Start Preamble

AGENCY:

Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Foundation for the Arts and the Humanities.

ACTION:

Notice, request for comments, and collection of information.

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. By this notice, IMLS is soliciting comments concerning a proposed survey to collect information to monitor the use, expectations of and satisfaction with cultural programs and services, most especially library and museum services.

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 March 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to: Christopher J. Reich, Chief Administrator, Office of Museum Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW., Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Mr. Reich can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-4685, Fax: 202-653-4608, or by email at creich@imls.gov, or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.

End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the Nation's 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. The Institute's mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, learning and civic engagement. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. IMLS is responsible for identifying national needs for and trends in museum, library, and information services; measuring and reporting on the impact and effectiveness of museum, library and information services throughout the United States, including programs conducted with funds made available by IMLS; identifying, and disseminating information on, the best practices of such programs; and developing plans to improve museum, library and information services of the United States and strengthen national, State, local, regional, and international communications and cooperative networks (20 U.S.C. Chapter 72, 20 U.S.C. 9108).

II. Current Actions

The purpose of this collection is to assess institutional and individual outcomes from participation in the Museums for All program. Museums for All is a voluntary program inviting museums to invite EBT card holders to receive reduced-price admission to their facilities.

A summative evaluation will be conducted to measure participating institutions' understanding of the program's value, structural strengths and difficulties, partnership implications, financial implications, and community support and engagement. The evaluation is intended Start Printed Page 5609to provide insight for future changes and programmatic improvements. Methods will include online surveys and in-depth interviews.

The institutional online survey, expected to require an average of 10 minutes to complete, will consist of 1-3 questions focused on the Museums for All program's implications for participating museums, allowing for a broad understanding of the program's institutional participants, their perceptions of the program, and potential future directions. In-depth interviews with 15-18 survey participants, each projected to require 20 minutes to complete, will add depth and clarity of understanding to the online survey. An additional online survey, projected to require 10 minutes to complete, will be conducted with a sampling of adult museum participants in the program to gauge the level of awareness of the program and its influence on their museum experience.

IMLS is particularly interested in comments that help the agency:

• 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.

Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Title: Museum Assessment Program Evaluation.

OMB Number: To Be Determined.

Frequency: One-time collection anticipated.

Affected Public: The target population is museums that have chosen to participate in the Museums for All program and their visitors.

Number of Respondents: 150 museum staff to respond to institutional survey; 18 museum staff to respond to institutional interview; and 200 museum visitors.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is estimated to be an average of 10 minutes for the museum survey, 20 minutes for the in-depth interview, and 10 minutes for the visitor survey.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 64.33 hours (that is 10 minutes times 350 respondents plus 20 minutes per respondent times 18 interview respondents, equaling 3,860 minutes or 64.33 hours).

Total Annualized capital/startup costs: n/a.

Total Annual costs: To be determined.

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.

Start Further Info

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephanie Burwell, Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North SW., Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Mrs. Burwell can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-4684, Fax: 202-653-4625, or by email at sburwell@imls.gov or by teletype (TTY/TDD) at 202-653-4614. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Start SignatureEnd Signature End Further Info End Supplemental Information