Justification for Change - G2S 5 year plan guidance FY2018-2022

Justification for Change

3137-0029 State Plan Five Year Guidance

IMLS is requesting a change to a previously approved clearance in order to modify guidance for the next five-year cycle of the IMLS Grants to States program. This updated document, Five-Year State Plan Guidelines for State Library Administrative Agencies, 2018-2022, provides the information required for the five-year span of time named in the title of the document (previous version of the document was for 2013-2017). This updated set of guidelines is requesting the same expiration date of 7/31/2018.

Previous request abstract:

n/a

Justification for the Five-Year State Plan Guidelines for State Library Administrative Agencies, 2018-2022

The Grants to States Program is the largest grant program administered by IMLS. Through this program, IMLS provides financial assistance to develop library services throughout the States, U.S. Territories, and the Freely Associated States. To receive funds under the Grants to States program, each State Library Administrative Agency (SLAA) must submit to the Director of IMLS a State Plan detailing certain goals, assurances, and procedures for a five-year period.
20 U.S.C. § 9134(a).

A State Plan is a document that identifies a State’s library needs, sets forth the activities to be taken toward meeting the identified needs supported with the assistance of Federal funds made available under the Library Services and Technology Act (“LSTA”), and provides assurances that the officially designated SLAA has the fiscal and legal authority and capability to administer all aspects of any award under the Grants for States Program. 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.

The included document updates the time period covered by the new State Plan, relevant statutes and legal citations, submission format (paper to email), as well as updates the links and website references to the improved Measuring Success reporting tool (also approved by OMB) that was developed during the period covered by the previous plan.

The respondent burden should remain the same.