[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2464-2465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00647]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: IMLS 
Evaluation of Four Grant Programs Serving Native American, Native 
Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Communities

AGENCY: Institute of Museum and Library Services, 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. 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 about the proposed IMLS 
evaluation of four specific grant programs: The Native American Library 
Services: Basic Grants; Native American Library Services: Enhancement 
Grants; Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services; and Native 
Hawaiian Library Services. The purpose of the evaluation will be to 
determine how well the agency's grant-making aligns with the needs of 
communities served by these specific programs; to lay a foundation for 
improving the quality, reach, and impact of the agency's grant programs 
in the future; and to inform increasing organizational capacity of 
eligible applicants to submit high-quality grant applications and of 
awardees to successfully complete their award responsibilities.
    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 March 14, 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: 202-653-4636, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#086b6a676c666d7a486165647b266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b5859545f555e497b52565748155c544d">[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: Matthew Birnbaum, Ph.D., Supervising 
Social Scientist, Office 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 at 
202-653-4760, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ef828d869d818d8e9a82af8682839cc1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6508070c170b07041008250c0809164b020a13">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: IMLS is particularly interested in public 
comments that help the agency to:
    <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;

[[Page 2465]]

    <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 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

    IMLS began making awards to improve core services in Native 
American and Native Hawaiian libraries in 1998 and to sustain heritage, 
culture, and knowledge in Native American and Native Hawaiian 
communities through museum services in 2005. The proposed evaluation of 
IMLS's four grant programs specifically designed and congressionally 
mandated to serve Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native 
communities will be the first comprehensive consideration of this suite 
of grant programs. The evaluation will employ a mixed methods approach 
to assess the fit between these IMLS grant programs and the expressed 
needs of the communities they are serving; identify gaps in reaching 
potential grant applicants; examine the differences among those who 
apply and are funded, those who apply and are not funded, and those who 
do not apply; assess the impact of IMLS's grant programs on awardees; 
and assess the performance of IMLS as a federal grant-maker and how 
well it aligns with White House and Congressional priorities.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: IMLS Evaluation of Four Grant Programs Serving Native 
American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Communities.
    OMB Control Number: 3137-NEW.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Museum and library professionals 
working at organizations that have sought or would like to seek public 
funding through IMLS's grant programs serving Native American, Native 
Hawaiian, and Alaska Native communities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 250.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Average Minutes per Response: TBD.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: TBD.
    Cost Burden (dollars): TBD.
    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: January 10, 2022.
Suzanne Mbollo,
Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services.
[FR Doc. 2022-00647 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P


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