The original idea was different than it is today. I was hired in the spring of 1986 as part of this project. Within the first year, we found people wanted a place to go to try out software and look at manuals before figuring out what to buy. The initial idea was a software library and information center. To get started using e-mail and the Internet.
People ask where they can find software to do a specific job.
The Resource Center has changed quite a bit over the years. Most of the consulting used to be done on a walk-in basis. But because of long lines we couldn't provide unlimited free consulting. So we went to mostly telephone-based consulting. We also have computers dedicated to distributing software, so if people want to take home Netscape, for example, they can download it here.