[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74173-74174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29455]
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NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: Heritage
Health Index II on the State of America's Collections (HHI II)
AGENCY: Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Foundation
for 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 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 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 February 6, 2014. 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
[[Page 74174]]
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.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Christopher J. Reich, Senior Advisor,
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St. NW. 9th Floor,
Washington, DC 20036. Mr. Reich can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-
4685, Fax: 202-653-4608, or by email at [email protected], or by teletype
(TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.
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 17,500
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 intention of the Heritage Health Index II on the State of
America's Collections (HHI II) is to assess the state of preservation
across the entire spectrum of collecting institutions, large and small,
from internationally renowned art museums and research libraries to
local historical societies and specialized archives. Conservation
practices on all types of media will be covered, with a small number of
questions about each topic included on the survey.
The purpose of this survey is to gather information on the state of
collections care across cultural heritage organizations, including
tracking trends and assessing the current state of digital
conservation. The design of the HHI II will be a repeated cross-
sectional web survey of U.S. cultural heritage organizations, which
will yield a minimum of 3,000 cases.
The HHI II will include a core set of institutional and
administrative questions (e.g., size, number of paid staff, number of
visitors, governance, geographic area) as well as a core set of
questions grouped by conservation practices and standards (e.g.,
environmental controls; long-range and emergency planning; funding and
expenditures on collections; number of collections items and the state
of each item). In addition to these core questions, supplemental
questions may also be included.
Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Title: Heritage Health Index II on the State of America's
Collections (HHI II).
OMB Number: To Be Determined.
Frequency: N/A.
Affected Public: The target population for the HHI II Survey is
U.S. cultural heritage organizations, including libraries, museums,
archives, and archaeological repositories. A national probability
sample of institutions generated using available mailing lists will be
employed by the survey. Individual survey respondents within selected
institutions will be knowledgeable persons about collections care and
practices.
Number of Respondents: 3,000.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is
estimated to be an average of 45 minutes based on the size of the
questionnaire.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,250 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher J. Reich, Senior Advisor,
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M St., NW., 9th Floor,
Washington, DC 20036. Mr. Reich can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-
4685, Fax: 202-653-4608, or by email at [email protected], or by teletype
(TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202/653-4614. Office
hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
Dated: December 5, 2013.
Kim Miller,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2013-29455 Filed 12-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7036-01-P