[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 48918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16072]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: IMLS 
Evaluation of Grant Programs Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act 
(ARPA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) 
Act

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 about the proposed 
evaluation of IMLS's grant programs funded through the American Rescue 
Plan Act (ARPA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act. 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 September 26, 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: Emily Plagman-Frank, Strategic 
Evaluation and Research Officer, Office of Research and Evaluation, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, 
Suite 4000, Washington DC 20024-2135. Ms. Plagman-Frank can be reached 
by telephone at 202-653-4763 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

    In direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IMLS awarded roughly 
$250 million in ARPA and CARES Act funds to State Library 
Administrative Agencies, libraries, museums, federally recognized 
Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations that primarily serve and 
represent Native Hawaiians. The proposed evaluation of IMLS's ARPA and 
CARES Act grant programs will include a review of the relevant 
administrative processes and the distribution and use of the funds in 
order to improve the agency's understanding of the effectiveness of the 
program and the lessons learned, identify gaps and needs in continuing 
post-recovery, and improve or inform future design, technical support, 
and distribution of special use funds as part of an overall emergency 
response plan.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: IMLS Evaluation of Grant Programs Funded by the American 
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 
Security (CARES) Act.
    OMB Control Number: 3137-NEW.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Respondents/Affected Public: IMLS applicants and awardees, museum 
staff, library staff, State Library Administrative Agency staff.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 75.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Average Minutes 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 25, 2023.
Connie Bodner,
Director, Office of Grants Policy and Management, Institute of Museum 
and Library Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-16072 Filed 7-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P