KnowItNow24x7 and Accessibility

KnowItNow24x7 (KIN24x7), the online reference service available to all Ohio residents, has been available statewide since 2004 thanks to a generous federal Institution of Museum and Library services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio. With around 100,000 sessions per year, it is the busiest statewide virtual reference service in the United States. KIN24x7 provides resources to students of all kinds working on homework, suggestions for leisure readers, help for patrons looking for materials, and much more. However, one of the challenges in providing the service has always been how to offer assistance to those with physical disabilities. With the implementation of a new software platform in September 2008, KIN24x7 can now explore new options for reaching all Ohio residents.

One of the exciting features of the new software is the ability to integrate other means of access into the service in addition to the traditional web chat interface. With the new platform, the possibility exists for KIN24x7 to interact with people who have commercial IM accounts (i.e., AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, etc.). For example, a visually-impaired individual using the most current versions of the JAWS screen reader and AIM could easily interact with a KIN24x7 librarian. The ability to include email as an access method to KIN24x7 is also a possibility, allowing those with disabilities to compose an email question and get an answer via the statewide online reference network. Integrating both commercial IM and email have some logistical hurdles to overcome; however, with the promise that these communication methods hold, they are both being investigated by KIN24x7.

If you have any questions about Ohio's statewide virtual reference service, you may contact KnowItNow24x7 at support@knowitnow.org.