[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 88980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28405]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: Collection of 
Information To Assess the Current State of Library and Museum 
Infrastructure To Identify Infrastructure Needs

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

ACTION: Notice, request for comments, and collection of information.

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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 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 will be provided in the appropriate format; that 
respondents' reporting burden (time and financial resources) is 
minimized; that collection instruments are clearly understood and cover 
material to which respondents can be responsive; and, that the impact 
of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before February 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Sandra Narva, Acting Director of Grants 
Policy and Management, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 
L'Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Ms. 
Narva can be reached by telephone at 202-653-4634, or by email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3b48555a494d5a7b52565748155c544d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="05766b64777364456c6869762b626a73">[email protected]</span></a>. 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: For a copy of the documents, contact: 
Matthew Birnbaum, Ph.D., Director of 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: 202-653-4760, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f424d465d414d4e5a426f4642435c01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1479767d667a76756179547d7978673a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>. 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: The purpose of this notice is to solicit 
comments about a proposed IMLS study of library and museum 
infrastructure. This study will follow the requirements of the House 
Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee's 2023 
Appropriations Bill for the Department of Labor (Report 117-403), and 
the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee's Departments of Labor, Health 
and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act (2023) (S.4659). IMLS intends to assess the physical conditions of 
libraries and museums to inform potential grantmaking initiatives 
focused on improving library and museum facilities, including those in 
underserved communities and those impacted by national disasters.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
    IMLS 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.
    IMLS is particularly interested in public comments that help the 
agency to:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information 
appropriately responds to Congressional direction authorizing this 
study.
    <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.
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, 
or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of response.

I. Background

    IMLS 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

    This notice proposes the Collection of Information to Assess the 
Current State of Library and Museum Infrastructure to Identify 
Infrastructure Needs recommended by the U.S. Congress in Reports 117-
403 and S.4659. This evaluation will enable IMLS to make well-informed 
decisions about potential future investments and funding allocations to 
strategically address areas with the greatest need. The proposed 
collection of primary data from key stakeholders will lead to an 
understanding of the diversity of library and museum facilities. This 
study will inform IMLS as to the most critical needs of library and 
museum infrastructures and where to allocate funding for the most 
significant impact.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Collection of Information to Assess the Current State of 
Library and Museum Infrastructure to Identify Infrastructure Needs.
    OMB Control Number: 3137-NEW.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Museum and library management; museum 
and library associations, state, municipal, and city level 
stakeholders.
    Total Number of Annual Respondents: Approximately 500.
    Frequency of Response: Expected to be once per request.
    Average Minutes per Response: Estimated at 30 minutes per response.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 250 
hours.
    Cost Burden (dollars): Estimated at $8,844.
    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: December 20, 2023.
Suzanne Mbollo,
Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-28405 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P


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