It’s a room for all ages. High schoolers can print out their homework papers. Adults might check email or develop a power point presentation (there’s a projector that can be rented, as well). Students can do research. There are a limited number of slots for teen volunteers who can earn tech equipment like an mp3 player.

There’s more. There’s a collection of about 1,300 books that can be checked out, mostly for adults but also including a small children’s collection to supplement the school library. Those books include local guidebooks and history volumes, quality fiction and non-fiction hardbacks, books on CD and tape, and VHS and DVD movies.

Both Microsoft PC and Apple computers are available, along with basic software like Microsoft Office Suite, Excel and Power Point. The six PCs are connected to the Internet, and for those who want to do more than surf the web, Technology Center Manager Jackie Schuemann can help with learning programming for web sites. The center has also contracted to develop web sites for nonprofits like Project Read.

With the help of a pilot grant from the Northland Foundation, the center was developed after a community survey indicated that Internet access was a priority. Planners hoped to have 75 different customers in 6 months. Instead, over 80 came through the doors in the first 2 months.

The success of the center shows that there was a true need to be met, believes Eagleview Foundation president Toni Wilcox, “We learned that lesson of listening to what people want.”

The Eagleview Foundation is the umbrella 501(c)3 organization for the technology center. Along with the center, it also will offer community education this year, operate as a fiscal agent for community groups, is sponsoring a Baby Steps coupon redemption center and Bright Red Bookshelf in the school, and will field two student teams for the FIRST lego robotics competition this year (see box). Open to anyone interested in its mission of providing lifelong education, membership is $5. Board positions are open, said Wilcox; the group meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. except June and December. Current board members are Wilcox, Becky Kallio, Wendy Muntean, Celeste Williams and Andrea LaDuke. For more information, contact Wilcox by phone at (218) 659-4271 or by email.