Before continuing, you might want to ask yourself why some of the services that follow get little to no attention while other services like Google Answers or Yahoo Answers continue to get headlines? Sure, every question is different and in some cases a Yahoo Answers might get you the answer one needs (-:, but in other cases, depending on the query, a 24×7x365 chat with a librarian or subject expert will not only provide a better answer but once again reinforce the role and importance of the library and librarian. It’s also interesting to review how many answers on these services say something like, “go to the library,” or “ask a librarian.” Let’s also not forget some of the wonderful AskA databases. Is the question once again, people can’t use what they don’t know about.

Now, to some news.

Pennsylvania has long offered a statewide set of remotely accessible databases for residents called The Power Library.

Now, beginning early next month (September) the state will join many other states, countries, and local libraries in offering a statewide 24×7x365 virtual reference service named “Ask Here PA.”

From the news release:

Students and the public will be able to reach public librarians while college students and faculty will be helped by librarians from participating colleges and universities. Staff from the participating libraries will provide reference assistance to patrons during the day. An international cooperative of libraries will cover the overnight hours.

A Very Small Sample of States Offering Virtual Reference Services. Of course, many many many other VR services exist on a more local level.

+ Oregon
+ New Jersey
+ Colorado

and outside the U.S. Services like:
AskNow (Australia)

For more (many more) see Bernie Sloan’s guide.

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