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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74173-74174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29455]

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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: Heritage 
Health Index II on the State of America's Collections (HHI II)

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 (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 February 6, 2014. 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

[[Page 74174]]

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: Christopher J. Reich, Senior Advisor, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St. NW. 9th Floor, 
Washington, DC 20036. Mr. Reich can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-
4685, Fax: 202-653-4608, or by email at creich@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 inspire libraries and museums to 
advance innovation, learning and civic engagement. 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 in museum, 
library, and information services; measuring and reporting on the 
impact and effectiveness of museum, library and information services 
throughout the United States, including programs conducted with funds 
made available by IMLS; identifying, and disseminating information on, 
the best practices of such programs; and developing plans to improve 
museum, library and information services of the United States and 
strengthen national, State, local, regional, and international 
communications and cooperative networks (20 U.S.C. Chapter 72, 20 
U.S.C. 9108).

II. Current Actions

    The intention of the Heritage Health Index II on the State of 
America's Collections (HHI II) is to assess the state of preservation 
across the entire spectrum of collecting institutions, large and small, 
from internationally renowned art museums and research libraries to 
local historical societies and specialized archives. Conservation 
practices on all types of media will be covered, with a small number of 
questions about each topic included on the survey.
    The purpose of this survey is to gather information on the state of 
collections care across cultural heritage organizations, including 
tracking trends and assessing the current state of digital 
conservation. The design of the HHI II will be a repeated cross-
sectional web survey of U.S. cultural heritage organizations, which 
will yield a minimum of 3,000 cases.
    The HHI II will include a core set of institutional and 
administrative questions (e.g., size, number of paid staff, number of 
visitors, governance, geographic area) as well as a core set of 
questions grouped by conservation practices and standards (e.g., 
environmental controls; long-range and emergency planning; funding and 
expenditures on collections; number of collections items and the state 
of each item). In addition to these core questions, supplemental 
questions may also be included.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Heritage Health Index II on the State of America's 
Collections (HHI II).
    OMB Number: To Be Determined.
    Frequency: N/A.
    Affected Public: The target population for the HHI II Survey is 
U.S. cultural heritage organizations, including libraries, museums, 
archives, and archaeological repositories. A national probability 
sample of institutions generated using available mailing lists will be 
employed by the survey. Individual survey respondents within selected 
institutions will be knowledgeable persons about collections care and 
practices.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is 
estimated to be an average of 45 minutes based on the size of the 
questionnaire.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,250 hours.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: n/a.
    Total Annual costs: To be determined.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher J. Reich, Senior Advisor, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St., NW., 9th Floor, 
Washington, DC 20036. Mr. Reich can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-
4685, Fax: 202-653-4608, or by email at creich@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: December 5, 2013.
Kim Miller,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2013-29455 Filed 12-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P
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