[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46816-46817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15369]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: 21st Century 
Museum Professionals 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, 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 
offer a new discretionary grant program to support the development and 
enhancement of a diverse workforce of museum professionals with an 
initial emphasis on spurring economic growth through workforce 
development in the post-pandemic environment, particularly for cultural 
institutions in rural and economically distressed communities.
    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 September 18, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Connie Bodner, Ph.D., Director of Grants 
Policy and Management, 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, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours 
are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays.
    Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing (TTY users) can contact 
IMLS at 202-207-7858 via 711 for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay 
Service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Isaksen, Supervisory Grants 
Management Specialist, Office of Museum Services, Institute of Museum 
and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 4000, 
Washington DC 20024-2135. Mr. Isaksen can be reached by telephone at 
202-653-4667, or by email at [email protected]. Persons who are deaf or 
hard of hearing (TTY users) can contact IMLS at 202-207-7858 via 711 
for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: IMLS is particularly interested in public 
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. 
To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.

II. Current Actions

    The purpose of the 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) Program 
will be to develop and enhance a

[[Page 46817]]

diverse workforce of museum professionals by offering professional 
development opportunities; employing strategies for training and 
recruiting future museum professionals; and supporting evaluation 
efforts to identify and share effective practices. There will be an 
initial emphasis on spurring economic growth through workforce 
development in the post-pandemic environment, particularly for cultural 
institutions in rural and economically distressed communities.
    IMLS recognizes the important role of strong local and regional 
networks as essential tools for providing peer-to-peer learning, 
training, and mentoring opportunities. The 21MP Program will thus 
encourage applications from not only museums but also museum 
associations, museum studies programs at Institutions of Higher 
Education, and museums that serve as essential parts of the 
professional learning and training environment.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: 21st Century Museum Professionals Program Notice of Funding 
Opportunity.
    OMB Control Number: 3137-NEW.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Museums, museum associations, museum 
studies programs at Institutions of Higher Education, and museums that 
serve as essential parts of the professional learning and training 
environment.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 40.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Average Minutes/Hours per Response: TBD.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: TBD.
    Cost Burden (dollars): 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: July 14, 2023.
Suzanne Mbollo,
Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-15369 Filed 7-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P