[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 201 (Friday, October 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65878-65879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22957]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request: Evaluation of 
the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project

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 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. The 
purpose of this notice is to solicit comments concerning a plan to 
conduct a research study entitled ``Evaluation of the Reopening 
Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project''. 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 December 11, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Connie Bodner, Ph.D., 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 at 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: Marvin Carr, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, 
Office of Digital and Information Strategy, Institute of Museum and 
Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, 
DC 20024-2135. Dr. Carr can be reached by telephone at 202-653-4752, by 
email at [email protected], or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with 
hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.

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

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is proposing an 
evaluation of the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) 
Project. The REALM Project convenes individuals from Institute of 
Museum and Library Services (IMLS), OCLC Inc. (OCLC), Battelle, and 
several key actors in the libraries, archives, and museums (LAM) field 
to bring their expertise and on-the-ground experience together to 
develop science-based information about how materials can be handled to 
mitigate COVID-19 exposure to staff and visitors of LAM institutions as 
COVID-19 restrictions begin lifting across the country. This project 
extends the guidance available from the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) by providing information that is specifically relevant 
to LAM institutions.
    Given that LAM institutions work with physical materials that are 
often circulated among the public, LAM institutions have unique 
concerns about how they can optimize their operations while minimizing 
the potential for spreading the Coronavirus. This evaluation will be 
focused on understanding the extent to which the professionals from LAM 
institutions have found that the REALM Project's research test results 
and toolkit resources have met their needs. Data will be collected 
through a survey of organizations that have used the test results and 
toolkit developed by the REALM project.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Evaluation of the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums 
Project.
    OMB Number: 3137-NEW.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Staff from library, archive, and 
museum sectors.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: TBD.

[[Page 65879]]

    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Average Minutes per Response: TBD.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: TBD.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: n/a.
    Cost Burden: 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: October 13, 2020.
Kim Miller,
Senior Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-22957 Filed 10-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P