Daveman's Blog

Library Cat

2010-05-12T21:06:00.001-04:00

"I am the library cat," from LOLCats (tm).

One of these things is not like the other.

2010-05-09T20:06:00.003-04:00

I've always had good experiences shopping on Amazon.com and especially like the recommendations it offers based on my previous purchases. I learn about new material from my favorite musicians and authors as well as being exposed to new things.

But once in a while something odd happens with the recommendations. Sorry, but I just don't see the connection here.

Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.

2010-05-08T18:31:00.034-04:00

The quote is from Amelia Earhart.

Southwest lived up to my expectations. There were no delays or snags, and the staff was flawlessly efficient in helping my mother with the wheelchair at every stop. The flight crew had a refreshingly edgy attitude, too. There was an impromptu song and dance routine on the flyway and Captain Mike came into the cabin for quick trivia game. "Why is the sky blue?" he asked us. "How many wings does an airplane have? Don't think the obvious answer." As she finished the mandatory safety announcement, the flight attendant quipped, "For those of you not paying attention, good luck to you." Another flight attendant teased his partner, who was demonstrating the safety vest, saying, "If he can figure it out, you can figure it out." All in all, things went very well.

My sister volunteers at the Tucson Wildlife Center and gave us a fascinating tour.

Here are some photos from the Tohono Chul garden in Tucson. It was well worth the visit.

Finally, the folks at the Pittsburgh Airport have their priorities straight. Next to a statue of George Washington is Franco Harris making The Immaculate Reception. All's right with the world!

Come Fly With Me

2010-04-09T19:50:00.007-04:00

I don't fly often - maybe once or twice a year. But I'm always on edge, waiting to see what's going to go wrong; flight delay, gate change, missed connection. Some people at my workplace fly a lot. Today's lunchroom discussion centered on how the airline industry has lost its focus. The brother of one of my co-workers is a pilot who is rankled by the complaints. "Listen, I get you from point A to point B. End of story," he says. "That's the problem!" our president cried, "they think they're in the transportation business!" I returned to my Newsweek to find an editorial titled "How to Build a Happy Company" from a former AOL vice-chairman. He quotes Charles Forbes, founder of Forbes magazine, who said that "business originated to bring happiness." The editorial goes on to describe AOL's downturn when its corporate philosophy became centered on bigger financial returns rather than producing a quality product.

This reminded my yet again of the 'Parable of the Drill'. The gist of the parable is that all companies should be in the "happy business" no matter what else they do.

Next week my mother, my wife and I will be flying Southwest Airlines from Syracuse to Tucson. I've never flown this airline but, from what I've read, it's different. It's not only the amusing "Bags Fly Free" ad campaign (I do hope I see those guys with the painted chests). SW has always encouraged the public to tell them what it thinks. Their web site has a forum where passengers offer suggestions and lodge complaints, and they post the bad as well as the good. There's also a web community for posting pictures and videos and a Facebook page with more than 780,000 fans. On their YouTube page you can watch videos of how the painted-chest "Battle Cry" ad was made. Maybe this is their "gimmick" -- to seem hipper and friendlier than other airlines, but I think this company gets the Parable.

C'mon, Southwest, don't let me down. Make us happy!

Is Everybody Happy?

2009-10-02T21:07:00.002-04:00

Back in December 2005, I blogged about the "Parable of the Drill" and keeping focused on the goal of making your customers or patrons happy.

In the October issue of Wired magazine, there's an interview with the founder of Netflix. He tells how the company was founded and why they conduct business the way they do. To help customers find movies they might like, they're encouraged to rate the movies they rent. This helps Netflix recommend other movies. They can also get suggestions from friends who use the service. Near the end of the article, he says, "When people connect with a movie, it really makes them happy, and that's fundamentally what we're trying to do. Today you love one out of three movies you watch. If we can raise that to two out of three, we can completely transform the market and increase human happiness."

This past week I got the chance to put this philosophy into action. I work for a library automation company located near Syracuse, NY. If you're in the library field, you know which one it is. Yesterday, I got a call from one of the libraries I work with. Their patrons where getting empty e-mail notices from the library. Each day, a computer program sends out hundreds of e-mail messages to notify people that their holds have come in, that their items are overdue or that they owe the library money. I checked the log files and, while the job had run successfully, I saw that the body of the messages was indeed empty. We discovered that the program that backs up the library's data each day wasn't working right and, because everything is linked together in this system, it was affecting the e-mails. One of our programmers was able to reclaim the missing data and replace it in the message queue. But the job wasn't scheduled to run again until the next morning. I considered running the job manually to send out the notices right away, although this would put a load on the system during business hours. But patrons had already contacted the library, wondering what was in the messages. I was afraid this would continue when people checked their e-mail that night. Sending the corrected message could help prevent more confusion. I talked it over with the library and we decided to run the job. It was late in the day and we were getting ready to head home. But we decided to do the right thing and help make the patrons happy. The job took 30 minutes to run, which made me a little late, but there were no more complaints from the library's patrons.

Call Me Old School

2009-08-16T19:48:00.009-04:00

My wife and I went shopping for a new car recently. We'd narrowed our choices to the Honda Fit, and the hybrids Honda Insight, and Toyota Prius. The hybrids interested us, but the Fit was very highly rated, affordable and gets good mileage. We really wanted to like the Insight, even though it was more expensive than the Fit. It's bigger and scores off the charts on the environmental friendliness scale. But we both liked the Fit much better. The seats were more comfortable and the Insight has a weird divided back window we didn't care for. Our Jetta has a huge window and maybe we're spoiled. Also, the engine in the Insight turns off when you're stopped and there's a lag between the time you push down on the pedal and when the car starts to move. This was a deal-breaker for me. I've been driving VWs for years and like the way that, when you step on the gas, something happens immediately. (Cheap rental cars have always disappointed me in this area.) The Fit was spunky and moved right out. We like the roominess inside, too. This car was an automatic but also has paddle shifters, a new feature to me. These are levers, attached to each side of the steering wheel, that let you shift up and down through the gears without a clutch. Racing cars often use these because the driver can shift without taking his hand off the wheel.

I tried them during our test drive, working my way up, taching each gear higher than the automatic would have and moving back down on the exit ramps with no problem. But I'm not sold. Call me old school, but shifting requires a stick and clutch. It's just not the same. If you want to shift, then pony up the $800 to put a standard in the Fit.

Anyway, we're going with the Fit. We decided not to even test drive the Prius because it was the most expensive of the three and we really liked the Fit. My beloved VW didn't make the cut either. We were disappointed by the gas mileage of the Jetta and the Rabbit. So we're saving up to pay cash on the barrelhead for this car and figure we can do the deal in late fall. Although it may be sooner, depending on what caused the check engine light to come on in the Jetta today. Honda says no problem doing the custom paint job I want.

The Right Tool for the Job

2009-06-13T15:58:00.002-04:00

My Dad always insisted that we use the right tool for the job. You don't open a paint can with a screwdriver, for example. The other day my wife and I got an e-mail invitation to a birthday party. It contained a link to RSVP, but since the invitation was a pdf file (basically a picture) the link was not clickable. We couldn't copy it and paste it into our browser either. Instead, we had to type it in the browser's address bar, but it was something like "www.invitation.com/hbntrxypytragkly/. Several typos were made. Once we reached the site, there was a list of all the other attendees and, in very tiny font, a link to RSVP. But first we needed to create an account with a username and password. Instead, we went back to the original e-mail, clicked once on the Reply button and sent, "Thanks, we'll be there." Done.

That was too much work and too many steps for something that should have been simple and straightforward. And I'll bet that it took the sender longer to create the account, compose the list of addressees, write and send the message than it would have been to do it straight from her e-mail address book.

Technology can often help make things easier and it's tempting to use a new tool because it's cool and different. But don't make me jump through too many hoops. My time is precious.

Don't just blog there -- say something.

2009-05-17T15:55:00.001-04:00

The first rule of blogging is "have something to say." For the last two and a half months, I've been thinking about what to say and I've concluded that the purpose of this blog has changed.

Before I started my new job as site manager at Polaris Library Systems, I tried to blog whenever I ran across something that I thought would be useful or interesting to my readers. To find these tidbits, I spent at least half an hour each day doing current awareness activities; reading blogs, newsletters, RSS feeds, listservs, websites, etc. Things move fast in library technology and I felt it was critical to keep up as best I could.

