Image taken from Weippe digital story

When the Weippe team first began its involvement with MIRA, the team members were unsure of the specific project they wanted to accomplish with the grant. Going into the workshops, they only knew that they wanted to better their community through the use of technology. It was through the MIRA process that the team members were encouraged to look into a wide variety of possibilities for their community.

With part of the money made available through the MIRA Initiative and another $6,000 made available from the public library's budget, the team decided to add six computers to the Clearwater County Free Library in order to create a technology center that would be open to the public. In addition to the computers, the team also purchased internet access, a scanner and a laser printer for the library. One-on-one tutoring in computers is now available at the library, thanks to MIRA team volunteers.

Since the creation of the technology center, the library has received two of the ten Public Library Association awards given each year. The library received $2,000 for planning and implementing creative use of technology and $1,000 for excellence in serving a community of 10,000 or less.

There are now plans to remodel an old church structure to create a new space for the library with an entire floor dedicated to the technology center. One possibility is a Discovery Center, with interpretive panels of Lewis and Clarks travels through the region and an information center to aid those traveling through the area for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in 2003. Another possibility is a partnership with the local university. The university will rent space from the technology center to create a distance-learning program.

In addition to their work with the library, the MIRA team in Weippe also worked with a local churches youth center. Using MIRA funds, the team was able add internet access to the youth center and network the youth center with the library tech center through their new T1 internet connections.

Finally the team provided Weippe's Heritage Society with a computer and publishing and museum software for use in the Society's oral history project. The computer now in use by the Heritage Society was built for them by a high school MIRA team member.

From the Lewiston Morning Tribune (3/6/00):

A new technology center and computer tutors at the Clearwater County Free Library in Weippe has increased library traffic by 22 percent since the center was added in 1999. A $15,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation and $6,000 from the library budget has enabled the library to buy six computers and install Internet connections. A scanner and laser printer were also purchased. A program called Managing Information in Rural America trained a group of about 30 Weippe residents in computer skills to pass on to the community. The library recently won a $2,000 Public Library Association award for planning and implementing a creative use of technology. The library also received $1,000 for excellence in serving a community of 10,000 or fewer. These two gifts were from ten the national association bestows each year. Library Director Terry Summerfield said she hopes the money will springboard the community into enhancing computer technology through building a joint library/information center.