Public Libraries Survey

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
279506	Public Libraries Survey Other-Appendix - Data Elements	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3137-0074	ICR Reference No: 202603-3137-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202410-3137-004
Agency/Subagency: IMLS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Public Libraries Survey
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 03/17/2026
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 03/17/2026
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2027	11/30/2027	11/30/2027
Responses	56	0	56
Time Burden (Hours)	7,745	0	7,745
Cost Burden (Dollars)	239,702	0	239,702

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Abstract: 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. This memo describes changes to the previously approved PLS data elements and data collection instructions for the FY 2026 collection cycle. The changes are based on recommendations from the Library Statistics Working Group (LSWG) in consultation with methodologists. The recommendations aim to improve the quality and clarity of data elements, aligning reporting structures for library outlets (e.g., central and branch libraries) and refining priority measures, while maintaining stability in the overall collection. These changes do not alter the nature or intent of the information collection, change the respondent universe or collection frequency, or increase respondent burden.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 63224	08/02/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 83520	10/16/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Public Libraries Survey

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	56	56	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	7,745	7,745	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	239,702	239,702	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The variability of reported burden may be attributable to several things, such as changes in SDCs’ methodologies for calculating burden or the lack of reliability in the responses.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $877,064

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 03/17/2026

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