About

About Ask-WA

Have a few questions? Just can’t seem to round up good information on a topic? Not finding the quality resources you need for your assignment? Don’t worry, Ask-WA has answers.

Ask-WA is a live, interactive chat service that connects you to a librarian. Our librarians are available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, to help you find the most credible information available on the Web. Ask-WA is staffed by professional librarians from participating libraries throughout Washington State. More than 60 public and academic libraries in Washington cooperate in to bring you this service, and more than 100 Washington librarians are available to help you find accurate, unbiased information. Add in the back-up of an international network of participating libraries,
and you have 24/7 access to an information professional, whenever you need one.

How Does It Work?

From the Ask-WA home page, simply select the type of librarian you need. If you’re a college student in Washington, then your college library is your best resource. If you’re not a student, select the public library option, and identify the public library that serves your area.

Once you’ve selected your public or college library, you will be directed to the appropriate chat form. Enter your name, email address, and a question, and click “Connect.” It can take 2 to 3 minutes for a librarian to connect to your question
(or longer during very busy times). Please be patient. While you are waiting, you may enter more details about your question, so the librarian can better serve you when joining the chat.

This Is Great!

Thanks, we think so too!

Ask-WA is partially funded by participating libraries. Additional funds come from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) courtesy of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). LSTA funds are distributed through the
Washington State Library , and are used to fund numerous projects supporting libraries throughout Washington State.

For more information about this or other projects, please feel free to
contact us .