N.H. State Library will begin an evaluation this September of the use and impact of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds in New Hampshire during FY 1999, 2000, and 2001. This evaluation is a requirement of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency that administers the LSTA program. All state library agencies receiving LSTA funds must complete an independent evaluation prior to the end of the current five-year place. The evaluation results will help direct the State Library in the development of its next Five-Year Plan for LSTA funds.

The State Library receives approximately $850,000 annually for statewide library initiatives, grants to libraries and centralized services. The current five-year plan for LSTA in New Hampshire focuses on three priorities: information access through technology, information empowerment through special services, and efficient and effective administration of LSTA. A fourth sub-goal of competitive grants to libraries overlaps these three goals.

New Hampshire's LSTA evaluation will be implemented this fall and run through the spring of 2002. It will consist of a variety of assessment tools, focus groups, surveys, interviews and statistical analysis measures. The evaluation will involve many librarians, staff, board members, and the patrons of libraries.

• The evaluation criteria questions for which answers are needed include:
• In what ways have the State Library added value to local library services as a result of LSTA?
• Have libraries and/or library constituents been aware that LSTA funds have been supporting various statewide services?
• Did the State Library use LSTA funds for projects that are important?
• Did the State Library fulfill its Five-Year Plan?
• What impact did LSTA grants to individual libraries have in a community?
• Did the State Library promote an adequate public awareness of LSTA?

The evaluation process will involve contributions from the N.H. State Library Advisory Council, the State Librarian, and representatives of the state library's leaders. The N.H. State Library Administrator of Library Operations will coordinate the evaluation in cooperation with the staff of the Library Development Services Section. An outside facilitator will conduct focus groups and interviews. The most important aspect of this evaluation will be the human-interest stories and personal accounts that speak loudest for the best practices of LSTA in New Hampshire.