[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 51 (Friday, March 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12636-12637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4819]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES


Institute of Museum and Library Services; Submission to OMB for 
Review, Comment Request, Proposed Collection: User Satisfaction With 
Access to Government Information and Services at Public Libraries and 
Public Access Computing Centers

    Summary: The Institute of Museum and Library Services announces the 
following information collection has been submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 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. Currently the Institute of Museum and Library Services is 
soliciting comments concerning a research study to assess user 
satisfaction with access to government information and services at 
public libraries and public access computing centers.
    Dates: Comments must be received by April 16, 2007. The OMB is 
particularly interested in comments which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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 submission of responses.

This proposed collection is to collect information via surveys 
regarding the public's experience with finding government information 
and the types of programs public libraries and community technology 
centers provide to help users.
    Dates: Comments must be received by April 16, 2007. The OMB is 
particularly interested in comments that:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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 submission of responses.
    Addresses: A copy of the data collection forms and supporting 
documentation may be obtained by contacting Barbara G. Smith, E-
Projects Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St., 
NW., 9th floor, Washington, DC 20036. She can be reached by telephone 
(202/653-4688) or via e-mail (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3654455b5f425e765f5b5a4518515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dcbeafb1b5a8b49cb5b1b0aff2bbb3aa">[email protected]</span></a>.)

Background

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent 
Federal grant-making agency authorized by the Museum and Library 
Services Act, Public Law 104-208, as amended. The 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. Museums and libraries of all sizes and types may receive 
support from IMLS programs. Public Law 104-208 authorizes the Director 
of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to carry out and 
publish analyses that shall identify national needs for, and trends of, 
museum and library services; report on the impact and effectiveness of 
programs

[[Page 12637]]

conducted with funds made available by the Institute; and identify and 
disseminate information on the best practices of such programs.
    The E-Government Act of 2002 called for the promotion of access to 
the Internet to provide increased opportunities for citizen 
participation in government, and an interagency committee issued a 
report looking at disparities in Internet access across a demographic 
spectrum. Few studies, however, have looked at the kinds of assistance 
(training, tutorials, classes, reference services) that users are 
receiving when looking for federal, state, and local government 
information and services, whether via the Internet or through 
traditional means (walk-in, mail, telephone), and whether users are 
satisfied with the assistance that they are receiving from public 
libraries and public access computing centers. In order to address this 
critical information gap and to enhance the quality of library services 
nationwide, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has 
undertaken a study to better understand how users are accessing 
federal, state, and local government information and services and what 
kinds of assistance public libraries and other public access computing 
centers are offering to users seeking government information and 
services. IMLS is conducting a research study on how the part of the 
population with limited access to Internet resources (individuals who 
do not have broadband access from home, work, or school; who choose to 
access government services and information from locations other than 
home, work, or school; or who do so through traditional means of 
access) accesses federal, state and local government services and 
information, and whether such users are satisfied with the information 
and services they are able to access. Additionally, the study examines 
the ways that public libraries and public access computing centers 
provide assistance (e.g., reference services, tutorials, classes, 
training to users seeking federal, state, and local government 
information and services.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: User Satisfaction with Access to Government Information and 
Services at Public Libraries and Public Access Computing Centers.
    OMB Number: none.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Frequency: once.
    Affected Public: general public, public libraries, public access 
computing centers.
    Number of Respondents: 5,650.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 0.29 hour.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,621 hours.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: n/a.
    Total Annual Costs: $40,479.
    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. (202) 395-
7316.

    Dated: March 12, 2007.
Barbara G. Smith,
E-Projects Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-4819 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P


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