This Starter Kit is designed to help organizations and individuals who wish to offer human-mediated information services via the Internet to users in the K-12 community. A six-step process is proposed for organizations to follow in creating an "AskA" service. This process addresses all aspects involved in building and maintaining an AskA service from preliminary research of the digital reference field to ongoing evaluation techniques. Each module of the Starter Kit describes one of the six steps and includes statements of goals and objectives; information through explanation and practical examples (case studies from existing digital reference services like AskERIC, the National Museum of American Art Reference Desk, NASA's Ask the Space Scientist, KidsConnect, and Ask Dr. Math); and opportunities for interaction (worksheets). The six core modules are: informing; planning; training; prototyping; contributing; and evaluating. Although listed in a linear fashion, the six steps can be completed out of order. Module summaries are included at the end of each chapter. A concluding chapter offers some final notes and a glimpse into the future of digital reference. Contains a glossary, AskA service directory, and AskA service blueprints. (AEF)