[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 3165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00768]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request: Guidelines for 
Grants to States Program Five-Year Evaluations

AGENCY: Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Foundation 
for the Arts and the Humanities.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments, collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Institute of Museum and Library Service (``IMLS'') 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 Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This pre-clearance 
consultation 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. The purpose of this Notice is to solicit comments 
concerning the guidelines for the agency's Grants to States program's 
five-year evaluations.
    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 
ADDRESSES section below on or before March 15, 2016.
    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 collection 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: For a copy of the documents contact: Kim A. Miller, 
Management Analyst, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street NW., 9th Floor, 
Washington DC 20036. Ms. Miller can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-
4762, Fax: 202-653-4762, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an 
independent Federal grant-making agency and is the primary source of 
federal support for the Nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. 
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. The IMLS Grants to States program is the 
largest source of federal funding support for library services in the 
United States. Using a population-based formula, more than $150 million 
is distributed among the State Library Administrative Agencies.

II. Current Actions

    The Library Services and Technology Act requires each State Library 
Administrative Agency to submit a plan that details library services 
goals for a five-year period. Pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 9134, each State 
Library Administrative Agency that receives an IMLS grant under the 
Grants to States Program is required to evaluate and report to the 
agency, prior to the end of their five-year plan, regarding the 
activities assisted under the LSTA. These five-year plans and 
evaluations are the foundation for improving practice and informing 
policy. The purpose of the proposed information collection is to 
promulgate guidelines to establish a consistent framework for the 
evaluations required under 20 U.S.C. 9134, so as to ensure that each 
State Library Administrative Agency develops and submits to IMLS an 
effective evaluation of their five-year plan.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Guidelines for Grants to States Program Five-Year 
Evaluations.
    OMB Number: To be determined.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Affected Public: State Library Administrative Agencies.
    Number of Respondents: 55.
    Note: 55 is the number of State Library Administrative Agencies 
that are responsible for the collection of this information and for 
reporting it to IMLS.
    Frequency: Once every five years.
    Burden Hours per Respondent: To be determined.
    Total Burden Hours: To be determined.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: To be determined.
    Total Annual Costs: To be determined.
    Contact: Kim A. Miller, Management Analyst, Office of Planning, 
Research, and Evaluation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 
1800 M Street NW., 9th Floor, Washington DC 20036. Ms. Miller can be 
reached by Telephone: 202-653-4762, Fax: 202-653-4762, or by email at 
[email protected] or by teletype (TTY/TDD at 202-653-4614. Office hours 
are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

    Dated: January 12, 2016.
Kim A. Miller,
Management Analyst, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 2016-00768 Filed 1-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7036-01-P