New Online Service May Change the Way America Surfs

Washington, DC – In September 24/7 Reference will publicize a first-ever service to Web surfers: professional librarians online with them to help them find what they are looking for. As the name suggests, the librarians will be available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 24/7 Reference is the creation of a consortium of public libraries in southern California. The consortium members represent just some of the public and academic libraries in America to offer, or about to offer, similar services with funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).