AMBITIOUS PLANS

    Toni Robinson had been working at the library at the time of the MIRA project but was not involved as her supervisor, the former director, Terri Summerfield. Summerfield left the library and now does web page design and has an e-commerce site "Northwest Packgoats & Supplies" where hikers and outfitters can buy saddles, halters, books, and other supplies for packgoats. However, she is still very involved with the library project, which received matching funding from various sources, and now has six networked computers, a scanner and printer. They have received two awards from the Public Library Association for excellence in serving a community of less than 10,000 people. Some of the MIRA money was used in a nearby youth center located in an old Quonset hut on the highway. The phone company connected the two buildings at no extra charge so the youth center makes use of the direct Internet connection at the library. Both Robinson and Summerfield emphasized how much the project had meant to the people in Weippe. Some people are proud of a local attraction or building even if they don't ever use it. This resource is used by many people who don't have the money or plans to buy their own computer. Summerfield noted, "There was stuff we learned that we did not know we learned: how to reach group consensus and expanding people's vision of what is possible." Older community leaders have been using it. With the closing of the mill, there have been more job searches, and others have used it for purchasing airline tickets and corresponding with relatives.

Before I wound up our conversation about the technology center, Summerfield whipped out two architectural designs for the Weippe Discovery Center and a packet of information for pledges. It is an ambitious plan to renovate a nearby church building to include a Lewis-Clark interpretive center, a larger library, a technology center, conference room and a Lewis Clark State College Outreach center for distance learning. They have to raise $70,000 by July 2001 and are selling sponsorship of historic campsites for the Lewis & Clark bicentennial. They are awaiting word from another foundation whose assistance goals seems to fit in well with the Weippe plan.