2013-25249. Submission for OMB Review, Comment Request, Proposed Collection: Public Libraries Survey, 2014-2016

AGENCY:

Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Foundation for the Arts and the Humanities.

ACTION:

Submission for OMB review, comment request.

SUMMARY:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announces the following information collection has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below on or before November 22, 2013.

OMB is particularly interested in comments that help the agency to:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES:

For a copy of the documents contact: Deanne W. Swan, Senior Statistician, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street NW., 9th Floor, Washington DC 20036. Dr. Swan can be reached by Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone], or by email at [e-mail] or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent Federal grant-making agency and is the primary source of Federal support for the Nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. IMLS provides a variety of grant programs to assist the Nation's museums and libraries in improving their operations and enhancing their services to the public. IMLS is responsible for identifying national needs for and trends in museum, library, and information services; measuring and reporting on the impact and effectiveness of museum, library and information services throughout the United States, including programs conducted with funds made available by IMLS; identifying, and disseminating information on, the best practices of such programs; and developing plans to improve museum, library and information services of the United States and strengthen national, State, local, regional, and international communications and cooperative networks (20 U.S.C. Chapter 72, 20 U.S.C. 9108).

Abstract: The Public Libraries Survey has been conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the clearance number 3137-0074, which expires 12/31/2013. Pursuant to Public Law 107-279, this Public Libraries Survey collects annual descriptive data on the universe of public libraries in the U.S. and the Outlying Areas. Information such as public service hours per year, circulation of library books, number of librarians, population of legal service area, expenditures for library collection, programs for children and young adults, staff salary data, and access to technology, etc., would be collected.

Current Actions: This notice proposes clearance of the Public Libraries Survey. The 60-day notice for the Public Libraries Survey, FY 2014-2016, was published in the Federal Register on June 20, 2013, (FR vol. 78, No. 119, pgs. 37243-37244). The agency has taken into consideration the one comment that was received under this notice.

Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services

Title: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Years 2014-2016

OMB Number: 3137-0074

Agency Number: 3137

Affected Public: State and local governments, State library agencies, and public libraries.

Number of Respondents: 55

Note: 55 is the number of State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) that are responsible for the collection of this information and for reporting it to IMLS. In gathering this information, the SLAAs will request that their sub-entities (i.e., public libraries in their respective States and Outlying Areas) provide information to the respective SLAA. As the number of sub-entities and questions varies from SLAA to SLAA, it is difficult to assess the exact number of burden hours and costs.

Frequency: Annually.

Burden Hours per Respondent: 80.3.

Total burden hours: 4417.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: n/a.

Total Annual Costs: $121,409.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn.: OMB Desk Officer for Education, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, [phone].

Dated: October 22, 2013.

Kim A. Miller,

Management Analyst, Office of Policy, Planning, Research, and Communication.