The first two weeks at Polaris were overwhelming. The popular expression is "drinking from a fire hose." The site manager is the primary contact for Polaris customers and is the liaison between technical support and customer sites. I've been told that it takes two to three months just to get a handle on everything and six months to become really productive.

Polaris is a complex integrated library system (ILS) and the site managers come in contact with everything. The public library where I worked had been on Polaris for about a year and half, but I had only used a very small part of the system. Now I was trying to learn several new software programs, figure out the workflow and learn everyone's name. The biggest challenge was Structured Query Language (SQL), a key part of the job. If you want some information from the database, you can't just type in, "I want a list of the library's holds notices for items that are missing." A special computer language has to be used and the query must follow a structure. I was new to this and felt like I was back in high school geometry. But I did a SQL query last week that I couldn't have done two months ago.

For those first two weeks at Polaris, I didn't do my current awareness at all. Partly, I didn't need it for what I was doing and, after working intensively with a computer all day, I just couldn't face one in the evening. As my comfort level with the job has increased, I've gradually been reading my information resources more frequently. But I don't think I'm going to rely on them as a source for my blog posts.

In the past, I found things to blog about as a result of my current awareness activities. Since that's not a big part of my current job, I'm not running into them anymore. So the blog will change. Future postings will not be as frequent as they used to be and will cover other things that I'm interested in, such as folk music, acoustic guitars, books and who knows what else. I think so now, anyway.

A Good Day with Paul Harvey

2009-03-01T15:18:00.003-05:00

In my previous career as television cameraman, I sometimes rubbed elbows with celebrities. In 1978, I had barely started my first job at WTAJ in Altoona, PA, when Paul Harvey came to town. While doing genealogical research, he discovered that some of his ancestors with the surname of Arendt came from the nearby town of Hollidaysburg. In front of the Blair County courthouse is a war memorial monument displaying the name of one of his forebears. Paul came to have a look. Since I was working solo that day and had no professional training as a journalist, I didn't know what to ask him. Our assignment editor told me, "Ask him why he thinks his approach has stayed popular even now when more journalism is becoming more investigative and hard-hitting." Paul replied that he always looked forward to coming into work each day and checking the wires to see what interesting things people had been up to. He was very gracious with his time and even posed for a photo with me, grabbing the microphone and, turning the tables, jokingly said, "How about me asking you some tough questions, now, Dave? What about your style of journalism?" I regret that I've lost the picture. But my mother still lives in Hollidaysburg and I sometimes drive past that monument and think about that good day.

My Brilliant Career, Part 2

2009-02-13T11:16:00.002-05:00

Soon I'll be entering a new chapter in my library career. I'll be leaving Liverpool Library and, starting in March, working for Polaris Library Systems here in Liverpool. The position is site manager, which is similar to tech support, for the libraries that use their system. This will be the most challenging thing I've ever done. The job is very fast-paced and requires knowledge of SQL, which will be new to me.

I thought a long time about making this move. When I started my career in libraries, I told myself that I would take advantage of opportunities that presented themselves. Polaris has an excellent reputation among its customers and in the industry. They added 60 libraries last year and are expanding into Canada. I know several people there and they love it.

I feel lucky to have had to chance to work here. Many of the things I learned made me an attractive job candidate. I've experimented with new technologies and worked with some talented people. Daily reference work can be very satisfying and I'll miss the "regulars" who smile and wave when they come in. I've been full-time here for almost ten years. Everyone is happy for me but sorry to see me leave. This will still be my home library so I'll see the staff members regularly.

This blog will probably change, too. My blog content is automatically posted on the Liverpool Library's website, and I've tried to keep it related to libraries and technology. In the future, I may expand my posts into other areas that interest me. It may become more personal, too. Stay tuned!

Using Caution with USB Drives

2009-02-04T13:38:00.000-05:00

USB drives, sometimes known as thumb drives or flash drives, are popular for storing and transporting data. They are small, inexpensive, and have much more capacity than floppy disks. But these characteristics also make them appealing to hackers.

An attacker can use your USB drive to infect other computers. He can install a malicious program, or malware, on a computer that can detect when a USB drive is plugged in. The malware then copies that malicious code onto the drive. When that USB drive is plugged into another computer, the malware infects that computer.

To help protect yourself, use passwords and encryption on your USB drive, and make sure that you have the information backed up. Keeping your antivirus and firewall up-to-date can also help you stay safe.

More USB security tips from the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team can be found here.

Downloadable Audio Books How-to

2009-01-20T15:23:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, January 29, Daveman will demonstrating the OverDrive downloadable audiobooks service. The county libraries offer free audiobooks and music that you can download to your home computer, mp3 player or iPod. This demonstration will show you how to search the digital catalog, download the books, then transfer them to a portable player. We'll meet at 1:00 p.m. in the Carman Room. Please register using the library's online events calendar.

I'm Feeling Good, too!

2008-12-23T10:24:00.002-05:00

Last month I told about a mysterious card and photo I received here at the library. I sent that post to the Feel Good Librarian, who uses her blog to talk about the rewards of being a librarian. She was kind enough to put it on her blog. Today I see that one of my heroes, Michael Stephens, has pointed to it from his blog, Tame the Web. I'm glad that story is making the rounds. I still feel good when I reread that post, and today I feel better than ever!

Another Day, Another Scam

2008-12-23T09:37:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been getting e-mail messages that claim to be from Classmates.com, a social networking site that helps you contact your high school or college classmates. The senders are different, but they all say the same thing:

"With pride and joy we invite you to share a special day in our lives and join us for the Class Reunion on Friday, January 16th 2009. Bring the gang from Our High School back together again! Great party - from start to finish!"

I was suspicious of these right away because they don't mention a specific high school. Also, I graduated from high school in 1970. That's 39 years ago - not a typical reunion year. Finally, there's a link in these messages for more details that points to a video. It starts with "http://video.classmates.etc." This all adds up to bad news. Clicking this link could open your computer to a takeover. Never click a link in an e-mail message from a stranger. If you want to contact your high school friends, go to Classmates and set up an account.

Airline Ticket E-mail Scam

2008-12-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has issued an alert for an e-mail scam targeting holiday travelers. The message looks like it has been sent from a legitimate airline and mentions an airline ticket and credit card balance due. Attached to the message is a file that appears to be a ticket and an invoice. Opening this attachment will install a malicious program on your computer. Always be careful with e-mail messages that contain attachments. There are more details in this article.

Medicine for the Soul

2008-12-11T14:43:00.000-05:00

"Medicine for the Soul" -- Inscription over the door of the library at Thebes

Here's a link to a recent story from MSNBC about public libraries. It asserts that, due to the economy, libraries have become busier than ever before. Our library has always been like a beehive. On our first visit (before I started working here) my wife and were stunned to find no vacant seats. It was Sunday afternoon and the place was like a tornado.

In addition to offering "free" books, computers, DVDs, and CDs, we've tried to make the library more of a community center. We have music concerts and show feature films. We have a series of storytimes for kids, computer classes, and book discussion groups for all ages. We also partner with several community groups to hold programs here. All this adds up to about 1200 people through the doors every day. It gets a little slower during the holidays, but there are always people waiting outside when the doors open.

One personal note: in my previous career, I used to work with this reporter, Chris Jansing, at a television station in Albany, NY. I was glad to see her do this piece, but I want to go on the record that I had nothing to do with persuading her to do it!

More Grinchiness

2008-12-04T10:21:00.000-05:00

Cnet News is reporting that holiday coupon e-mails from familiar companies may be malicious code in disguise. This article, "Worm uses familiar brands to lure people," has a screen shot of one of the messages. The address in the 'From' field appears to be legitimate, but these can be easily spoofed. Always be careful about e-mail messages from people you don't know, especially if they include attachments.

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

2008-12-03T20:53:00.001-05:00

Nothing says 'Christmas' like "Bot-wielding hackers crash eBay holiday giveaway."

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-12-01T10:06:00.001-05:00

The library has a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sargent Meeting Room. I'll show you the catalog's innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

Go ahead, make my day!

2008-11-26T13:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I received an envelope in my mailbox here at the library. I didn't recognize the name on the return address. Inside was a picture of a young boy I didn't know. His name was on the photo along with a message from his parents welcoming him to their family. Mystified, I opened the enclosed card. A handwritten message read, "Thank you for your notary services. The final documents enabled us to finish the adoption of our wonderful son. We are so glad to have him home and are grateful to the many people who helped us complete the journey." During a typical day, I may perform lots of notaries. I didn't remember this family, but now I'll never forget them.

