If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.Evaluation is only possible when observable activities are linked to goals and objectives. For many reasons, evaluating a new public institution like community networks is a daunting task. Since the goals are ambitious and wide-ranging, they are unlikely to be realized in the short term. Nor are they likely to be realized through the efforts of community networks alone in the absence of other societal assistance (like public libraries) or individual effort.
The goals and objectives are derived from principles -- either implicitly or explicitly acknowledged -- and these goals and objectives are often tied to broad and abstract notions about bettering society. Is it therefore the answer to establish simple, easily-attainable goals that would allow community networks to receive "high marks" with little effort? No, because the principles themselves provide a motivating force for volunteers and general public interest (and, thus, becomes a "resource" in its own right). Therefore, a "family" of goals (including broad goals of societal meliorism) needs to be developed. This goal family can then be used to develop a broad-based picture of how effective community networks are in meeting the needs of the community they serve.