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Open from 9 am - 9 pm Monday through Friday, and from 1-4 pm on
Saturday and Sunday, the Technology Access Center provides
members of the community with easy access to computers and
the Internet, access which they might not otherwise have.
Free for teens and children (with a relatively small fee of
$1 per day for adults, though it is Plugged In's policy
to never turn away anyone who cannot afford to pay for the
services), the Center provides a wide assortment of computers
and other high technology resources, including scanners,
photocopiers, faxes, and color printing. In addition, a
variety of software applications is available, ranging from
productivity applications such as Microsoft Word 97 to Internet
browsing software such as Netscape Communicator, as well as Web
publishing software like Adobe Photoshop 4.0. Tutorial materials,
both in print form or as software tutorials, are also available
for those who want to learn how to use these applications.
The Center also provides a series of classes open to all
community members as part of Plugged In's "Learning
Through Technology" initiative. Specialized classes
exist for both teens and adults, teaching subjects ranging
from basic computing skills to computer programming. For
example, "Spider Web" is a class geared for teenagers
that introduces them to HTML programming and multimedia
production. "Hacker's University" is another
class for community teenagers that teaches them the basics
of computer programming. A wide range of classes have also
been designed for adults in mind. The "Introduction to
Computers" class is intended to give adult students
a better understanding of how computers work, what they can
do, and what the Internet is. At the end of the course, the
students are encouraged to make use of the resources available
in the Center to type up letters or resumes, or simply to surf the Web.
The Center also offers many business support services for
the entrepreneurs in the community who may not otherwise be
able to afford or have access to such services. These services
include telephone and fax services, voicemail accounts, photocopying,
stationary and desktop publishing, and color printing. And, in
conjuction with Plugged In Enterprises, low-cost access to web
and desktop publishing design and consultation services are
available through the Center.
In addition, the Center serves as an employment and training
ground for community youth. Young adults working with Plugged
In Enterprises often start out as consultants in the Technology
Access Center where they are exposed to high technology and
trained in the use of all available services, including PC
and Macintosh troubleshooting, word processing, and searching
the Internet. Once trained, they gain valuable consulting
experience by assisting other community members in using the
many resources available at the Center.