KnowItNow Knowledge Supporting Library Awareness through Online Reference

1
KnowItNow KnowledgeSupporting Library
Awareness through Online Reference
OELMA 2006 October 13, 2006
2
What is KnowItNow?

• Ohio librarians online 24 hours a day, 7 days a
  week, waiting to chat with patrons in real time
  about their research and information needs
• Provided free for Ohioans by an IMLS grant
  through the State Library of Ohio and with
  support from Ohio public libraries.
• 250,000 questions answered since September, 2004

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
Why?

• Learning doesnt end with the bell/the close of
  the library
• The library is one of the best places to start
  for finding information
• Information comes in many different formats to
  fit learning styles, lifestyles
• Information isnt just useful for schoolwork

6
What Does VR Offer?

• 24x7 access not just to resources for
  information, but to experts to help with finding
  and using those resources
• Emphasis on high quality resources, such as
  INFOhio databases
• Variety of formats for resources fits into
  students schedule
• No question is stupid, plus student is anonymous

7
24x7 Access

• 115,630 sessions in Year 1
• 133,033 sessions in Year 2
• 73 are students
• 58 Kindergarten 8th grade
• 24 9th grade 12th grade
• 57 are working on a school assignment
• 20 are asking out of personal interest
• 61 are repeat users
• 24 say theyve used the service 10 times before
• Many KIN patrons have already tried to research
  their question on their own

8
Emphasis on Quality

• Focus on databases via INFOhio and OPLIN
• Librarian-selected web resources
• Advanced search strategies and website evaluation
• Focus on teaching

9
KIN and the Student Lifestyle

• 38 signed on because the library was closed or
  because they could not get to the library or
  didnt have time to go
• 19 of patrons say they never use the library,
  or use it less than 2 times a year
• 30 say they wanted to find the information
  online
• 4 wanted to be anonymous

10
What Kinds of Questions Do We Get? Randomly
selected questions from Sunday June 4 copied here
directly from transcripts with no editorial
corrections

• homework lol
• When will Playstation 3 come out and when will
  NCAA football 07 come out?
• How do you convert cooking oil into diesel fuel
  to use in a vehicle?
• i need info onthe world record for most cd's
  broken over the head in 1min
• I'm looking for websites that explains the
  different methods used to bypass password
  protection, and ways to protect myself against
  them.
• I need some pictures of the circulatory system
• How do you graph y/x3/-3 as atranslation of
  y/x/?
• i need a map of cameroon africa wihjust lakes
  and rivers on the map
• i read BareBones by Kathy Reiches and i need
  help understaniding it
• what year were hamsters first shipped to united
  states
• How much does it cost to use the internet at the
  Northwest Library
• yo fin pic of blue passion
• a finance company is trying to file a default
  judgement against me... i need the format (sample
  form) of what I am susposed to answer on

11
How Can You Promote HWN?

• Visit booth 402 for pens, pencils, bookmarks,
  mousepads, and other promotion items (or contact
  Kristen)
• www.knowitnow.org/mediakit
• Printable bookmarks and posters
• Logos and information for newsletters
• Web logos to make a link from your schools
  website
• Lesson plan for introducing HWN to students

12
A Note about Funding

• KnowItNows current funding runs out June 30,
  2006
• KIN managers are seeking ways to cut costs and
  raise funding
• Show your support for the servicecontact your
  representatives!

13
Questions?

• Kristen Pool,
• KIN AfterDark Coordinator
• kristen.pool_at_knowitnow.org