[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 13249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5097]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of 
Information Habits and Preferences of Millennial Scientists

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 21, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Terrie Wheeler, Assistant Chief, Information 
Services Division, at (301) 975-3772, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This study will determine how the next generation of scientists, 
frequently referred to as the Millennial Generation, will seek 
scientific information in their research. This generation was born 
between 1982 and 2000. Having grown up with information technology, 
general studies show this population has technological preferences for 
receiving and integrating content, and this study is to learn if this 
extends to the scientific content among young scientists. It will 
identify most useful (and most desired) devices and formats, so that 
the Information Services Division can plan to serve the next generation 
of scientists. The findings will impact how digital scientific content 
is harvested, identified using metadata, stored, accessed, and 
disseminated. The project will identify young scientists' preferences 
for content format and ease of assimilation into current processes. 
Specifically the project aims to learn: (1) Which library resources and 
information services are most valuable and why, and (2) what scientific 
library resources do not exist that could, or are not yet robust enough 
to be valuable. Further the study aims to learn: (3) In what specific 
ways are commercial Internet tools both successful and unsuccessful in 
helping find answers, (4) which platforms and devices are most helpful 
and why, and (5) which technologies help support collaboration with 
peers. The project plans to use Summer Undergraduate Research 
Fellowship (SURF) students who work at the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology every summer as the test population. The 
survey is voluntary, and all information gathered will be carefully 
safeguarded.

II. Method of Collection

    The study will use an electronic survey form. SURF students will 
have the URL sent to them in an e-mail message so they may take the 
survey on any computer with a Web browser if they choose.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Students enrolled in the NIST SURF program for 
2007.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 14, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-5097 Filed 3-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P