Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: 2019-2021 IMLS Grants to States Program “State Program Reporting System”, 8711-8712 [2018-04069]

Agencies

• The National Foundation for the Arts and the Humanities
• Institute of Museum and Library Services

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8711-8712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04069]


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THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Institute of Museum and Library Services


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: 2019-2021 
IMLS Grants to States Program ``State Program Reporting System''

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

ACTION: Notice, request for comments on this 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. By 
this notice, IMLS is soliciting comments concerning a plan to continue 
the IMLS Grants to States Program ``State Program Reporting System 
(SPR)'' electronic data collection which supports both the financial 
and performance reporting for all grantees.
    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 April 27, 2018.
    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 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: Dr. Sandra Webb, Director, Office of Grant 
Policy and Management, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 
L'Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. 
Webb can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-4718 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 approximately 120,000 libraries and 
35,000 museums and related organizations. Our mission is to inspire 
libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and 
cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, 
and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that 
make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn 
more, visit www.imls.gov.

II. Current Actions

    This action is to renew the forms and instructions for the IMLS 
Grants to States Program ``State Program Reporting System'' for the 
next three years. These forms include:
     SPR Reporting System User Documentation
     Grants to States Program Report
     Financial Status Report
     SPR Phase 3 Reporting
     State Legal Officer's Certification of the Authorized 
Certifying Official
     Internet Safety Certification for Applicant Public 
Libraries, Public Elementary and Secondary School Libraries, and 
Consortia with Public and/or Public School Libraries
    The Grants to States program is the largest source of Federal 
funding support for library services in the U.S. Using a population 
based formula, more than $150 million is distributed among the State 
Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) every year. SLAAs are official 
agencies charged by law with the extension and development of library 
services, and they are located in:
     Each of the 50 States of the United States, and the 
District of Columbia;
     The Territories (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands); and
     The Freely Associated States (the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of 
Palau).
    Each year, over 1,500 Grants to States projects support the 
purposes and priorities outlined in the Library Services and Technology 
Act (LSTA). (See 20 U.S.C. 9121 et seq.) SLAAs may use the funds to 
support statewide initiatives and services, and they may also 
distribute the funds through competitive subawards (subgrants or 
cooperative agreements) to public, academic, research, school, or 
special libraries or library consortia (for-profit and Federal 
libraries are not eligible). Each SLAA must submit a plan that details 
library services goals for a five-year period. (20 U.S.C. 9134). SLAAs 
must also conduct a five-year evaluation of library services based on 
that plan. These plans and evaluations are the foundation for improving 
practice and informing policy. Each SLAA receives IMLS funding to 
support the five year period through a series of overlapping, two year 
grant awards.
    Each SLAA must file interim and final financial reports, as well as 
final performance reports for each of these two year grants. Since 
2002, the final performance reporting has been accomplished through 
IMLS' State Program Reporting (SPR) system. To improve how IMLS 
measures the impact of the Federal investment in the Grants to States 
program, IMLS and SLAAs have been partnering on a comprehensive 
planning and evaluation initiative called ``Measuring Success.'' This 
multi-year effort has fundamentally shifted the way in which Grants to 
States final report information is gathered and shared, and it is 
improving program accountability, reporting, evaluation, and 
assessment. The SPR has been developed in phases, in concert with a 
small group of SLAAs acting as pilots for each phase. Roughly, these 
phases corresponded to: Framework and question development;

[[Page 8712]]

descriptive reporting for the two year award; and finally the 
incorporation of the performance measurement reporting. Currently, all 
phases have been rolled out and are reflected in the documentation 
submitted for the three year approval. The Measuring Success initiative 
has driven the development of the data reporting and analysis system 
(database) that replaces the older narrative State Program Report 
system.
    The SPR development was guided by a data reporting and collection 
framework that balances the need for descriptive information to monitor 
compliance with award conditions with the need for data on performance 
measures to assess the impact of the public funds. By gathering project 
data more consistently, IMLS is better able to compare projects within 
and across states and demonstrate the impact of public funds on library 
services. States are also able to share information about their 
projects both within the library community and with the public at 
large.
    Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services.
    Title: 2019-2021 IMLS Grants to States Program ``State Program 
Reporting System''.
    OMB Number: 3137-0071.
    Frequency: 1 time per year.
    Affected Public: State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs).
    Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 47.83 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2678 hours.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: n/a.
    Total Annual Costs: $74,113.50.
    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: Dr. Sandra Webb, Director, Grant 
Policy and Management, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 
L'Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024-2135. Dr. 
Webb can be reached by Telephone: 202-653-4718 Fax: 202-653-4608, or by 
email at [email protected], or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with 
hearing difficulty at 202-653-4614.

    Dated: February 23, 2018.
Kim Miller,
Grants Management Specialist, Office of Grant Policy and Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-04069 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7036-01-P