In this clearance submission (3137-0074), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the collection of the Public Libraries Survey (PLS): Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026. This survey was first conducted in 1989 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to collect library statistics for all public libraries in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
The Public Libraries Survey has been conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the clearance number 3137-0074. Pursuant to P.L. 107-279, the Public Libraries Survey collects annual descriptive data on the universe of public libraries in the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Outlying Areas. Information such as public service hours per year, circulation of library books, number of librarians, population of legal service area, expenditures for library collection, programs for children and young adults, staff salary data, and access to technology, etc., would be collected. Additional information: The FY 2020 PLS aims to capture Coronavirus-related practices from the entire universe of approximately 9,300 public libraries in the United States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.
Compared to the FY 2020 survey, the FY 2021 PLS will include changes to 35 questions, as follows:
⢠Addition of 16 questions and modification of six questions about the number of library programs and attendance at those programs with more granularity by targeted age group and by format
⢠Addition of three questions about other physical collection items and circulation to capture availability and usage of non-traditional library materials (e.g., wireless hotspots, other technology, household items)
⢠Addition of two questions and modification of two questions related to the number of public access computers, the number of public access computer user sessions, and the number of wireless internet sessions; these changes will collect indicators of the precision of related questions
⢠Revision of one question and deletion of five questions related to library services during the COVID-19 pandemic
The variability of reported burden may be attributable to several things, such as changes in SDCsâ methodologies for calculating burden or the lack of reliability in the responses.
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.
3137-0074 OMB Attachment B PLS List of Changes_20241009.docx
3137-0074 PLS - Public Comment and Response_20240805.pdf