The days of the card catalog are gone.
Now, Flathead High School is installing a building-wide network of computers that will thrust every individual into the wonders of technology. The network will allow students to have greater access to the Internet and electronic resources in the library, directly from their classrooms.
Pencil-sized fiber-optic cables from the library will connect to the English office, the business area, the math department and the performing arts wing.
In each area there is a "hub" of 95 connectors that connect to computers in every classroom and office.
Librarian John York sees the school as a "learning organism," and feels that this network will enhance the learning process.
The network will "cut down the amount of time individuals spend locating information" and allow more time to analyze and learn from the information.
"What we're attempting to do here is to make that process as user friendly and transparent as we can," said York.
The networking allows teachers and students to share files and information and also work with special servers (a computer that makes more information available).
One server will connect to the Internet.
There will also be a CD-ROM tower connecting to each classroom. The tower will include many of the electronic resources in the library now, like the magazine article summaries, only the summaries will be in full text.
The library hopes to include a dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia for quick reference.
Teachers and students alike will be able to do more work from inside the classroom and will have more valuable information available to them, according to York.
Although other schools around the state like Stevensville and Whitefish are also incorporating such technology, FHS is among only a few that is networking the entire school.
"It's just one of those things that some students may not appreciate," said York. "But it will further enhance our learning environment."