Mac OS X targeted by Trojan

2008-11-24T16:35:00.001-05:00

I switched to a Mac computer because there is very little malware for it. Malware is a catchall term for viruses, Trojans, spyware, Blue Meanies and all sorts of nasty stuff that can get on your computer and make you sad.

But lately, we've been seeing more articles like this one from ZDNet; Mac OS X targeted by Trojan and backdoor tool. According to the article, this bad guy is found on adult websites, posing as a program needed to play video files. (This technique is used to trick the user into downloading and installing the Trojan.) But in the future it could become common on other sites, too. Always be careful about downloading free software, such as a viewer or a game, or agreeing to a free computer scan. These things are almost always big trouble.

Back in May of 2007 I posted about another reason I'm glad I switched to the Mac.

Would Henry Higgins Approve?

2008-11-19T19:52:00.001-05:00

Recently, Walter Mossberg wrote an article in his Personal Technology blog about Wi-Fi Internet service for cars titled, "Wi-Fi on Wheels Is Steady, but Has a Speed Bump."

While reading his description of a router that can be installed in car trunks, I was brought up short by this sentence: "This router looks like a military device, because it is ruggedized to survive jolts and vibrations..." Ruggedized??? That couldn't really be a word, could it? It sounded like slangy gobbledygook to me, similar to the term Woody Allen used to describe a rock concert when he said, "It achieved total heaviosity." But this was Walter Mossberg, tech guru of the Wall Street Journal. Surely he wouldn't use jargon like that. And of course he didn't. When I see a word that I don't know or have suspicions about, I go to Google and type "define" (without the quotes) and then the word. In this case, the search results brought up links to several online dictionaries, all of which assured me that "ruggedized" is indeed a word that means, "the act of making a piece of equipment rugged (strengthening to resist wear or abuse)." The Free Online Dictionary listed the related term, "ruggedization," as a synonym. To satisfy my curiosity, I checked the Oxford English Dictionary print edition, which also defined ruggedization as "the action or process of making something rugged."

In a disturbing development, the OED says "heaviosity" is really a word, too.

Is it Just Me?

2008-11-17T10:09:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a website won't load, but you may wonder if the site is really down or if there's a problem with your computer. "Downforeveryoneorjustme?" will let you know. Type the address of the site you're trying to reach in the box. It will check the site and say either, "It's just you,” or “Yikes! The website is actually down!”

Reading is fine by me, thanks.

2008-11-13T16:09:00.001-05:00

A few days ago one of the major spam spewers was shut down. This article from CNet News has the details. Although they'll probably be back in a few months, this is great news. Some estimates were that 40% of all spam came from this source. Since then, the number of spam messages dropped from about 40 messages per second to 10 per second. That's still a lot but, instead of a dozen or so daily messages, I didn't get any yesterday. However, today I got a hilarious message advertising a generic form of Viagra. Typically, the subject lines are something like "let the magic begin" or "keep your girlfriend happy." But this one read "Now you don't have to spend your evenings alone reading books." The horror!!

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-11-13T13:35:00.000-05:00

The library has a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Tuesday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carman Community Room. I'll show you the catalog's innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

A problem with AVG virus scanner

2008-11-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

I often recommend the free AVG anti-virus program as an alternative to a fee-based program. Most of the time it works as well as any other. But according to this article, AVG may wrongly identify an important computer file as harmful. You may see a warning message like this.

AVG advises you to delete the file, but this will prevent your computer from booting correctly. AVG has posted instructions for recovering your system here. You can find other remedies on this web page.

The More Things Change...

2008-10-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spoke to a class of incipient librarians at Syracuse University. "Introduction to the Library and Information Profession" is the introductory course in the Master's Degree program in the Information School. It was great fun and there was a lively Q&A discussion. They were mainly interested in my day-to-day activities, but we also talked about ethics, problem patrons, fund raising and a host of other topics. I told them that when I took this course I was brand new to librarianship, but most of my classmates were working librarians. In the first class, I was worried when they started using library jargon such as OCLC, union catalogs, ILS, etc. I frantically wrote these down so I could look them up later. When last night's class was over, one of the students approached me and said, "I want you to see my notebook." There, at the top of the first page were the notes he'd taken back in September. The very first sentence read, "What is OCLC?" We both had a good laugh about that. (For the non-librarians, OCLC stands for the Online Library Computer Center, a nonprofit computer library service and research organization that provides bibliographic, abstract and full-text information. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the OCLC Online Union Catalog. Still not sure what it is? You'll have to take the course.)

Librarians love blogs!

2008-10-28T14:30:00.000-04:00

Blogs are a great way to stay informed and get opinions and insights from other librarians. They're easy and free, too. Walt Crawford has released his list of library-related blogs, titled "The Liblog Landscape 2007-2008: A Lateral Look."

There are more than 600 blogs listed here, and I'm happy to see that Daveman's Tech Tips made the cut. I subscribe to 85 blogs, but not all are about libraries. Some are techology feeds from Wired, CNN, and CNet News. Others are columns from techies like David Pogue of the New York Times or Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic. (He rarely talks about the strip, but covers a wide range of topics including politics, vegetarianism, the economy, science and much more.) I subscribe to feeds from the library that contain lists of new books that I might be interested in. I also read blogs about my favorite football teams, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the New York Giants (but not on work time, of course!). These feeds save me the trouble of going to websites of the Centre Daily Times and the New York City newspapers to find the stories.

I don't read all of these blogs each day. I have a list of "must reads" that I check out first. My blog reader displays the headlines of each post and I scan them. If there's a story that interests me, I'll read it or mark it for later. I also try to limit myself to 30 minutes of blog perusal each day. I'll bet there are some good blogs on time management that could help me even more!

Is Your Computer a Zombie?

2008-10-21T16:01:00.001-04:00

As I was printing handouts for my program on computer security, "Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too," there was an ugly copier jam that took three people to clear. While I was waiting, I saw this sobering article in the New York Times; "A Robot Network Seeks to Enlist Your Computer." In a Microsoft test, an unprotected computer was infected in 30 seconds. "An automated program lurking on the Internet has remotely taken over the PC and turned it into a 'zombie.' That computer and other zombie machines are then assembled into systems called “botnets” — home and business PCs that are hooked together into a vast chain of cyber-robots that do the bidding of automated programs to send the majority of e-mail spam, to illegally seek financial information and to install malicious software on still more PCs."

In my program I always stress how important it is to keep your system updated with the latest security patches. I also talk about keeping your antivirus definitions current, scanning and deleting spyware, and configuring your firewall. These things can go a long way toward keeping your computer safe and secure. The article also mentioned Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool, a free program that can find and remove infections. I usually don't like to work without a net, but I didn't have time to test it before the program. Fortunately, it was easy to download and worked quickly. Best of all, my computer was clean.

Thanks to the hungry copier, I had enough time to add this to my handout and website.

Cleaning Your Keyboard

2008-10-15T15:53:00.001-04:00

Computer keyboards get dirty very quickly. Grime and dust gets on the keys and under them, too. Keeping your keyboard clean is easy and should be done regularly. "Step-By-Step: Keep a Clean Keyboard," from PC World, will walk you through the process. (Hint: Take a picture of the keyboard before you start popping the key caps off.) This article also links to tips on cleaning the mouse and your whole computer.

Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too!

2008-10-07T16:31:00.000-04:00

On October 21, at 1:00 p.m., I'll be presenting "Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too" at the library. Keeping your computer safe while you’re on the Internet is critical. I’ll show you free and easy ways to secure your computer and protect yourself. You’ll discover to how to recognize common dangers and minimize risks. You’ll learn what to do, and not do, with dangerous e-mail messages. We’ll also show how to keep your system updated to guard against viruses, worms, Trojan horses, hackers and spyware. Please register for this program using the online Events Calendar.

Technology and Football

2008-09-29T10:37:00.002-04:00

Friday's New York Times online ran an article titled "N.C.A.A. Is Slower to Embrace Technology" about two of my favorite subjects; technology and college football. The gist of the story is that, since the NCAA prohibits computers and television monitors in the coaches' box during games, coaches are at a disadvantage. They can't watch replays or plan strategies by examining their data on the other team's tendencies.

