[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18778-18779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3487]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES


Institute of Museum and Library Services; Proposed Collection, 
Comment Request, User Satisfaction With Access to Government 
Information and Services at Public Libraries and Public Access 
Computing Centers

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Institute of Museum and Library Services 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 of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3508(2)(a)]. This 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. 
Currently the Institute of Museum and Library Services is soliciting 
comments concerning a survey to assess user satisfaction with access to 
government information and services at public libraries and public 
access computing centers.
    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 June 12, 2006.
    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: Rebecca Danvers, PhD, Director of Research 
and Technology, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St., 
NW., 9th floor, Washington, DC 20036, telephone: 202-653-4680, fax: 
202-653-4625 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Institute of Museum and Library Servicdes is an independent 
Federal grant-making agency authorized by the Museum and Library 
Services Act, 20 U.S.C. 9101, et seq. The IMLS provides a variety of 
grant programs to assist the nation's museums and libraries in 
improving their operations and enhancing their services to the public. 
Museums and libraries of all sizes and types may receive support from 
IMLS programs. This solicitation is to collect information via surveys 
on how satisfied the national public is in finding government 
information and what type of programs public libraries and community 
technology centers provide to help users.

II. Current Action

    The core duties of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as 
stated in its strategic plan, are to promote excellence in library 
services and to promote access to museum and library services for a 
diverse public. The E-Government Act of 2002 called for the promotion 
of access to the Internet to provide increased opportunities for 
citizen participation in government, and an interagency committee 
issued a report looking at disparities in Internet access across a 
demographic spectrum. Few studies, however, have looked at the kinds of 
assistance (training, tutorials, classes, reference services) that 
users are receiving when looking for federal, state, and local 
government information and services, whether via the Internet or 
through traditional means (walk-in, mail, telephone), and whether users 
are satisfied with the assistance that they are receiving from public 
libraries and public access computing centers. In order to address this 
critical information gap and to enhance the quality of library services 
nationwide, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has 
undertaken a study to better understand how users are accessing 
federal, state, and local government information and services and what 
kinds of assistance public libraries and other public access computing 
centers are offering to users seeking government information and 
services. IMLS is conducting a research study on how the part of the 
population with limited access to Internet resources (individuals who 
do not have broadband access from home, work, or school; who choose to 
access government services and information from locations other than 
home, work, or school; or who do so through traditional means of 
access) accesses federal, state and local government services and 
information, and whether such users are satisfied with the information 
and services they are able to access. Additionally, the study examines 
the ways that public libraries and public access computing centers 
provide assistance (e.g., reference services, tutorials, classes, 
training) to users seeking federal, state, and local government 
information and services.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online 
Information.
    OMB Number: n/a.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Frequency: On time.
    Affected Public: User Satisfaction with Access to Government 
Information and Services at Public Libraries and Public Access 
Computing Centers.
    Number of Respondents: 5,700.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 15 or 20 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 1630.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.
    Total Annual Costs: $40,792.

[[Page 18779]]

    Contact: Rebecca Danvers, PhD, Director of Research and Technology, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St., NW., 9th floor, 
Washington, DC 20036, telephone: 202-653-4680, fax: 202-653-4625 or by 
e-mail at [email protected].

    Dated: April 7, 2006.
Rebecca W. Danvers,
Director, Office of Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 06-3487 Filed 4-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-M