[Federal Register: July 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 43630-43631]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jy04-116]
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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Proposed Collection, Comment Request, Analysis of Impact of
Museum and Library Services
AGENCY: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
ACTION: Notice, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Institute of Museum and Library Services, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites
the general public and federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3508 (2)(A)]. This pre-
clearance comment opportunity 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 Institute of Museum and Library Services is
currently soliciting comments concerning anticipated analyses of the
impact of museum and library services.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the addressee
section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before September 20, 2004.
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 collocation 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.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Karen Motylewski, Research Officer,
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Room 223, Washington, DC 20506. Ms Motylewski can be reached by fax:
202-606-0395; or by e-mail at Kmotylewski@imls.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Institute of Museum and Library Services is charged
with promoting the improvement of library and museum services for the
benefit of the public. Through grantmaking and leadership activities,
IMLS seeks to assure that libraries and museums are able to play an
active role in cultivating an educated and engaged citizenry. IMLS
builds the capacity of libraries and museums by encouraging the highest
standards in management, public service, and education; leadership in
the use of technology; strategic planning for results, and partnerships
to create new networks that support lifelong learning and the effective
management of assets.
According to its strategic plan, IMLS is dedicated to creating and
sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museum service
their communities. IMLS believes that libraries and museums are key
resources for education in the United States and promotes the vision of
a learning society in which learning is seen as a community-wide
responsibility supported by both formal and informal educational
entities.
Current Actions
The reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act in 2003
creates new authority for IMLS to carry out and publish analyses of the
impact of museum and library services. The Act stipulates that these
analyses should be conducted in ongoing consultation with stakeholders
including ``State Library Administrative Agencies; state, regional, and
national library and museum organizations and other relevant
agencies.''
The Act further states that these analyses ``shall identify
national needs for and trends of museum and library services provided
with IMLS support, * * * report on the impact and effectiveness of
programs conducted with funds made available by the Institute in
addressing such needs, * * * and identify, and disseminate information
on, the best practices of such program.''
IMLS is developing a plan to address the requirements of the
statute. As a first step, IMLS is requesting public comment to identify
national needs for and trends in museum and library service. These
comments will be used to identify areas in which analyses would be
useful. The following questions are intended to assist stakeholders in
identifying high priority areas that IMLS should explore through
further research and study. Following this collection of public
comment, IMLS will contact up to 50 key members of stakeholder groups
for structured interviews regarding the list of possible topics for
analysis. Both the public comment and results of the structured
interviews will provide the foundation for IMLS to use in fulfilling
this new requirement.
To comment please examine the following list. How would further
exploration of these issues improve library and museum services in the
United States? Which issues are of the greatest importance? Are there
additional issues that should be added to the list?
A. How do changing community expectations impact library and museum
services? How can libraries and museum respond to these expectations?
Representative issues:
Altered patterns of information-seeking and learning.
Changing educational patterns.
[[Page 43631]]
Evolving roles of libraries and museums.
Expectations for multi-institution and cross-disciplinary
collaboration.
Competition from alternative venues.
B. How do digital technology and the Web impact library and museum
services? How can libraries and museums respond to challenges and
benefit the public?
Representative issues:
User expectations for seamless access to resources across
organizational boundaries.
Requirements for building and maintaining technology
systems, products, and services.
Desirability of integrating technology in management
functions and services.
Changing staff skill and knowledge requirements.
Budget implications.
Need to accommodate visitor/user skills and equipment
needs (e.g., technical support, on-site equipment access, off-site
equipment and connectivity).
C. What are the impacts of growing community diversity on library
and museum service? How can museums and libraries respond to them?
Representative issues:
Changing demography of local, regional, and national
audiences.
Altered educational norms.
Institutional need to reflect visitor/user diversity.
Need to address language and cultural diversity.
Expanding definitions of access and barriers (e.g., ADA,
Limited English Proficiency).
D. How do changes in requirements for institutional infrastructure
that have occurred or are emerging impact library and museum service?
How can museums and libraries respond to them?
Representative issues:
Requirements for creation, maintenance, management, and
accessibility of learning resources.
Leadership and professional development, evolving
requirements for staff skills.
Development and fundraising challenges.
Need to sustain public safety and security in parallel
with public confidentiality and privacy.
Need to provide broad access to resources in parallel with
protection of intellectual property rights.
E. What are the challenges of developing and communicating a public
value role for libraries and museums? How can museums and libraries
respond to them?
Representative issues:
Developing a strategy to be part of the community fabric
to address unmet needs.
Need to develop practical results-oriented evaluation
tools and capacities.
Expectations for outcomes- and impact-based reporting.
Need to persuade policy and other decision-makers of
competitive priority of museum/library services.
Need to attract non-users and infrequent users; need to
expand audiences.
F. What is the perception of educators, business leaders, community
leaders and public policy makers on the impact of library and museum
service in creating an educated and informed citizenry?
Contribution to formal education.
Contribution to civic engagement.
Contribution to lifelong learning.
Contribution to quality of community life.
Contribution to family life.
Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Title: Analysis of Impact of Museum and Library Services.
OMB Number: n/a.
Agency Number: 3137.
Frequency: One time.
Affected Public: Museums, libraries and archives.
Number of Respondents: 50.
Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.
Total Burden Hours: 50.
Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
Total Annual costs: 0.
Contact: Karen Motylewski, Research Officer, Office of Research and
Technology, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20506, e-mail kmotylewski@imls.gov,
telephone (202) 606-5551.
Dated: July 15, 2004.
Rebecca Danvers,
Director, Office of Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-16533 Filed 7-20-04; 8:45 am]
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