2020-20225. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

AGENCY:

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

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 concerning the continuance of the Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. 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 ADDRESSES section below on or before November 12, 2020.

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] or by teletype (TTY/TDD) at 202-653-4614. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Matthew Birnbaum, Ph.D., Supervisory Social Science Researcher, Planning, Research and Evaluation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. Birnbaum 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:

IMLS 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.

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. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.

II. Current Actions

This proposed request is to renew IMLS' generic clearance for collection of qualitative feedback on the Agency's service delivery. This data collection activity provides a means to garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient and timely manner in accordance with the Administration's commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback, IMLS means information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. The Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery has been conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the clearance number 3137-0081, which expires December 31, 2020.

Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

OMB Number: 3137-0081.

Agency Number: 3137.

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

Number of Respondents: 9,854.

Frequency of Response: Once per request.

Average minutes per response: 51 minutes.

Total burden hours: 1,578.

Cost Burden (dollars): $44,095.19.

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: September 9, 2020.

Kim Miller,

Senior Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services.