The following information is provided to aid scholars preparing applications as well as those who have arrived on site.

Craig Staude and Alan Cairns are your primary consultants for assistance, availability of equipment, or other issues involving computers and the network.  Their office is in the Computer Lab next tothe Fernald Building ("Main Lab").

If you need other computer-related equipment, contact Craig or Alan.  If you need supplies, see Jeannie or Charlie in the stockroom.

Ethernet

The FHL computer network provides the Whiteley Center with its connection to the world.  Guests who wish to connect to the Center's network must meet with Craig or Alan shortly after arrival to insure that your computer has the latest OS security patches and anti-virus protection. (Windows computers must have XP with Service Pack 3 or Vista, and subsequent critical updates; Macs must have the latest "security updates.") If you are unsure that your computer is up-to-date, you may use the common-use computers in the Computer Lab. There you can access your email via web browser, or print files from your floppy, CD, or USB thumb drive.

Each of the five rooms in the Study has wifi connectivity and numerous ethernet ports -- (both wall and floor jacks). The jacks are orange in color and accept standard Ethernet "RJ45" plug-in connectors. Cable connections usually exceed 10 Mbps from the studies in the Whiteley Center. Wireless connectivity may be slightly slower, especially in some of the housing units.

Some computer equiment and supplies can also be purchased in the town of Friday Harbor.

Printing

The Whiteley Center has its own black and white Xerox laser network printer, the Xerox N2125.  It can be used to print on two sides (duplex) up to a size of 8.5 x 14 inches. Print jobs for A4 paper (common in Europe) will stall the printer, and must be reformated for US-letter paper. Access to the printer is typically via the network (IP printing) but access can be made directly to the printer using a USB cable. Craig or Alan can assist you with the network configuration to the printer.

E-Mail

Guests who connect to the Center's network will typically have no problems reading their e-mail from web-based systems (e.g., Hotmail, Gmail, or web access to most institutions). However, mail programs resident on your computer (e.g., Outlook or Mac Mail) will have to be reconfigured with a local outgoing (SMTP) mailserver. Craig or Alan can help you with this

Mail and Packages

Ordinary mail addressed to you at Whiteley Center, 620 University Road, Friday Harbor WA 98250 will be placed in the mailboxes in the entrance hall of the Fernald Labs.  The office staff will sign for express packages and the like (same address, 360-378-2165 for the phone).

UW Library, Seattle

If you are a part of the UW Network, you will have access to the University's excellent library system. Follow this link to the FHL portal of the University of Washington Library System. If you are offsite and accessing this link, then some of its features will not be available for you. All features are available for users who access the library from the Center's network. In addition to receiving recent articles in all fields directly to your computer, you may have copies of articles made at the main library in Seattle and forwarded to you at FHL.

If you are not affiliated with the University of Washington, please investigate how to borrow through your own institution or through your public library. (Scholars who will have extended stays at the Whiteley Center may be eligible for Visiting Scholar status that would allow use of the UW Library System. Please let us know in advance if you will need this service.)

Fax

The fax machine at the Center is in the computer service room. The number is 360-378-1959.  It will automatically answer an incoming call and determine if it is a fax or ordinary phone call. Faxes will be printed out, while phone calls will be picked up after the 4th ring and routed to voice mail. No staff member monitors this fax machine, so be sure to use the Main Labs fax number (206 543-1273) to submit applications or for other Whiteley Center business.

The built-in handset on the fax machine can be used to place or receive an ordinary phone call.  You will need a phone card or other personal billing arrangement to place long distance calls.  Telephones next door in the Fernald Lab have lines that are UW campus extensions; for example, dialing 9 will allow you to make Seattle-vicinity calls without charge.  These telephones are available 24 hours a day.

There are no telephone, fax or ethernet lines in the Center's cottages.

Copy Machines

Two copy machines are available in Fernald Lab in the rear of the library. You will need a personal access code to use them and to be charged for your use. This code may be obtained from the staff in the main office at FHL.

Scanner

A flatbed scanner, connected to a Macintosh computer, is available for use in the Computer Lab. The scanned images can be written to a thumb drive or CD. 

Digital Video Projector

FHL and the Whiteley Center share a light-weight video projector, which attaches to the video output of most computers. Center scholars can reserve time for this projector in the FHL Stockroom. A high-quality table-top projection screen is available in the printer room of the Study.

Laptop Computer

A single Macintosh PowerBook G3 laptop computer is available for Study scholars. It can read both Mac and PC-formatted disks and can open any Microsoft Office or formatted picture file. It should be reserved in advance of your visit.

2x2 inch Slide Projector

There is a P-180 Leica slide projector in the computer service room for use in the Study. There is also a high-quality table top presentation screen that can be used when viewing slides.

Overhead Projector

There is an overhead projector available in the network printer room for use at the center.

From mid June to mid September high temperatures range between high 60's and 90 degrees, cooling to high 40s to mid 50s at night. From November to March, highs run in the mid 40s to low 50s, with lows occasionally dropping below freezing.

Because San Juan Island is in the rainshadow of the mountains on the Olympic Pennisula and Vancouver Island, summers are very dry with 2-3 inches of rain between June and September. November is usually the wettest month of the winter, seeing typically 4-5 inches, dropping off to about 2 inches in March. The annual average is 29 inches. Snow is uncommon.

Winter winds peaking to 45 mph, usually from the SE, are not uncommon, and rare major storms, usually nor'easters, can exceed 110 mph.

The sun appears, on average, 247 days a year.

Tides range between -4.0 to over +10 feet, with two lows and two highs each day. These exchanges drive local ocean currents which, in various channels and around headlands, exceed 5-7 knots.

Boating, kayaking, fishing, tennis, year-around golf (a few days excepted), volley ball, hiking, bicycling, birding, first-run movies all are available. Swimming is out (water temperatures range between 12 and 6 degrees Celsius); scuba diving is popular, but closely regulated on campus. There is an excellent performing arts building in Friday Harbor that features plays and musical events. Tourism, including yachting, is intense between mid June early September. There are a number of local events, including the County Fair, in the summer.

Dress is very informal at all times. In winter, reasonable protection against rain - and muddy paths - is desirable.

Continue Tour