[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 162 (Thursday, August 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51496-51497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18302]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request: Proposed Needs 
Assessment Study: Measures That Matter--Assessing Public Libraries' 
Activities Related to Workforce Development

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before October 19, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Dr. Connie Bodner, Director, Office 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: 202-653-4636, by email at 
[email protected], or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing 
difficulty at 202-653-4614.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mathew Birnbaum, Supervising 
Social Science Researcher, Office of Impact Assessment and Learning, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, 
Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. Birnbaum can be reached by 
Telephone: 202-653-4760, by email at [email protected], or by teletype 
(TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By this notice, IMLS is soliciting comments 
concerning a plan to conduct a needs assessment study entitled 
``Measures that Matter: Assessing Public Library Activities Related to 
Workforce Development.'' The study is intended to develop a meaningful 
approach to measuring the contributions of library-based workforce 
development activities. It also is intended to assess whether this 
approach could be used to measure additional library activities that 
seek to contribute to other dimensions of social wellbeing in the 
nation's communities. A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

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

    In partnership with the Chief Officers of State Library 
Associations (COSLA), IMLS launched Measures that Matter in 2016, an 
initiative for coordinating conversations about existing approaches to 
gathering and using data to improve alignment of public library 
services, programs, and collections with communities' needs and 
emerging opportunities. An outgrowth of this effort, this proposed 18-
month assessment seeks to pilot an approach for measuring the 
contributions of library-based workforce development activities and 
also for ascertaining whether this approach can be used for measuring 
other library activities intended to influence various dimensions of 
community wellbeing. This proposed investigation will identify a 
representative sample of libraries and complete case studies about them 
using a mix of research methods involving reviews of secondary and 
administrative data, surveys, interviews and focus groups.
    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

[[Page 51497]]

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: Proposed Needs Assessment Study: Measures that Matter--
Assessing Public Libraries' Activities Related to Workforce 
Development.
    OMB Number: 3137-TBD.
    Frequency: Once.
    Affected Public: Public library staff at local and state levels, 
public officials and service providers involved with workforce 
development efforts at the libraries, and residents participating in 
the libraries' workforce development activities.
    Number of Libraries in Sample: 10-15.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600-900.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: TBD.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: TBD.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: N/A.
    Total Annual Costs: TBD.
    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: August 17, 2020.
Kim Miller,
Senior Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-18302 Filed 8-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P