Sec.11-24d-5. Review/award process

(a) The State Library staff shall review all applications and communicate any deficiencies to the applicant. Applicants will have 15 days to resubmit the application following receipt of notification.

(b) The Connlinet Council shall review all eligible applications. The Council shall prepare funding recommendations in priority for funding to the State Library Board.

(c) The criteria to be employed in the evaluation of applications include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) There is a clearly started narrative which details the intended project.

(2) The methodology is appropriate for successful project completion.

(3) The applicant has developed an appropriate method to evaluate the proposal.

(4) The budget is appropriate and the applicant has the ability to meet ongoing costs associated with the project.

(5) The critical impact of the project is stated.

(6) The degree to which the project fosters local, regional and statewide resource sharing.

(7) The degree the project will be visible to and have an impact on the community.

(8) The applicant has outlined a reasonable timetable for the specific accomplishment of tasks associated with the project.

(d) Additional criteria for bibliographic records.

In addition, when recommending the allocation of funds for providing improved access to bibliographic records, the Connlinet Council and State Library Board will consider:

(1) The past and present initiative demonstrated by a library or network in creating machine-readable records.

(2) The extent to which records represent materials that are not already recorded in the Connecticut database.

(3) The extent to which the activity will provide improved access to materials which are not widely held in Connecticut libraries.

(4) The extent to which the records involved, and the materials they represent, have demonstrated value to other libraries in Connecticut and their users.

(5) The extent to which categories of records are incorporated into a plan, which includes the establishment of priorities, for the upgrading, converting, or creating of records established by Connecticut network, a cooperating library service unit, or another appropriate grouping of libraries in Connecticut.

(6) The extent to which the upgrading of records is a prerequisite to adding software modules to a network or system than will provide improved access.

(e) The State Library Board—After applications have been reviewed and evaluated by the Connlinet Council, State Library Staff will submit the information and recommendations to the State Library Board. The State Library Board has the final responsibility for decisions on applications.

(f) The applicant institution whose project(s) are approved for funding will be notified of a contingent award, pending allocation of necessary funds by the State Bond Commission. A request will be made to the State Bond Commission to allocate necessary funds when the State Library Board has approved funding recommendations.

(g) If a proposal is not funded, an applicant may write to the State Library Network Services Department and request a copy of the Connlinet Council meeting minutes which state the reason for denial. The applicant has two weeks from the receipt of official notification to file a written appeal with the Connlinet Council. The appeal must demonstrate that the application was not reviewed in accordance with the criteria and procedures established by the State Library Board. The Connlinet Council will consider all written appeals. The Connlinet Council may deny the appeal or present a new recommendation to the State Library Board.

Grant applicants may appeal directly to the State Library Board if not satisfied with the Connlinet Council response to their appeal.

(Effective March 6, 1987)