[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 49683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16837]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES


Proposed Collection, Comment Request, Current Characteristics of 
Sample Public Library Summer Reading Programs

AGENCY: Institute of Museum and Library Services.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments, submission for emergency OMB 
approval.

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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 or respondents can be 
properly assessed. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is 
currently soliciting comments concerning its planned collection of data 
to support discussion of current public library evaluation practices 
for summer reading programs.
    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 19, 2005.
    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, Evaluation Officer, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, 
NW., 9th floor, Washington, DC 20036-5841. Ms. Motylewski can be 
reached on telephone: 202-653-4686; Fax: 202-653-4625; or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Background: The Institute of Museum and 
Library Services is charged with strengthening library services for the 
benefit of the public. Under the authority of the Library Services and 
Technology Act IMLS provides formula-based funds to each of the 50 
state library administrative agencies (SLAAs). Public library summer 
reading programs are common to all SLAAs and most of the nation's 
approximately 9,100 local libraries. These programs are important 
resources for education in the United States and promote the vision of 
a society in which learning is seen as a community-wide responsibility 
supported by both formal and informal educational entities. While there 
is strong conviction in the library field that public library summer 
programs foster reading skills, public libraries collect little 
evaluative data.
    Under its convening authority IMLS will bring together 33 state and 
public library professionals on September 8-9 to explore current 
evaluation practice for public library summer reading programs and to 
identify a small number of common proxy measures for the outcomes of 
library summer reading programs. These measures will be piloted in a 
Web-based data collection and management resource for libraries in 
summer 2006.

II. Current Actions

    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Current Characteristics of Sample Public Library Summer 
Reading Programs
    OMB Number: n/a.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Frequency: One time.
    Affected Public: State Library Administrative Agencies and Public 
Libraries.
    Number of Respondents: 33.
    Estimate Time Per Respondent: 10 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 5.5.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total Annual costs: $1500.00.
    Contact: Send comments to Karen Motylewski, Evaluation Officer, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street, NW., 9th 
Floor, Washington, DC 20036-5841. Ms. Motylewski can be reached on 
telephone: 202-653-4686; Fax: 202-653-4625; or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

    Dated: August 19, 2005.
Barbara G. Smith,
E-Projects Officer, Office of Research and Technology, Authorized 
Liaison Officer to the Federal Register on behalf of the Institute of 
Museum and Library Services.
[FR Doc. 05-16837 Filed 8-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P