The technology ban is driven partly by the idea that the game should be decided by players on the field. I support this...kind of. For a long time I was opposed to officials using instant replay during a game. While it was interesting for fans to watch the replays on TV and the Jumbotron, I felt it was an intrusion for officials to use it. Let the players play the game and the officials make the calls. If they made a mistake, that was the breaks. The game had been played without replay for decades and survived. Also, games were often delayed for several minutes while the officials deliberated. But I gradually changed my mind. If it makes the game fairer, I'll go for it. Also, there's now a time limit on how long the refs can mull things over.

The article features a photo of the Penn State coaching staff looking glum. This shot was taken during the Temple game when, because a leg injury, head coach Joe Paterno spent the second half in the box instead of pacing the sideline. As Heath Ledger said, "Why so serious?" The Lions won the game by a score of 45-3.

One final note: I almost reconsidered my take on replays last weekend during the PSU/Illinois game. An Illinois receiver snagged a pass at the edge of the end zone. Clearly out of bounds, IMHO. But replay reversed the call and Illinois took the lead. No worries. The Lions prevailed again.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-09-22T10:22:00.000-04:00

The library has a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Wednesday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sargent Community Room. I'll show you the catalog's innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

New Features on our Events Calendar

2008-09-17T14:10:00.000-04:00

The library's online Events Calendar has been improved with several useful features. Above the calendar are two new buttons. The "Print View" button will show you a printer-friendly version of the calendar. In addition, if you use an RSS reader, you can subscribe to the calendar with the "RSS feed" button. Library events will be automatically sent to your reader. But there's even more! Clicking on an event listing opens the Event Information window, which also has two new buttons. Click the "Notify Me" button and we'll e-mail you about similar events at the library. The "Download to calendar" button will let you send the event to an web-based calendar, such as Google Calendar.

Online Computer Dictionaries

2008-09-03T14:59:00.000-04:00

Computer terms can sometimes sound like a foreign language. FOLDOC, the Free Online Dictionary of Computing, and techdictionary are online dictionaries that can help. In addition to computer terms, they also contain Internet and telecommunications terms, acronyms, emoticons or smilies, chat abbreviations, filename extensions, HTML tags, and domain suffixes.

My Brilliant Career

2008-08-26T16:10:00.001-04:00

I've been tagged with a meme! Some library-related bloggers are posting about how they came to be librarians and, as is customary with a meme, other bloggers are asked to comment, too.

I came to the libraries after almost 20 years as a television news photographer. There were days when it was the coolest job in the world, but the hours were long and erratic and I was looking for a job that challenged me more. My wife, a school librarian, showed me an announcement in a library journal about the Independent Study Degree Program for the MLS at Syracuse University. It was a challenge alright! I was brand new to the library world and scrambled to remember how to do research papers. But I enjoyed the work, my classmates and my instructors. I graduated in 3 years and was hired by AskERIC, the online question-answering service of the ERIC Clearinghouse at Syracuse. After 2 years there, I became the Electronic Services Librarian at SU's Law School. However, this wasn't a good fit for me. Fortunately, I was soon hired as Computer Literacy Librarian at Liverpool Public Library. This really is the coolest job in the world. I staff the reference desk 10 - 12 hours a week and I'm responsible for many of the computer-related programs offered here. Liverpool has a reputation as forward-thinking and tech savvy, and the administration is very supportive of experimenting with new technologies. Not only that, I live 2 blocks from the library so it's an easy commute and I can go home for lunch and check on our dogs. Just livin' the dream!

This whole saga would have been easier if I'd just paid attention to the results of an aptitude test I took in 12th grade. It recommended that I was well-suited to be a librarian. But that didn't sound interesting to me, so I had a long and colorful college career trying to find something to major in. Finally I landed in the department of film at Penn State. It was great to fun to make movies and critique them. When I graduated, I did some stringing, then got a staff position at a small station in my hometown of Altoona, PA. This led to a year in a documentary film unit at WSPX, the public station at Penn State, then onto the NBC affiliate in Albany, NY. The rest is history.

Fake news messages contain a Trojan

2008-08-14T15:03:00.001-04:00

Lately I've been getting lots of e-mail messages that claim to be the "Daily Top 10" news stories from CNN or "BREAKING NEWS" from MSN. These bogus messages are big trouble. They contain links to news story headlines. If you click these links, you'll be taken to a fake site where you'll be asked to download a Flash video file. This file is very dangerous and contains a malicious Trojan horse. Delete these messages. If you want to keep up on the latest news, visit msnbc or go to CNN.com and subscribe to the Breaking News Alerts.

Libraries in Our Blood

2008-08-07T16:41:00.002-04:00

Recently we attended a wedding in Vermont and had the chance to explore some family history. The family of my wife's father was originally from Irasburg (pop. 1098), just north of St. Johnsbury. In 1927, his family donated property next to the town common with the understanding that it was to be used "for the common good." The Leach Public Library was built on the site. In the past it was open just a two days a week but, thanks to volunteers, it's now expanded to five days, including Saturdays.

On the way, we stopped at the excellent Northshire Bookstore in Manchester. Crossing the busy streets can be a challenge in that town, but the bookstore is worth it. It's been greatly expanded since we last visited. There's a large media section and a wonderful children's area upstairs. There's even a new coffee shop/cafe called the Spiral Press.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-08-06T13:21:00.000-04:00

The library has a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Thursday, August 14 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carman Community Room. I'll show you the catalog's innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

The Way We Are

2008-07-30T20:24:00.001-04:00

Here's an encouraging article from USA Today. It says that libraries are busier than ever because of the ways they've transformed from book repositories into community centers. We've always been busy here at Liverpool. Our library averages 1000-1200 people through the door every day. Patrons who are new often comment, "Wow, this place is really busy!" And sometimes it's not very quiet either. Most libraries are this way now and we encourage it. I try not to "shush" anyone unless they're really loud or having a conversation across the room. Maybe the folks at Sharp should visit their local library before they trademark a phrase like this one.

Giant Coffee Pot

2008-07-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

Over the July 4th holiday, I visited my mother in Pennsylvania and we took a drive through Bedford County to look at covered bridges. Along the way we stopped at the giant Coffee Pot, which stands at the entrance to the Bedford fairgrounds. Alas, they don't serve coffee here anymore. The Lincoln Highway Historical Corridor and Roadside America sites have some historical information and photos.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-07-14T11:39:00.000-04:00

The library has a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Tuesday, July 22 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carman Community Room. I'll show you the catalog's innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

Giants' Karma

2008-07-10T09:09:00.001-04:00

I've reached a milestone! I've been participating in the library's Reader's Challenge reading club. When the program started a few years ago, each reader received the prize of a baseball style shirt after reading 23 books. (The number was chosen because it belonged to Michael Jordan, even though he played basketball. 23 seemed like a reasonable goal.)

The club was so popular that we decided to extend it. While discussing what number to put on the new shirt, we considered 44, the number worn by legendary Syracuse football players, including Heisman winner Ernie Davis. But we wanted a larger number to encourage more reading. As a NY Giants fan, I suggested 56, worn by linebacker Lawrence Taylor. When one of my colleagues asked the unthinkable question, "Who is Lawrence Taylor?" I explained how this one athlete, with his unique physical abilities and playing style, changed the entire game of professional football. He was such a dominating pass rusher that other teams had to change their offensive schemes to deal with him. They also began creating their own "Taylors" who mimicked his style. This, in turn, changed the way teams recruited new players and even affected the way college football is played. How all this influenced the life of an underprivileged high school athlete is told in Michael Lewis' fine book, "Blind Side." Anyway, 56 was chosen for the reading club shirt, as well as another, 99 for Wayne Gretzky. Here's where it gets spooky. Last week I finished number 55 on my reading list and, while I was trying to decide what to read next, one of my holds came in. It was "The Game of Their Lives," by Dave Klein, which tells the story of the 1958 NFL Championship game between the Giants and the Colts, considered by many fans to be the greatest game ever. Maybe it was coincidence.......or maybe not.

Web Site Certificates

2008-07-08T09:32:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, when visiting a web site, you may have seen a message stating that there is a problem with the site's certificate. If a web site has a valid certificate, it means that a certifying authority has verified that the web address actually belongs to that organization. In this way, certificates can protect you from "imposter" web sites that are trying to get your personal information. Usually you'll have the option of examining the certificate, accepting it forever, accepting it only for that particular visit, or choosing not to accept it. This article from US-CERT will tell you how to check the certificate's authenticity and help you decide what to do.

