The Block Island School’s library is small, limiting the resources available to students. Block Island school's expenditures, per student, however, are the highest in Rhode Island, excluding the Rhode Island School for the Deaf.1 Educational costs are higher on the island because the school provides comparable services of other Rhode Island public schools to a smaller number of students. Additionally, Block Island's remote location increases the cost of obtaining supplies when compared with other Rhode Island communities. While the expenses, per student are high, the overall budget, and therefore the school library budget, are small. The school library book budget is $8000.00.  In addition, the school's ongoing expansion project has significantly decreased surplus funds that might otherwise be available.

The Block Island School Library will use the grant funds to  join RILINK, The Rhode Island  Library Information Network for Kids.2. The school will use RILINK funds to purchase CirculationPlus, CatalogPlus, WebCollection Plus, BookWhere 2000 and  856 Express. These programs will enable the school library to connect electronically to RILINK and to search all RILINK Member schools. The software is available  as a package from the Follett Software Company. The RILINK member price is $1755.00. Students will then be able to  identify and borrow material available from RILINK member schools in order to complete school assignments.  The school librarian and teachers believe that access to the increased number of resources will improve students' research, and therefore student learning.

Grant funds will also pay for on-site Circulation Plus and on-site Cataloging Plus training, each available for $700.00 for a total of $1,400 and a ScanTeam3800 Scanner for $499.00 (Item #8). The Block Island School will pay the cost associated with transportation to the island for the Follett training personnel (Item #3). The  School will also pay the  ongoing staffing costs associated with the RILINK connection project. $500 of the funds raised at the annual Block Island School PTA/student fair, held on Memorial Day weekend, will be allocated to the RILINK project.

The Block Island School will pay the staffing costs associated with the RILINK connection project. The school librarian earns a salary of $ 24,674. Of this, $4112.33 is dedicated to managing the RILINK grant project. Fringe benefits in the amount of $1358.00 are covered by library funds. Grant funds will not be used to pay salaries. In addition, the library will pay for supplies associated with the RILINK program. The total amount the library allocates to managing RILINK services is $5870.00.  Mrs. Tengwall will work with the school's financial manager, Mrs. LaCoste, to establish a line in the school library budget for the RILINK program. Funds received from LORI will be deposited in this fund and expenditures made in the process of establishing the connection to RILINK will be allocated to this account. Mrs. Tengwall will maintain all necessary records and produce necessary reports to the school administration and School Board as well as to LORI. Mrs. LaCoste will provide any necessary assistance.

School personnel are excited about the benefits that RILINK membership will offer to students and teachers. Without LORI grant funding the Block Island School will not be able to provide this valuable resource to Block Island School students.  The need for subsequent grant funding is not anticipated at this time.