The Information Institute of Syracuse

The Information Institute of Syracuse (IIS) is a long standing research center in the areas of education, technology and librarianship. It has been the source of and host for a number of highly visible and widely successful digital education information services. The IIS created The Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education), The Virtual Reference Desk (VRD), AskERIC, and the Educator's Reference Desk. All projects share the same goal: to improve student learning by providing educators, policy makers and parents with quality information to improve teaching and the educational environment. IIS projects bring together universities, government agencies and private enterprises to promote easy access to high quality educational information to a diverse user population.

ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy

OITP advances ALA's public policy activities by helping secure information technology policies that support and encourage efforts of libraries to ensure access to electronic information resources as a means of upholding the public's right to a free and open information society. It works to ensure a library voice in information policy debates and to promote full and equitable intellectual participation by the public by:

• Conducting research and analysis aimed at understanding the implications of information technology and policies for libraries and library users,
• Educating the ALA community about the implications of information policy, law, and regulation for libraries and library users,
• Advocating ALA's information policy interests in non-legislative government policy forums, and
• Engaging in strategic outlook to anticipate technological change, particularly as it presents policy challenges to libraries and library users.

The Free Library of Philadelphia

The Mission of The Free Library of Philadelphia is to provide to all segments of Philadelphia's diverse population a comprehensive collection of recorded knowledge, ideas, artistic expression, and information in a variety of media, including current technology; to assure ease of access to these materials; and to provide programs to stimulate the awareness and use of these resources. The Free Library will create a welcoming and inspiring environment for learning and will promote individual enlightenment, community enrichment, and economic vitality throughout the region.

The Free Library has four primary roles: It will provide current materials of high interest in a variety of formats for persons of all ages. It will provide timely, accurate information, and reference services employing a highly qualified staff who provide the link between the Library materials and users in a congenial and professional manner. It will support the educational goals of Philadelphians by providing materials and programs for children, as well as for their parents and caregivers.

The Free Library of Philadelphia will uphold the public's freedom of access to knowledge. It will recognize its responsibility as the Public Library for the City of Philadelphia, as a District Library Center for Philadelphia County, and as a Statewide Resource Center for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

QuestionPoint

QuestionPoint reference management service provides libraries with tools to interact with users in multiple ways, using both chat and email. The Web-based chat tool with co-browsing capability, coupled with the email reference component, enable seamless integration of chat, follow up and referral, as well as one-stop reporting tools for all types of reference services. In addition, libraries may opt to participate in the 24/7 Reference Cooperative to provide live around-the-clock reference service to their community.