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[Federal Register: November 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 228)]
[Notices]               
[Page 73132-73133]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29no10-133]                         

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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

 
Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: Public Demand 
for Museum and Library Services (PDMLS) Survey

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

ACTION: Notice, request for comments, 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 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 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 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. By this notice, IMLS is soliciting comments 
concerning a proposed survey to collect information to monitor the use, 
expectations of and satisfaction with cultural programs and services, 
most especially library and museum services.
    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 January 22, 2011.
    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.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Carlos Manjarrez, Associate Deputy for 
Research and Statistics, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 
M St., NW., 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Mr. Manjarrez can be 
reached by Telephone: 202-653-4671, Fax: 202-653-4600, or by e-mail at 
cmanjarrez@imls.gov, or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing 
difficulty at 202-653-4614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source 
of Federal support for the Nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 
museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and 
museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute 
works at the national level and in coordination with State and local 
organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance 
learning and innovation; and support professional development. IMLS is 
responsible for identifying national needs for, and trends of, museum 
and library services funded by IMLS; reporting on the impact and 
effectiveness of programs conducted with funds made available by IMLS 
in addressing such needs; and identifying, and disseminating 
information on, the best practices of such programs. (20 U.S.C. Chapter 
72, 20 U.S.C. 9108).

II. Current Actions

    Libraries and museums help create vibrant, energized learning 
communities. Our achievement as individuals and our success as a 
democratic society depend on learning continually, adapting to change 
readily, and evaluating information critically.

[[Page 73133]]

    As stewards of cultural heritage, information and ideas, museums 
and libraries have traditionally played a vital role in helping us 
experience, explore, discover and make sense of the world. That role is 
now more essential than ever. Through building technological 
infrastructure and strengthening community relationships, libraries and 
museums can offer the public unprecedented access to and expertise in 
transforming information overload into knowledge. IMLS provides 
leadership and funding for the nation's museums and libraries, to help 
them fulfill their mission of becoming centers of life-long learning 
crucial to achieving personal fulfillment, a productive workforce and 
an engaged citizenry.
    Consistent with this (20 U.S.C. Chapter 72, 20 U.S.C. 9108), the 
intention of the PDMLS is to monitor expectations of and satisfaction 
with library and museum services. A wide range of topics will be 
covered, with a small number of questions about each topic included on 
the survey.
    The purpose of this survey is to determine attitudes, assess 
awareness of issues related to library and museum services, and 
tracking trends. The survey will be used to gather information on a 
wide range of library and museum services. The design of the PDMLS will 
be a random digital dial (``RDD'') telephone survey of the adult, non-
institutionalized U.S. population which will yield a minimum of 3,000 
cases.
    The PDMLS will include a core set of demographic questions (e.g., 
age, gender, race, geographic area) as well as a core set of questions 
that are based on critical information needs within IMLS (e.g., 
satisfaction with the library and museum services as a whole; frequency 
of utilization of various services; physical and virtual access to 
services). In addition to these core questions, supplemental questions 
may also be included. The telephone survey is projected to average 18 
to 20 minutes to complete.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Public Demand for Museum and Library Services Survey.
    OMB Number: To Be Determined.
    Frequency: Anticipated for Every Three Years.
    Affected Public: The target population for the Public Demand for 
Museum and Library Services Survey is the noninstitutionalized 
population, aged 18 and older, who live in the United States. A 
national probability sample of households generated using list-assisted 
random digit dialing (RDD) methodology will be employed by the survey. 
Individual survey respondents within selected households will be chosen 
at random.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is 
estimated to be an average of 18 minutes based on the size of the 
questionnaire.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 900 hours (that is 18 minutes times 
3,000 respondents equals 54,000) minutes or 900 hours).
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: n/a.
    Total Annual Costs: To be determined.
    Public Comments Invited: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
including, but not limited to: (1) The necessity and utility of the 
information collection for the proper performance of the functions of 
IMLS; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) 
ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of 
the collected information. Comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlos Manjarrez, Associate Deputy for 
Research and Statistics, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 
M St., NW., 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Mr. Manjarrez can be 
reached by Telephone: 202-653-4671, Fax: 202-653-4600, or by e-mail at 
cmanjarrez@imls.gov, or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing 
difficulty at 202/653-4614. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

    Dated: November 22, 2010.
Kim Miller,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2010-29876 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P
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