Rock & Roll Trivia

2008-07-01T15:55:00.000-04:00

Before I became a librarian, I worked as a television news photographer in Albany, NY. Once in a while, something from that time proves useful to me now. There's a teenager who often comes to the reference desk asking for rock CDs by bands like Whitesnake, As I Lay Dying, etc. Today he wanted Sammy Hagar's "Unboxed," which has the tune "I Can't Drive 55." I put it on hold for him, then told him a story. Years ago, we interviewed Sammy during a concert tour stop in Albany and he told us how to song came to be. He had just returned from a safari in Africa and landed in Albany. (I think he was vacationing in the Adirondacks.) Deliriously happy to be home in the USA, Sammy hopped in his rental car and tore off up the Northway, right into a notorious speed trap near the town of Halfmoon. The trooper cautioned him to obey the posted speed limit, but Sammy shook his head and said, "Man, I can't drive 55!!" The rest is history. My teenage patron was impressed that a middle-aged librarian knew this bit of rock trivia.

Guybrarians

2008-06-24T10:20:00.000-04:00

"Hi, Mr. Librarian!!!" Joshua called out as he came in the children's room, "May I please have a computer pass?"

Coincidentally, I had just finished reading this article: 'Guybrarians' - An Overdue Phenomenon at Many Libraries, and a Fine Career Choice, that explains why the stereotype of the frumpy female librarian is fading away. It's becoming more common to see men librarians. Almost half of my MLS class at Syracuse was made up of men. Some of the heavy hitters in library tech are men; Michael Stephens, John Blyberg, Steven Cohen, Casey Bisson, Marshall Shore.

By the way, there was a problem with the game Joshua wanted to play, but it was easy to fix. He thanked me and told his mother, "Whenever you need help, be sure to ask Mr. Librarian!"

OSX Security Threat

2008-06-21T15:42:00.001-04:00

Security researchers at SecureMac have discovered Mac OS X malware, capable of taking control of a victim's computer. This Trojan has been given a "critical" security rating.

A Trojan is a program that appears legitimate, but performs illicit activity when it is run, such as stealing passwords, making the system more vulnerable to future entry, or destroying your programs or data. MacScan 2.5, from SecureMac, is a free trial download that can detect and remove the Trojan. For more details, see these two articles:

Mac OS X Security Threat Discovered

Tiny Trojan Trots Into Mac OS X Turf

Internet-connected coffee maker has security holes

2008-06-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

This headline brought me up short. A coffee machine connected to the Internet? Through a wireless connection, the Jura F90 will let you select your coffee drink from your PC. But this convenience may come with a cost apart from the $1800 sale price. According to this article, the machine has a security vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker take over a Windows XP-based PC. (Insert Java joke here.) I think I'll stay with my Mr. Coffee auto drip.

New Firefox

2008-06-17T14:31:00.002-04:00

The latest version of the Firefox web browser is now available for download. I've been using the beta versions for the past few months and have had no problems. It's very fast and I like the new bookmarking tools. The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg says that Mozilla Firefox 3.0 Is the Best Browser for Web — For Now.

Please be patient while connecting to the download site. Firefox is trying to set a download record today and you may have to wait for a few minutes to reach it.

Blogging is Good for You

2008-06-10T13:19:00.000-04:00

Scientific American has published an article about the therapeutic value of blogging. "Besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism, expressive writing produces many physiological benefits. Research shows that it improves memory and sleep, boosts immune cell activity and reduces viral load in AIDS patients, and even speeds healing after surgery."

NYSLAA conference

2008-06-06T11:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I presented the "All About Blogs" program at the New York State Library Assistants' Annual Conference held here in Liverpool, NY. Here's a picture of the group.

This session and the conference were well attended by staff from public and academic libraries statewide. The sessions dealt not only with library-related topics, but also investing, health maintenance and gardening. It was gratifying to see these front-line staffers committed to professional activities like this. I was happy to be invited and it was a pleasure to speak at this conference. I've attended the New York Library Assocation and Public Library Association conferences over the years and this was as well-run as any of those. Kudos to everyone involved!

Hold It!

2008-06-03T13:22:00.000-04:00

When an item on hold comes in for you, we keep it on the library's hold shelf for a week. To let you know it's here, we'll send you an e-mail message showing how long the item will be held. You can also find this date by logging into your account, then clicking on the Holds link. You'll see a list of all the items you have on hold. For any items that are "Held," click the blue and white "i" icon to the left of the title. If a hold is still active, clicking on the "i" will show you when the hold will expire.

Librarians Hold Key to World of Books

2008-05-11T19:24:00.000-04:00

Today's Syracuse Post-Standard had on op-ed piece titled "Librarians Hold Key to World of Books" about the value of school librarians. This topic is near and dear to my heart, because my wife is an elementary school librarian. The author was Ruth Small, a professor at Syracuse University's iSchool. Ruth was my advisor during my MLS studies and I was pleased to be chosen to give her the Professor of the Year in 1996 at the Commencement ceremony.

Doing what you don't have to do

2008-05-10T14:25:00.000-04:00

I think Lewis Black is funny, especially his riff on the proliferation of Starbucks coffee stores. But I like Starbucks, too. They do a lot of things right, such as support for sustainable agriculture and the fair trade movement, and stock options for all employees. Yesterday I learned about one more. If you're in the drive-through and you have to wait while they brew a fresh pot, your joe is on the house. I didn't wait long - only a minute - and I was going to use my birthday gift card anyway. But that's their policy and it's a good way to make friends with your customers.

A similar thing happened a few years ago with the Taylor Guitar company. I have two of their guitars and I like the way they do business. Their instruments are beautiful and well-crafted. They're also concerned about the shortage of guitar woods and with replenishing forests. I received a t-shirt as a gift but it was too large. I exchanged it, but they accidentally sent another one in the same size. When I returned that one, they sent me the right size along with a free CD of guitar music they produced.

This is the same philosophy I use at the library when someone has trouble with our print system. Printing, especially from web pages, can be tricky. Sometimes only the advertising banners are printed or the margins are cut off. I try to fix the problem, then print another for free. But I'll give free prints for other reasons, too; if they had trouble figuring out the print system, or they mistyped their login name and couldn't call up their print jobs, or they had difficulty downloading the picture they wanted to print. Our printing fees pay for the system and its supplies, so a few freebies once in a while aren't going to break us. I'd rather make a friend for the library.

OK, time to hit the drive-through!

Shrink to Fit

2008-05-10T11:10:00.001-04:00

If you're trying to print a web page that won't fit on a printed page, use your browser's Shrink to Fit feature. In Internet Explorer or Firefox, go to the File menu and select Print Preview. Use the Scale menu to select a percentage by which the page will be reduced for printing or choose Shrink to Fit. The document will be resized to fit your paper.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-05-08T15:29:00.000-04:00

The library has a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Thursday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sargent Room. I'll show you the catalogs innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

How Anonymous Are You?

2008-04-29T09:16:00.000-04:00

When you visit a web site, a certain amount of information is automatically collected by the site. This includes your IP (Interenet Protocol) address, which browser you're using and the kind of computer you have. Most of the time, this information is used for legitimate purposes, such as generating statistics for the web site's owner or targeting advertisements. However, some sites may collect your information for malicious purposes. They can steal your identity or passwords, then use them or sell them to others.

Unless you trust a site, don't give it your address, password or credit card information. Also, look for the icon of a lock in your browser's window or address bar. This means that the site is using encryption to protect your information. The National Cyber Alert System has more tips about protecting your anonymity and making your web browser more secure.

All About Blogs

2008-04-28T10:07:00.000-04:00

Daveman will be presenting the All About Blogs program on May 6 at 10 a.m. in the library's Sargent Room. You can register on the library's events calendar.

Blogs, short for web logs, are often used as online personal journals. But they’re also a great way to keep up on current events or any topics that interest you. We’ll show you how to set up a free blog reader, then find blogs and subscribe to them. We'll also show how to create your own blog and post messages to it.

The Coolest Firefox Tricks Ever

2008-04-15T14:33:00.000-04:00

Many Internet users prefer using Firefox as their browser. (I am one of them.) They feel it's faster and more secure than the others. They like the way it handles RSS feeds and there are plenty of add-ons and tools to extend its features. If it crashes or you accidentally quit the browser, with one click you can easily restore the session, complete with all the open sites and tabs. If you like Firefox, The 15 Coolest Firefox Tricks Ever has a list of tips and shortcuts to help make it even better.

