The possibilities seem endless! Consortia formed to offer real-time online reference services include libraries of all types—public, K-12 school, academic, government, and special. They are able to take advantage of time zone differences to offer expanded hours of service. They connect library users with subject and language expertise and with a global network of information resources.

Here are just a few examples of the many innovative chat reference consortia.

Answers Now is a unique collaboration between public libraries in South Carolina, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

QuestionPoint is the result of a partnership between the Library of Congress and OCLC, based on LC's Collaborative Digital Reference Service.

Offering reference desk coverage around the clock, the 24/7 Reference consortium includes over 50 public, academic and special libraries.

One of the biggest consortia is OhioLink, serving more than 600,000 students, faculty and staff at 83 colleges and universities.

MyWebLibrarian is a single entry point for general reference or medical questions, as well as for homework or research questions from K-12 and college students. It serves Illinois residents and is funded by the Illinois State Library. Other state libraries have funded similar consortia, including AnswerLand (Oregon), KANAnswer (Kansas), AskColorado, Q and A NJ (New Jersey), and AskUsNow (Maryland).

Chat reference is available to all Australian citizens through AskNow.

Libraries in Illinois that serve the blind are piloting an "online information community" called InfoEyes, which features a chat reference service for the visually impaired.

The Index of Chat Reference Services lists the numerous collaborations, partnerships and networks throughout the world.