Chapter 9 Section 5 : A Final Word on Reports 

Why report? It is important to find out whether or not the project met its objectives and to have information about your project to disseminate to others who may be considering similar projects or who will be evaluating similar projects. In our cost conscious world, funders (taxpayers, and you are one!, other agencies, foundations, Friends) want to know about return on value.

This doesn't mean you should gild your project's lily-sometimes it is just a important to know what doesn't work as to know what does. But the World's Best Project, as we're sure yours will be, deserves to come to the attention of, well, the world. Each year Massachusetts designates exemplary projects to IMLS. If your World's Best Project does not have thorough and effective reports, it won't make the big time!

Once you've completed the narrative section and transferred expenditures for the line items to the summary sheet, you're finished for another six months, or for the year. Be sure the cover sheet is filled in, the project location and number is noted in the upper right hand corner of each page, and the agency director has signed it. Send the original to the attention of the person noted at the bottom of the cover sheet. Keep a copy in this folder.

Here are some things you should tell us in your final report, due October 15, 2005.