Some of these tips mention the Ctrl key. If you're a Mac user, substitute the Command, or Apple, key for it.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-04-14T11:22:00.000-04:00

We have a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sargent Room. I'll show you its innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds, and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

Anti-Phishing Phil

2008-04-04T16:07:00.000-04:00

It's easy to be fooled by bogus web sites and scams that try to steal your identity. Anti-Phishing Phil is an interactive game that will teach you how to identify phishing URLs, where to look for cues in web browsers and how to use search engines to find legitimate sites.

Why We Do What We Do

2008-04-01T14:16:00.000-04:00

Someone posted a question here about the computer-related programs we offer at the library. They were specifically interested in a course on QuickBooks or Microsoft Word.

You can find our programs on the library's events calendar on our web site. The computer programs are in blue. We can e-mail you whenever a new program is scheduled. Use the link to "Click to let us know what events interest you"(in red at the top). Enter your e-mail address, then click Continue. Enter your name, then use the drop-down menu to select the types of programs you're interested in.

When we consider a new computer program, we try to relate it to the library's mission of providing access to information. Programs like "Internet Searching" and "All About Blogs" deal with searching for information and evaluating what we find. Since many of our sources are moving to the Web, we recognize that the library has a responsibility to insure that our patrons have a basic competence with computers. This is why we offer the one-on-one tutoring sessions for beginners. The program "Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too!" is designed to help you recognize false information, such as e-mail spam and phishing scams, and keep your computer running well. This is in keeping with the library's goal of providing remote access to our resources, such as our downloadable audio books - the subject of one of our other programs.

Many libraries offer courses on Microsoft Word, the standard program for word processing. We felt that offering a beginners' course would inevitably lead to an intermediate and advanced course as well. Given our staffing levels, other responsibilities and our library's mission, we decided not to offer a program on Word. We are constantly reviewing programs and our criteria and we may change our minds in the future.

Incommunicado this week

2008-03-25T15:42:00.000-04:00

Daveman will be at the PLA conference for the rest of the week, so my blogging will be even more sporadic than it has been lately. But this conference is an excellent chance to see the latest in cool technologies and meet some of the heavy hitters in the library tech world. I hope to have interesting things to talk about when I get back.

Downloadable Audiobooks Demo

2008-03-13T16:41:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, March 20, Daveman will demonstrating the Overdrive downloadable audiobooks service. The county libraries now offer free audiobooks and music that you can download to your home computer or mp3 player. This demonstration will show you how to search the digital catalog, download the books, then transfer them to a portable player. We'll meet at 2:00 p.m. in the Carman Room. No registration necessary.

Reopening a closed tab in Firefox

2008-03-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

More cool stuff in Firefox! Have you ever accidentally closed a tab? Instead of navigating through the History or retyping the URL, just type CMD (Apple) + Shift +T and the tab will reopen.

Thanks for Lifehacker for this one.

Dave

Firefox's Password Manager

2008-03-04T15:31:00.000-05:00

Firefox's Password Manager can store your user names and passwords and enter them for you automatically when you visit sites that require them.

When you enter your user name and password at a web site, a dialog box appears asking, "Do you want Password Manager to remember this logon?" If you choose "Yes," the next time you return to the site you'll see that your user name and password are already filled in.

To see your list of saved passwords, follow these instructions:

If you're using a PC, click the Tools menu and select Options. Click the Security tab and click Show Passwords.

If you're using a Mac, go the Firefox menu and select Preferences. Click the Security tab, then click the Show Passwords button.

How the Giants Made Me a Better Librarian

2008-02-14T15:32:00.001-05:00

I've been a NY Giants fan since 1986, the first year they won the Super Bowl. The Albany TV station where I worked sent me to all their home games that season. I shot the games from the sideline, then a reporter and I interviewed players in the locker room afterward. It was great fun. I liked the players, the coach and the whole Giants organization. I've followed the team ever since and was ecstatic when they upset the Patriots this year. I wanted to buy the issue of Sports Illustrated that covered the game (you know, the one with David Tyree's amazing helmet catch on the cover) but it was sold out at three newsstands. I finally found the special commemorative Super Bowl issue at a local drugstore.

Yesterday, a patron told me she was looking for that same issue for her son, who is keeping a Giants scrapbook. I was happy to send her directly to the drugstore, saving her a long search.

Troubleshooting Your Wireless Network

2008-02-11T15:09:00.001-05:00

Wireless routers and modems have reset features that can help you fix networking problems. If you're having a connection problem with your network, try resetting your network. Turn everything off; the computer, the router, the access point if you have one, and your cable of DSL modem. Wait a few minutes, then turn them back on in the order that data would flow from the Internet; the modem first, then the router or access point and finally the computer.

New Security Risks for Mac Users

2008-02-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

Bad news for Mac users. (Full disclosure: I use a Mac at home and work, and love them.) In an article titled, "Security-Wise, the Mac Platform Is Getting Shaky," TechNewsWorld reports that a gang of hackers has designed a phishing attack designed specifically for Macs. The article describes the attack in detail and suggests that more will be appearing soon. Be cautious when clicking links in an e-mail message, especially if you don't know the sender.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-01-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

We have a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Thursday, February 7 at 10:00 in the Sargent Room. I'll show you its innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds, and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

Multiple Browser Start-up Pages

2008-01-17T10:10:00.000-05:00

Because Internet Explorer (Version 7.0) and Firefox use tabs, it's possible to have more than one web page as your start-up page. To do this, open your favorite pages on different tabs. If you're using Firefox, go to the Tools menu and select Options. Click the Main tab. In the Startup area, click Use Current Page, then click OK.

If you're using Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Click the General tab. Click the Use Current button, then click Apply, then OK.

Although Safari also uses tabs, I couldn't get this method work with it.

Learn to Use the New Library Catalog

2008-01-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

We have a new state-of-the-art online catalog! I'll be doing a demonstration on Tuesday, January 22 at 2:00 in the Carman Room. I'll show you its innovative features, including easy-to-use search tools, customized reading lists, RSS feeds, and much more. Please join us for a look at the latest in library technology. To register, please visit the library's Events Calendar.

Monback

2008-01-11T10:56:00.000-05:00

The louts who run Monback Brothers Trash Hauling always crush something while backing up their truck.

Backing up is critical. Having only one copy of your important stuff isn't enough. Yesterday, one of our patrons couldn't access his flash drive. "It's supposed to have a blue light," he said. But there was nothing. My flash drive worked on the same computer, so it appeared that his drive was hosed. He was distraught. Flash drives are more reliable than floppy disks or CDs, but they're not foolproof. His looked like a cheapie that you find for $9.99 in a bucket at the office store checkout. It's usually worth the extra bucks to get a good one.

With technology, anything can happen: our Internet connection could be down or slow, sunspots, Blue Meanies!! When I do a presentation that involves a live Internet connection, I always make a backup. I take screen shots of each web site and what I'm going to show there. Then I make a PowerPoint presentation and I save it on my presentation computer. Then I save a copy on my flash drive. Then I e-mail a copy to my G-mail account. Gotta do it. If someone is interested enough to attend my program, the least I can do is make sure they don't waste their time. Usually everything goes smoothly, but when I need that backup, it's reassuring to have it.

Downloadable Audio Books: How-to

2008-01-07T11:44:00.000-05:00

Onondaga County's libraries now offer free audio books and music that you can download to your home computer or mp3 player. On Wednesday, January 16, I'll be doing a demonstration in the library's Sargent Room. The program will begin at 7:00. Please go to the library's Events Calendar to register.

This demonstration will show you how to search the digital catalog, download the books, then transfer them to a portable player. I've posted the instructions for downloading the audio books on my web site.

Spamhandling

2007-12-31T13:38:00.000-05:00

Recently I received an e-mail message from a Russian student, asking for help. He claimed that his mother is sick and that he's so poor that he can't afford to heat their home. Whenever I get a message like this, I check it out on the Urban Legends Reference Pages. There I learned that he's been "spamhandling" like this for 10 years and found his other versions of this message. The Urban Legends Pages has information on many types of scams. Just type some words from a suspicious message in the search box to find out if it's legitimate.

Fake e-mail messages

2007-12-17T11:43:00.000-05:00

Bogus e-mail messages are circulating again. One of them says it is from the Federal Trade Commission, referencing a complaint filed with the FTC. The message includes links and an attachment that will download a virus. The FTC web site has more details. Also, some members of the Liverpool School District have received messages about a problem with their ATM accounts. These are fake messages that ask you to click a link and verify your account information. As with any suspicious emails, don't click on links in the message and don't open any attachments.

