Knowledge Ontario's Ask Ontario project is preparing to launch askON – the first phase of provincial, collaborative, virtual reference services – in January 2008. Over 100 library volunteers from publicly funded libraries across the province have dedicated over 400 hours since June, to work on operational task forces to make this service a reality. It has already been a tremendous grass roots and collaborative effort on the part of Ontario's libraries and it is just the beginning.

Phase 1 of askON launches Jan 7, 2008 with ten public library systems (Innisfil, Vaughan, Hamilton, London, Kingston, Stormont Dundas & Glengarry, North Bay, Sudbury, Welland, Middlesex County) and 8 academic libraries (Algonquin College, George Brown College, Lakehead University, Mohawk College, Ryerson University, Seneca College, St.Clair College and York University) providing the service. askON will be available 40 hours per week in the public library queue 1-8 Monday to Thursday, 1-5 the rest of the week, aiming for 10 hours of French service; 62 hours will be available in the academic queue.

Please join us for a formal launch and celebration at the OLA Super Conference in late januarey 2008.

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