As of January 1, 2009 AskAway Illinois will not be subsidized, and participating libraries will assume responsibility for the cost.

and away we go...

Ask?Away Illinois is an Internet-based reference service that allows information seekers to interact online and in real time with a skilled librarian. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reference librarians from public, academic, school, medical, and other special libraries in Illinois staff the service in collaboration with librarians in Wisconsin and beyond for peek time and after-hour support.

Joining other librarians who participate in this online service gives you a chance to use your talent and skills in a forum that is unique and exciting. You will be assisting online users at their point of need. Services such as Ask?Away also showcase librarians as a valuable resource in the information age.

Want to see virtual reference in action? Watch a video of Sarah Long (Director, North Suburban Library System) interviewing Bill Pardue, Virtual Reference Librarian at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

Need to get a quick overview of Ask?Away? Download the powerpoint presentation listed in the Documents tab.