Private File Storage and Sharing

2007-11-30T11:14:00.000-05:00

Drop.io is a free site where you can temporarily save many kinds of files, including Word docs, pictures, video and audio. This allows you to privately share them, transfer them to yourself or share them with co-workers.

It gets better! You don't need to sign up or create an account, either.

Follow these steps to save a file:

Click the Add Files button to attach the document(s).

In the "Name the Drop" box, add a name to the URL.

Choose a deletion date from the menu. Files can be saved up to a year.

Click the Drop It button.

Go to the URL you created to access the document.

We've been using this at the library for patrons who don't have a way to save the document they've created. We love it!

Safe Shopping Online

2007-11-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

I love shopping online. It's fast, convenient and the selection is huge! Holiday shoppers will spend billions of dollars online this year. Finding good deals can help save money but it also pays to be cautious.

Make sure you're on a secure site before you give your name, address or credit card details. Look for a padlock icon in the bottom corner of your web browser or next to the web site's address. This means your information is scrambled, or encrypted, before being sent over the Internet.

The web sites below have more tips to avoid hackers and identity thieves, and can help make your online experience a safe one.

FTC and National Cyber Security Alliance Offer Safe Shopping Practices

Be Safe Online - Shopping Online

SafeShopping.org

Just Say Yes!

2007-11-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

Before I became a librarian, I made a living as a photographer. I'll never forget something I heard at a wedding photography workshop conducted by Denis Reggie, who photographed the wedding of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among other celebrities. "Do whatever they ask," he said, "within reason." He reminded us that we are there for the bride and groom and cautioned us against becoming locked into our routines. If they want some casual shots a week ahead of the wedding; if they want it shot in black and white, just say yes and do it. It doesn't matter that you haven't done it that way before. It's what they want!

I've tried to use this advice in the library. I love saying yes to our patrons.

"My card is from another library. Can I use it here?" Yes!

"Can I return this book to any library?" Yes!

"Do you have a wireless network?" Yes!

Now for the reasonable part. I try to be accomodating but I won't do a job search. I won't type a resume or approve a business plan. I won't print out weekly Nascar results on my home computer and bring them in for someone. I won't let someone check out a reference book. I won't let patrons install software on our computers. These are all things I've been asked to do.

Along with our new ILS, Polaris, we bought 3 new self-checkout units. They're easier to use than our previous units and can do much more. As I was helping some patrons with them, I found myself saying "yes" again and again.

"Can it show me what I have checked out?" Yes!

"Can I see what I have on hold?" Yes!

"Can I check out even if I have an overdue book?" Yes!

"Can I search the catalog with it?" Um.....no.

Slip of the tongue

2007-10-25T14:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was showing our new catalog to a lively group of seniors at our Cafe Connections program. The Cafe usually includes a speaker, then there's time for socializing. I started off by demonstrating how to reach the catalog from our web site and gave them the web address, "lpl.org." There was snickering and whispering among the group. I told them good-naturedly that if someone was telling jokes they needed to share them with everyone. A woman piped up, "It sounded like you said orgy!" That brought a bigger laugh from everyone, including me. I told them that I'd never thought of that before, but from now on I'd always be reminded of it.

A Look at the New Catalog

2007-10-25T09:20:00.000-04:00

Our new catalog has lots of innovative features that let us provide many new services. To learn more, please come to one of my presentations. I'll give you a tour of the easy-to-use search tools, lists of new items, enriched content, RSS feeds and much more. The presentations are scheduled for Nov. 7, from 2:00 - 3:00 and December 5 from 7:00 - 8:00. Please register by using the Events Calendar on our web site.

Our new catalog is up and running!

2007-10-24T19:47:00.000-04:00

It's been two weeks since my last post because we've been crazy busy getting ready for our shiny new integrated library system, Polaris. It went live yesterday and is running very well. It changes the way we do everything here, so there's been a lot of training and practice sessions. We're all wearing "Please be patient" tags and our patrons have been very understanding. If you'd like to have a look, go to our web site and click "Catalog, Holds and Renewals." Follow the link to the Onondaga County Public Library System Catalog. It offers lots of new features and services. I'll be blogging about these in the future.

So, back to the tech stuff:

First, there's a nasty new piece of malware called "Safewebnavigate." It'll cause lots of popups and install red wallpaper on your computer. Getting rid of Safewebnavigate is not easy, but Geeks to Go have posted a fix and instructions on their site. (The fix only works with Windows XP or 2000.)

Second, time to update your Adobe Reader software. There's a malicious PDF document on the Internet that exploits security flaws in Adobe Reader. The company has posted a fix. You can get it by going to Reader's Help menu and selecting "Check for Updates."

That is all. As you were.

Daveman Speaks

2007-10-10T20:24:00.000-04:00

Last week I interviewed Kendall Phillips, a professor from Syracuse University who presents a series of horror films here at the library. Titled "Culture, Controversy & Horror Films," the series is beginning another session this month.

Each program in this series includes the viewing of a film followed by a discussion of the cultural climate and reaction to the film at the time of its making.

The interview is available as a streaming podcast on the library's web site. Just click the Listen Now link. It runs about 17 minutes.

A New Library Catalog is Coming!

2007-09-26T14:13:00.000-04:00

All the libraries in Onondaga County will be changing to a new catalog next month. You can get a sneak preview at one of my presentations on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 1:00 or Saturday, Oct. 13 at 2:00.

There's more information about the new catalog on the library's web site.

Wyoming Libraries PR Campaign

2007-09-20T14:07:00.000-04:00

The Wyoming State Library and a team of library public relations specialists worked with an ad agency to create a slick campaign called "Bringing the World to Wyoming." They even set up their own CafePress site where you can buy shirts and bumper stickers.

I especially liked the bumper stick that reads, "You can have my book when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers." Which one is your favorite and why?

Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries

2007-09-14T13:09:00.000-04:00

Curious Expeditions has gathered gorgeous photographs of some of the world's most beautiful libraries at Librophiliac Love Letter. "Everyone has some kind of place that makes them feel transported to a magical realm. For us here at Curious Expeditions, there has always been something about libraries. There is nothing more magical than a beautiful old library."

Thanks to Marylaine Block for posting this on her Neat New Stuff newsletter.

Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too

2007-09-07T10:54:00.000-04:00

I'll be presenting a program on computer security at Liverpool Public Library on September 13. "Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too" will be held in the library's Carman Room at 10:00.

Keeping your computer safe while you’re on the Internet is critical. I'll show you free and easy ways to secure and protect yourself. You’ll discover to how to recognize common dangers and minimize risks. You’ll learn what to do, and not do, with dangerous e-mail messages. We’ll also show how to keep your system updated to guard against viruses, worms, Trojan horses, hackers and spyware.

Click this link to register.

New Podcast Online

2007-09-06T18:41:00.000-04:00

The latest version of Plugged In, the library's podcast, is now online here. Since we changed our web site you can't subscribe to it, but we'll fix that soon. Meanwhile, just click the link to listen. It's only a few minutes long so the download is quick.

How to Find Coffee on the Internet

2007-08-30T15:46:00.000-04:00

This post will fulfill my blog's mission of providing important coffee news as well as some tips for successful Internet searching.

Yesterday I read a news story titled What Men Should Eat Every Day. It turns out I'm doing everything it recommends, except for the fish (I'm a vegetarian) and the red wine. And I was overjoyed to read this part, "Coffee actually has been shown to reduce liver cancer and to be effective with—or with symptoms of—Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Twenty-four ounces of coffee a day is a rational amount for one person." This was posted on Oprah's site and today they had another pro-coffee article titled, The Latest Health Drink: Coffee.

Both articles recommend a sensible intake. I drink two mugs a day. All things in moderation - a regimen I practiced on our recent vacation. We drove to Michigan for my mother-in-law's 90th birthday party. On the way out and back we stopped in Stratford, Ontario for the Shakespeare Festival. Along the way I got to visit some of my favorite independent coffee shops. In Stratford, Balzac's on Ontario Street is the best, but a few blocks away is the funkier Sputnik Espresso Bar. Their barista was a nice guy, but he should think about trying a decaffeinated brand. The next day we crossed the Blue Water Bridge at noon, just in time for lunch at a cafe in Port Huron, MI and a cappucino at the excellent Raven Coffee House. While in Paw Paw, MI, I went to That Coffee Place for some lattes for me and my grateful stepdaughter, who was worn out from traveling with a two-year old.

