[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 163 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 48309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16481]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES


 Institute of Museum and Library Services; Notice: Proposed 
Collection, Submission for OMB Review, Museum Survey of Public Support

SUMMARY: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announces 
the following information collection has been submitted to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35). 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.
    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 
contact section below on or before September 24, 2007.
    OMB 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: Mary E. Downs, PhD, Research Officer, Institute of Museum 
and Library Services, 1800 M. Street, NW., 9th Floor, Washington, DC, 
may be reached by telephone: 202-653-4682; fax: 202-653-8625; or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Institute of Museum and Library Services 
is an independent Federal grant-making agency authorized by the Museum 
and Library Services Act, 20 U.S.C. 9101, et seq. Section 210 of the 
Act supports IMLS' data collection and analysis role. 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.
    Abstract: Congress has established the Institute of Museum and 
Library Services as the primary source of federal support for the 
nation's libraries and museums. Specifically through the Museum 
Services Act, as cited in the legislation (20 U.S.C. 9171), federal 
funds are directed to museums:
    (1) To encourage and support museums in carrying out their public 
service role of connecting the whole of society to the cultural, 
artistic, historical, natural, and scientific understandings that 
constitute our heritage;
    (2) to encourage and support museums in carrying out their 
educational role, as core providers of learning and in conjunction with 
schools, families, and communities
    (3) to encourage leadership, innovation, and applications of the 
most current technologies and practices to enhance museum services;
    (4) to assist, encourage, and support museums in carrying out their 
stewardship responsibilities to achieve the highest standards in 
conservation and care of the cultural, historic, natural, and 
scientific heritage of the United States to benefit future generations;
    (5) to assist, encourage, and support museums in achieving the 
highest standards of management and service to the public, and to ease 
the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing 
use by the public; and
    (6) to support resource sharing and partnerships among libraries, 
schools, and other community organizations.
    To achieve the purposes of the Museum Services Act the Institute of 
Museum and Library Services has established an array of discretionary 
grant programs administered at the national level. These programs have 
helped hundreds of museums around the country to better connect with 
the public they serve, enhance lifelong learning, and conserve tangible 
objects for future generations.
    The Institute of Museum and Library Services, in response to its 
authority to conduct analyses on the impact and effectiveness of museum 
and library services (20 U.S.C. Chapter 72, 9108), proposes to assess 
the effectiveness of the systems that are currently in place to deliver 
state and federal public funds to museums. Effectiveness will be 
assessed using the purposes identified in the Museum Services Act.
    Current Actions: This notice proposes clearance of the Museum 
Survey of Public Support. The 60-day notice for ``Assessing the 
Effectiveness of Various Methods Used to Distribute Funds to U.S. 
Museums'' was published in the Federal Register on June 6, 2007 (FR 
vol. 72, no. 108, pp. 31351-52.) One comment was received from a group 
of museum associations and included recommendations that the agency: 
Identify and study a diversity of approaches that states have used in 
providing financial and other resources to the museums in their state 
and to ensure that the study encompasses institutions of all budget 
sizes and disciplines; gather sound and current data about museums in 
the U.S., such as number of museums, the museum labor force, and number 
of visits annually to museums; and consider how the data it collects 
might help identify trends to inform decision-making by IMLS and the 
museum community.
    OMB Number: N/A.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Affected Public: Museums, libraries, State Library Administrative 
Agencies, institutions of higher education, not-for-profit 
institutions, library and museum professional associations, Native 
American tribal governments, State and local governments, appointed and 
elected officials, school officials and educators, and individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 1500.
    Frequency: Once.
    Burden Hours per Respondent: 3.
    Total Burden Hours: 500.
    Contact: Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn.: OMB Desk Officer for Education, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-7316.

    Dated: August 16, 2007.
Barbara G. Smith,
E-Projects Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-16481 Filed 8-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P