[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 125 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38933-38934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13836]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: 2021-2023 
IMLS Native American Library Services: Enhancement Grants Program 
Notice of Funding Opportunity

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

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

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SUMMARY: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (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. 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. By 
this notice, IMLS is soliciting comments concerning a plan to offer a 
grant program targeted to the needs of Native American libraries, 
aligned to the updated IMLS strategic plan for FY2018-2022--IMLS Native 
American Library Services: Enhancement Grants. 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 
addressee section below on or before August 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Dr. Connie Bodner, Director of Grants 
Policy and Management, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 
L'Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. 
Bodner can be reached by telephone at 202-653-4636, or by email at 
[email protected], or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing 
difficulty at 202-653-4614.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the documents contact: 
Anthony Smith, Associate Deputy Director, Office of Library Services, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, 
Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Mr. Smith can be reached by 
telephone: 202-653-4716, or by email at [email protected], or by teletype 
(TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source 
of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, 
support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related 
organizations through grant making, research, and policy development. 
Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to 
transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, 
visit www.imls.gov.

II. Current Actions

    Native American Enhancement Grants support existing library 
operations and maintain core library services, particularly as they 
relate to the following goals in the Museum and Library Services Act 
(20 U.S.C. 9141).
    1. Expanding services for learning and access to information and 
educational resources in a variety of formats (including new and 
emerging technology), in all types of libraries, for individuals of all 
ages in order to support such individuals' need for education, lifelong 
learning, workforce development, economic and business development, 
health information, critical thinking skills, digital library skills, 
and financial literacy and other types of literacy skills.
    2. Establishing or enhancing electronic and other linkages and 
improved coordination among and between libraries and entities, as 
described in 20 U.S.C. 9134(b)(6), for

[[Page 38934]]

the purpose of improving the quality of and access to library and 
information services.
    3. Providing training and professional development, including 
continuing education, to enhance the skills of the current library 
workforce and leadership, and advance the delivery of library and 
information services; and enhancing efforts to recruit future 
professionals, including those from diverse and underrepresented 
backgrounds, to the field of library and information services.
    4. Developing public and private partnerships with other agencies, 
tribes, and community-based organizations.
    5. Targeting library services to individuals of diverse geographic, 
cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with 
disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or 
information skills.
    6. Targeting library and information services to persons having 
difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural 
communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from 
families with incomes below the poverty line (as defined by the Office 
of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with 42 
U.S.C. 9902(2)) applicable to a family of the size involved.
    7. Developing library services that provide all users access to 
information through local, State, regional, national, and international 
collaborations and networks.
    8. Carrying out other activities consistent with the purposes of 
the Library Services and Technology subchapter of the IMLS statute (20 
U.S.C. 9121).
    Indian tribes are eligible to apply for funding under the Native 
American Library Services Enhancement Grant program. Entities such as 
libraries, schools, tribal colleges, or departments of education are 
not eligible applicants, although they may be involved in the 
administration of this program and their staff may serve as project 
directors in partnership with an eligible applicant.
    For purposes of funding under this program, ``Indian tribe'' means 
any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, 
including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village 
corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), which is 
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. A 
list of eligible entities is available from the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs.
    To be eligible for this program an applicant must be able to 
document an existing library that meets, at a minimum, three basic 
criteria: (1) Regularly scheduled hours, (2) staff, and (3) materials 
available for library users.
    This action is to renew the forms and instructions for the Notice 
of Funding Opportunity for the next three years.
    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).
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: 2021-2023 IMLS Native American Basic Library Program Notice 
of Funding Opportunity.
    OMB Number: 3137-0110.
    Frequency: Once per year.
    Affected Public: American Indian tribes recognized by the Secretary 
of the Interior.
    Number of Respondents: 51.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 40 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,360 hours.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: N/A.
    Total Annual costs: $30,661.20.
    Public Comments Invited: Comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.

    Dated: June 23, 2020.
Kim Miller,
Senior Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-13836 Filed 6-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P