[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43630-43631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16533]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES


Proposed Collection, Comment Request, Analysis of Impact of 
Museum and Library Services

AGENCY: Institute of Museum and Library Services.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Institute of Museum and Library Services, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public and federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3508 (2)(A)]. This pre-
clearance comment opportunity 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 Institute of Museum and Library Services is 
currently soliciting comments concerning anticipated analyses of the 
impact of museum and library services.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the addressee 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before September 20, 2004.
    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 collocation 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: Karen Motylewski, Research Officer, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Room 223, Washington, DC 20506. Ms Motylewski can be reached by fax: 
202-606-0395; or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The Institute of Museum and Library Services is charged 
with promoting the improvement of library and museum services for the 
benefit of the public. Through grantmaking and leadership activities, 
IMLS seeks to assure that libraries and museums are able to play an 
active role in cultivating an educated and engaged citizenry. IMLS 
builds the capacity of libraries and museums by encouraging the highest 
standards in management, public service, and education; leadership in 
the use of technology; strategic planning for results, and partnerships 
to create new networks that support lifelong learning and the effective 
management of assets.
    According to its strategic plan, IMLS is dedicated to creating and 
sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museum service 
their communities. IMLS believes that libraries and museums are key 
resources for education in the United States and promotes the vision of 
a learning society in which learning is seen as a community-wide 
responsibility supported by both formal and informal educational 
entities.

Current Actions

    The reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act in 2003 
creates new authority for IMLS to carry out and publish analyses of the 
impact of museum and library services. The Act stipulates that these 
analyses should be conducted in ongoing consultation with stakeholders 
including ``State Library Administrative Agencies; state, regional, and 
national library and museum organizations and other relevant 
agencies.''
    The Act further states that these analyses ``shall identify 
national needs for and trends of museum and library services provided 
with IMLS support, * * * report on the impact and effectiveness of 
programs conducted with funds made available by the Institute in 
addressing such needs, * * * and identify, and disseminate information 
on, the best practices of such program.''
    IMLS is developing a plan to address the requirements of the 
statute. As a first step, IMLS is requesting public comment to identify 
national needs for and trends in museum and library service. These 
comments will be used to identify areas in which analyses would be 
useful. The following questions are intended to assist stakeholders in 
identifying high priority areas that IMLS should explore through 
further research and study. Following this collection of public 
comment, IMLS will contact up to 50 key members of stakeholder groups 
for structured interviews regarding the list of possible topics for 
analysis. Both the public comment and results of the structured 
interviews will provide the foundation for IMLS to use in fulfilling 
this new requirement.
    To comment please examine the following list. How would further 
exploration of these issues improve library and museum services in the 
United States? Which issues are of the greatest importance? Are there 
additional issues that should be added to the list?
    A. How do changing community expectations impact library and museum 
services? How can libraries and museum respond to these expectations?

Representative issues:

     Altered patterns of information-seeking and learning.
     Changing educational patterns.

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     Evolving roles of libraries and museums.
     Expectations for multi-institution and cross-disciplinary 
collaboration.
     Competition from alternative venues.
    B. How do digital technology and the Web impact library and museum 
services? How can libraries and museums respond to challenges and 
benefit the public?

Representative issues:

     User expectations for seamless access to resources across 
organizational boundaries.
     Requirements for building and maintaining technology 
systems, products, and services.
     Desirability of integrating technology in management 
functions and services.
     Changing staff skill and knowledge requirements.
     Budget implications.
     Need to accommodate visitor/user skills and equipment 
needs (e.g., technical support, on-site equipment access, off-site 
equipment and connectivity).
    C. What are the impacts of growing community diversity on library 
and museum service? How can museums and libraries respond to them?

Representative issues:

     Changing demography of local, regional, and national 
audiences.
     Altered educational norms.
     Institutional need to reflect visitor/user diversity.
     Need to address language and cultural diversity.
     Expanding definitions of access and barriers (e.g., ADA, 
Limited English Proficiency).
    D. How do changes in requirements for institutional infrastructure 
that have occurred or are emerging impact library and museum service? 
How can museums and libraries respond to them?

Representative issues:

     Requirements for creation, maintenance, management, and 
accessibility of learning resources.
     Leadership and professional development, evolving 
requirements for staff skills.
     Development and fundraising challenges.
     Need to sustain public safety and security in parallel 
with public confidentiality and privacy.
     Need to provide broad access to resources in parallel with 
protection of intellectual property rights.
    E. What are the challenges of developing and communicating a public 
value role for libraries and museums? How can museums and libraries 
respond to them?

Representative issues:

     Developing a strategy to be part of the community fabric 
to address unmet needs.
     Need to develop practical results-oriented evaluation 
tools and capacities.
     Expectations for outcomes- and impact-based reporting.
     Need to persuade policy and other decision-makers of 
competitive priority of museum/library services.
     Need to attract non-users and infrequent users; need to 
expand audiences.
    F. What is the perception of educators, business leaders, community 
leaders and public policy makers on the impact of library and museum 
service in creating an educated and informed citizenry?
     Contribution to formal education.
     Contribution to civic engagement.
     Contribution to lifelong learning.
     Contribution to quality of community life.
     Contribution to family life.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Analysis of Impact of Museum and Library Services.
    OMB Number: n/a.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Frequency: One time.
    Affected Public: Museums, libraries and archives.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.
    Total Burden Hours: 50.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total Annual costs: 0.
    Contact: Karen Motylewski, Research Officer, Office of Research and 
Technology, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20506, e-mail [email protected], 
telephone (202) 606-5551.

    Dated: July 15, 2004.
Rebecca Danvers,
Director, Office of Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-16533 Filed 7-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-M