[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76513-76514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21216]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: Study To 
Support IMLS's Learning Agenda for Equity in Grantmaking

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 data 
collection for Study to Support IMLS's Learning Agenda for Equity in 
Grantmaking. A copy of the proposed information collection request can 
be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION section of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before November 17, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Julie Balutis, 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. Ms. Balutis can be reached by telephone at 
202-653-4645, 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: Lisa Hechtman, Ph.D., Social Science 
Research Analyst, Office of Research and Evaluation, Institute of 
Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 4000, 
Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. Hechtman can be reached by telephone at 
202-653-4724, 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

    IMLS seeks to advance an ambitious new agency learning agenda that 
includes key questions on equity in IMLS's discretionary (competitive) 
grantmaking process. To carry out this agenda, IMLS has commissioned 
Mathematica to conduct an independent

[[Page 76514]]

study which will provide descriptive information to help IMLS better 
understand the barriers and facilitators to equity in its current 
grantmaking, data collection, and decision-making processes. It will 
also help the agency identify opportunities and effective strategies 
for increasing equitable grantmaking practices to libraries, museums, 
and other cultural institutions.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: Study to Support IMLS's Learning Agenda for Equity in 
Grantmaking.
    OMB Control Number: 3137-NEW.
    Agency Number: 3137.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Museum staff, library staff, IMLS 
applicants and awardees, subject matter experts on equitable 
grantmaking.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 82.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Average Minutes per Response: 73.2 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Cost Burden (dollars): $4,195.60.
    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: September 12, 2024.
Suzanne Mbollo,
Grants Management Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-21216 Filed 9-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P