OMB understands
that IMLS is still considering which of two probability based
methodsyoungest birthday or Rizzo, Brick and Inho (2004)it
prefers to replace the submitted youngest male/oldest female
screening method for its telephone survey, and agrees that either
probability-based method is acceptable. We concur with IMLSs
proposal to submit to OMB, upon completion, the full results of its
nonresponse bias analysis study for the RDD survey. We also concur
with IMLSs proposal to characterize the results of its RDD study
as estimating the experiences of seekers of government information
for only life crucial events, as defined by IMLS. This
characterization is important to ensure no confusion over the scope
of the study, which is not intended to measure all uses of
government information. We finally concur with IMLSs plan to
publish confidence intervals for all results, and to avoid
publishing table cells with sizes less than five.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2010
36 Months From Approved
5,650
0
0
1,621
0
0
40,479
0
0
The E-Government Act of 2002 called
for the promotion of access to the Internet to provide increased
opportunities for citizen participation in government, and an
interagency committee issued a report looking at disparities in
Internet access across a demographic spectrum. Few studies,
however, have looked at the kinds of assistance (training,
tutorials, classes, reference services) that users are receiving
when looking for federal, state, and local government information
and services, whether via the Internet or through traditional means
(walk-in, mail, telephone), and whether users are satisfied with
the assistance that they are receiving from public libraries and
public access computing centers. In order to address this critical
information gap and to enhance the quality of library services
nationwide, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has
undertaken a study to better understand how users are accessing
federal, state, and local government information and services and
what kinds of assistance public libraries and other public access
computing centers are offering to users seeking government
information and services. IMLS is conducting a research study on
how the part of the population with limited access to Internet
resources (individuals who do not have broadband access from home,
work, or school; who choose to access government services and
information from locations other than home, work, or school; or who
do so through traditional means of access) accesses federal, state
and local government services and information, and whether such
users are satisfied with the information and services they are able
to access. Additionally, the study examines the ways that public
libraries and public access computing centers provide assistance
(e.g., reference services, tutorials, classes, training) to users
seeking federal, state, and local government information and
services.
This increase in burden is the
result of the Institute's response to the E-Government Act of 2002,
which called for the promotion of access to the Internet to provide
increased opportunities for citizen participation in government. An
interagency committeewhich included IMLS, issued a report looking
at disparities in Internet access across a demographic spectrum.
Few studies, however, have looked at the kinds of assistance
(training, tutorials, classes, reference services) that users are
receiving when looking for federal, state, and local government
information and services, whether via the Internet or through
traditional means (walk-in, mail, telephone), and whether users are
satisfied with the assistance that they are receiving from public
libraries and public access computing centers. In order to address
this critical information gap and to enhance the quality of library
services nationwide, the Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS) has undertaken a study to better understand how users are
accessing federal, state, and local government information and
services and what kinds of assistance public libraries and other
public access computing centers are offering to users seeking
government information and services. IMLS is conducting a research
study on how the part of the population with limited access to
Internet resources (individuals who do not have broadband access
from home, work, or school; who choose to access government
services and information from locations other than home, work, or
school; or who do so through traditional means of access) accesses
federal, state and local government services and information, and
whether such users are satisfied with the information and services
they are able to access. Additionally, the study examines the ways
that public libraries and public access computing centers provide
assistance (e.g., reference services, tutorials, classes, training)
to users seeking federal, state, and local government information
and services.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
IRB approval.pdf
Consent Form Web Survey.doc
Future Librarian Education and Government Information with Service to Low-Access Users