We took a class field trip to a students parents facility where they made supplements. They showed us a computer connected to university databases of research papers. Up until that point we called BBS servers directly and would rush to download everything before sometime accidentally picked up the phone. This was the early 90s

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_HiNote

The next year I got my first laptop and a 14.4baud us robotics pcmcia card.