1. Chat With a Librarian 24/7! http://www.askawayillinois.info

2. Who provides the service? Ask?Away is a consortium of Illinois libraries and is funded by the Illinois State Library - Secretary of State Jesse White with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).Ask?AwayIllinois State Library - Secretary of State Jesse WhiteInstitute of Museum and Library Services http://www.askawayillinois.info

3. What is AskAway? AskAway is an online reference service that allows you to chat with a librarian who can answer your questions assist your with online research help you navigate the Internet Illinois librarians and backup librarians elsewhere in the country monitor the service, providing you assistance 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year http://www.askawayillinois.info

4. Sounds great, but how do I use it? http://www.askawayillinois.info

5. 1) Accessing the service Libraries throughout the state participate in the service, so visit your library’s website and look for the AskAway logo  OR Go directly to http://www.askawayillinois.info/

6. Click here to connect to AskAway http://www.askawayillinois.info

7. 2) Fill in the form and click submit http://www.askawayillinois.info

8. 3) Start chatting! As soon as the librarian begins chatting with you, a split screen will appear with your conversation on the right side and recommendations for using the service on the left, like this… http://www.askawayillinois.info

9. Your conversation will appear here. What you say is in blue and what the librarian says is in black. To say something to the librarian, type your message and click send. http://www.askawayillinois.info

10. 4) Enjoy the experience! The librarian has the ability to send you useful websites that will appear on the left part of your screen like this…. http://www.askawayillinois.info

11. the site the librarian sent The address of the site appears in the response in purple http://www.askawayillinois.info

12. Co-browsing You and the librarian can co-browse – explore a web page together – to be sure you find the information you need. http://www.askawayillinois.info

13. As the librarian enters search terms in the Google search box, you can see them appear! http://www.askawayillinois.info

14. 5) Ending the session When you have the answers you need, click on the End Session button. If you provided your email address on the chat request form or during the session, a complete transcript of your session will be emailed to you, like this one… End Session http://www.askawayillinois.info

16. Why chat reference works: It’s available when you need it – any time! It’s available where you need it – at your finger tips! It’s interactive, so you don’t just get answers, you get hands-on instruction You get personalized service from a reliable source, which is sometimes hard to find on the Web http://www.askawayillinois.info

17. Want your library to be included? Contact Debra Aggertt Illinois State Library Gwendolyn Brooks Building Illinois Virtual Reference Coordinator 300 S. Second Street Springfield, Illinois 62701-1796 Phone 217-558-1945 Daggertt@ILSOS.NET http://www.askawayillinois.info

18. Go to www.askawayillinois.info to start chatting! We’ll see you online!www.askawayillinois.info