FY23 Justification for Nonsubstantive Change PLS

Justification for Change

FY2023 Public Libraries Survey (3137-0074)

IMLS is requesting approval for non-substantive changes pertaining in IMLS’s FY2023 Public Libraries Survey to remove ten data elements related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current OMB approval expiration date is 11/30/2024.

Request abstract:

In this clearance submission (3137-0074) and justification, IMLS is requesting approval of non-substantive changes to a previously approved clearance for the FY2023 Public Library Survey. These changes consist of removing ten Yes/No data elements related to the COVID-19 pandemic from the FY2023 PLS instrument. These elements were originally introduced through an expedited approval process in Spring 2020 to be added to the FY2020 PLS cycle collected the following year. The removal of these data elements does not introduce significant changes to the estimated respondent burden nor to the costs to the federal government.

The data elements to be removed relate to the following due to COVID-19:

• Closed Outlets

• Public Services

• Electronic Library Cards Issued

• Reference Service

• Outside Service

• External WiFi Access Added

• External WiFi Access Increased

• Staff Re-Assignments

• Number of Weeks an Outlet Closed

• Number of Weeks an Outlet Had Limited Occupancy

Burden Estimate:

The respondent burden remains the same.

CUI