Montana Joins BCR BCR is pleased to welcome the Montana State Library as a BCR state member, the newest partner in BCR's multistate, nonprofit library network. That brings the number of BCR member states to seven. The state libraries in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming also have BCR state memberships. The Montana State Library's membership automatically extends BCR membership to every library in the state. All Montana libraries 111 public libraries, 447 school libraries, 24 academic libraries, five institutional libraries and 53 special libraries have access to BCR's numerous products and services at members' discounted prices. BCR also provides its members with technical support for all BCR products and services, including OCLC services and the Internet and World Wide Web. "The Montana State Library is happy to join BCR, which is an organization whose goals align with our own," said Montana State Librarian Karen Strege. "These goals include providing access to information services; developing, promoting new technologies for information, organization and delivery; and offering training and technical assistance. "We look forward to our partnership with BCR to improve library service to Montana citizens," Strege said. Bruce Newell, director of the Montana Library Network, announced the BCR membership to libraries across the state via WIRED-MT, the Montana Library Association's electronic mailing list. BCR now hosts the Montana library mailing list on BCR's Internet server; it is managed by BCR's majordomo software. "The Montana Library Network is a brand-new project of the Montana State Library, being built by cooperating Montana libraries," said Newell. "I see the MLN working as a partner with Montana libraries, ensuring the delivery of quality networked library materials and services to all Montanans." "I welcome BCR's helping Montana libraries stretch their materials budgets," he added. "Additionally, I'm counting on BCR helping Montana libraries define, as partners with neighboring states and provinces, a resource sharing region that embraces MPLA's, PNLA's and WLN's traditional geographical areas." Through their BCR membership, Montana libraries now have access to the most advanced and comprehensive research database services, automated acquisitions, cataloging services, serials control, the latest compact discs and videos and microcomputer software and hardware. Many of these services are available to member libraries at network discount prices. BCR offers a wide-ranging training and consulting program designed especially for librarians. Workshops are available to staff from member libraries at fees substantially below those charged nonmember libraries. These workshops provide training in the use of library systems, the Internet and web tools, OCLC services and various reference database services.