January. 7, open today from 1pm to 4pm999

The staff of the San Juan Island Library received free technology training January 6 as part of a pilot project for libraries funded by the Gates Center for Technology Access. The Technology Resource Institute (TRI), the Seattle-based organization managing this nationwide technology for libraries project, chose the San Juan Island Library as an ideal place to test out its new training regimen. This regimen will be presented to libraries throughout the country on a state-by-state basis over the next 2 years.

Willem Scholten, president of TRI and long-time associate of Kathleen McHarg, contacted San Juan's library director in December regarding her interest in serving as testing ground for the new training program. Mr. Scholten selected the local library for its existing interest and enthusiam about library technology.

Six library staff members received four hours of training in Windows NT workstation, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel, using a mobile training lab set up in the library's meeting room by the four TRI trainers on-hand to conduct the class. "This was a great opportunity for us and for TRI," said Kathleen McHarg. "We all learned some new things that will help us better serve patrons in the future. And, we got a preview of the types of workstations and training that will shortly be made available to public libraries throughout the country. TRI hopes to roll out its program of free computers and training to Washington state public libraries some time in the next couple of years. They have elected to proceed through the country based on need, with the least well equipped states receiving the first attention." For more information about this program , visit http://www.techresource.org on the World Wide Web.