2022-12478. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: Guidelines for IMLS Grants to States Five-Year Evaluation

AGENCY:

Institute of Museum and Library Services.

ACTION:

Notice, request for comments, collection of information.

SUMMARY:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This pre-clearance consultation 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. The purpose of this Notice is to solicit comments related to the Guidelines for IMLS Grants to States Five-Year Evaluation. 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 addressee section below on or before August 9, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Connie Bodner, Ph.D., Director of Grants Policy and Management, Office of Grants Policy and Management, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. Bodner can be reached by telephone: [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing (TTY users) can contact IMLS at 202-207-7858 via 711 for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Teri DeVoe, Associate Deputy Director for Grants to States, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Ms. DeVoe can be reached by telephone at 202-653-2135, or by email at [e-mail]. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing (TTY users) can contact IMLS at 202-207-7858 via 711 for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

IMLS is particularly interested in public 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.

I. Background

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of Federal support for the Nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grant making, research, and policy development. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.

II. Current Actions

The Grants to States program is the largest source of Federal funding support for library services in the U.S. Using a population-based formula, more than $160 million is distributed among the State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) every year. SLAAs are official agencies charged by the Library Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9121 and 20 U.S.C. 9141) with the extension and development of library services, and they are located in each of the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the five Territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the three Freely Associated States of Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

IMLS authorizing legislation (20 U.S.C. 9134) directs State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) to “independently evaluate, and report to the Director regarding, the activities assisted under this subchapter, prior to the end of the Five-Year Plan.” This evaluation provides SLAAs an opportunity to measure progress in meeting the goals set in their approved Five-Year Plans with a framework to synthesize information across all state reports in telling a national story. This action is to renew clearance of the Guidelines for IMLS Grants to States Five-Year Evaluation (2023-2027) for the next three years.

Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Title: Guidelines for IMLS Grants to States Five-Year Evaluation.

OMB Control Number: 3137-0090.

Agency Number: 3137.

Respondents/Affected Public: State Library Administrative Agencies.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 59.

Frequency of Response: Once every five years.

Average Hours per Response: 90 hours.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 5,310 hours.

Cost Burden (dollars): $156,220.20.

Public Comments Invited: Comments submitted in response to this Notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Dated: June 6, 2022.

Suzanne Mbollo,

Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services.