Although it's not a coffee shop, a big thank you to The Breakfast Place in Lawton, MI, where the joe comes in a seriously large mug, not one of those pitiful demitasse jobs that many restaurants use.

Whenever I travel, I always scout out the independent shops before we go. Often, I use the Delocator or find them by Googling "coffee shops" and the city name.

While trying to find a justification for posting about coffee on a library-related blog, I discovered similarities between libraries and independent coffee shops. They both have a wide selection of items, they seem genuinely happy to help you, and they'll go the extra mile to make sure you get what you want.

And while we're on the subject, here are some helpful diagrams of common espresso drinks".

OK, it's time for my famous magic trick where I make a cup of coffee disappear.

Recognizing and Avoiding Spyware

2007-08-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday a patron asked me why her home computer was suddenly showing lots of pop-up windows. This is a typical sign that her computer is infected with spyware. Other symptoms of an infected computer include:

* you are redirected to web sites other than the one you typed into your browser
* new, unexpected toolbars appear in your web browser
* new, unexpected icons appear in the task tray at the bottom of your screen
* your browser's home page suddenly changed
* the search engine your browser opens when you click "search" has been changed
* random Windows error messages begin to appear
* your computer suddenly seems very slow when opening programs or processing tasks (saving files, etc.)

This list was taken from Recognizing and Avoiding Spyware, which explains more about spyware and how to get rid of it. For a demonstration of programs that remove spyware, register for my computer security program, Your Computer Needs a Flu Shot, Too to be held on September 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Is you is, or is you ain't, spam?

2007-08-29T18:39:00.000-04:00

Is you is, or is you ain't, spam?
(with apologies to B.B. King)

Or, how a missing subject line almost destroyed Western civilization.

My ISP, Earthlink, has a very aggressive e-mail filter, so I get very little spam. Hurray! But sometimes the filter grabs a message that isn't spam, such as one from someone who's not in my address book. These are kept in a Suspect Mail folder, which I check daily. I always inspect the suspect messages through Earthlink's web e-mail interface. By doing it this way, I don't need to download the message to my computer and I feel safe looking at it on Earthlink's site. (Also, I use a Mac so I'm not worried about catching a virus or downloading malware.)

If a suspect message is OK, I can transfer it to my Inbox and add the sender to my address book. If it's spam, I delete it. But I need to be very careful. Recently I found a message in the Suspect Mail that was a dead ringer for spam, but wasn't. It was from someone I didn't know, had no subject line, and contained an attachment. Usually this means trouble, but there were several things that made me think the message might not be spam.

First, the sender's address appeared to be legitimate. Bogus e-mail addresses often look like this: Tisha Lassiter or Amalia Pina . The sender's name and the e-mail ID don't match. But the address on this message was: Kim Smith .
Also, spam addresses often end in ".kr," for Korea, or ".de," for Deutschland. This usually means that the message has been rerouted to disguise the original sender.
I felt confident that this message was not spam, so I crossed my fingers and opened it. It was legit! The attachment in the message was a press release for an upcoming concert. I write press releases for the Folkus Project, which sponsors folk music concerts in the Syracuse area, so I often get press kits e-mailed from artists and agents. If the sender had only used a simple subject line, such as "press release for Joe Folksinger" I would have known immediately that it was OK. Because the subject line was empty, the message came very close to being deleted.

When writing a subject line, avoid things like, "Hi," or "How are you?" These are commonly used in spam messages. Choose a few words that describe the content of the message. Not only is this courteous, it may prevent an important message from being tossed in the trash. For more information to help you decide if a message is spam, go to the Spam Home Page of the Federal Trade Commission.

"State of the Net" Survey from Consumer Reports

2007-08-15T19:11:00.000-04:00

According the latest "State of the Net" survey by Consumer Reports, many people have failed to take basic precautions to protect their computers. Seventeen percent of respondents didn't have antivirus software installed. Thirty-three percent didn't use software to block or remove spyware, which would help to stop identity theft. 3.7 million U.S. households with broadband still don't have a computer firewall.

These three things are easy to remedy and can be done for free. AVG offers an antivirus program that works as well as any other. Spyware can be prevented by using Ad-Aware and Spybot, and Zone Alarm is a firewall that works better than the one that comes with Windows.

It takes a little effort to download, install and maintain these programs but it's dangerous to use an unprotected computer. Your personal information could be stolen, your computer could be vandalized or turned into a spam-spewing zombie. Protect yourself and others!

Hear! Hear! Downloadable Audio Books

2007-08-11T15:46:00.000-04:00

Onondaga County libraries now offer free audio books and music that you can download to your home computer or mp3 player. On Tuesday, August 14, I'll be demonstrating how to search the digital catalog, download books and transfer them to a portable player. The program will be held in the library's Carman Community Room at 10:00 a.m. Note: these audio books are not compatible with iPods.

Polaris and the Dirt Dawgs

2007-07-31T21:15:00.000-04:00

I read a lot and I'm always looking for relationships among the things I'm reading. I love it when different sources, while talking about different subjects, nevertheless address a common theme. This "harmonic convergence" happened again this week.

I've been reading Jerry Remy's Watching Baseball. Remy's a former second baseman for the Red Sox who now calls the games from the press box for the New England Sports Network. In his book, he talks about the "Dirt Dawgs;" the guys who just like to play. "I like to watch guys give the same effort when they're down by ten runs and when they're ahead by ten runs." he writes. "I can't stand guys who mail it in. The only thing you can control in the game is your effort."

Then this comment appeared on John Blyberg's blog.
"Some people also just don’t like to step out of their comfort zone. They don’t want to absorb new things. I was on a top technology trends panel at OLA last January when someone asked, “what if we don’t want to learn about all these new technologies?” (paraphrase). I don’t think I was in the mood for hand-holding because my answer was, “it’s your job.” Really. I don’t believe libraries are life support systems for staff. We need to work for our bread. That means that we have so stop bunting and try to knock it out of the park every single time. That takes passion, and too many people in every industry, including libraries, lack it."

Then, last Sunday our local newspaper ran a feature called "Top Ten Ways to be Happy at Work." They took it right from this web site: Top Ten Ways to be Happy at Work.

Number 3 on the list is: "Take Charge of Your Own Professional and Personal Development." It reads, "You are the person with the most to gain from continuing to develop professionally. Take charge of your own growth...You have the most to gain from growing - and the most to lose, if you stand still."

How do these three items relate to each other? Our county libraries will be moving to a new catalog system from Polaris in the fall. It'll be a wonderful improvement, but it'll involve learning a lot of new processes. Training has already begun and there's much more to come. But no amount of training will cover every situation that will come up. There will be times when you'll feel like you're down 10 runs. Be imaginative and resourceful. Try something! As Remy would say, "Make an effort!"

Squaring the Dog

2007-07-30T16:09:00.000-04:00

When a picture is inserted into a Word document, it often appears on the left side of the document. To easily move it anywhere, follow this procedure.

Click twice on the picture. The Format Picture box will appear.
Click the Layout tab. Under Wrapping Style, click the dog icon labeled Square, then click OK.
The picture will now have "handles" on the corners and on each side. You can now move it by just clicking and dragging with the mouse. It can also be resized without changing its aspect ratio.

Thanks to Colleen Zawadzki for this tip!

Google on the Gridiron

2007-07-22T16:47:00.000-04:00

This time of year is so meaningful to me because the NFL training camps open this week. When I lived in Albany the local papers and TV carried daily stories about my team, the New York Giants. But here in Syracuse most of the football fans root for the Buffalo Bills. How do I keep up with my team? Technology to the rescue! I went to the Giants web site and found links to their RSS feed and podcast. But I also like to read stories from the New York papers and other sports news outlets, so I created a Google alert. I get summary of stories about the Giants, taken from the news sources that Google monitors, along with links to the complete articles.

Here's how to create a Google alert for any topic you're interested in. Go to Google News and click News Alerts. (You'll need to create a free account with Google, which you can do by clicking the Sign In link in the upper right.) Next, type the words of your topic in the Search Terms box. Make a selection from the Type menu (for more info on the types, click the FAQ). Next select the frequency from the How Often menu. (During the off-season I have it set to weekly but once the season gets rolling I'll switch it to daily.) Finally, enter your e-mail address and click Create Alert. Your alert will be sent to your e-mail address.

Go G-men!

All About Blogs Program

2007-07-05T09:41:00.000-04:00

Daveman will be presenting the All About Blogs program on July 24 at 10:00 am in the library's Carman Community Room. You can register on the library's events calendar.

Blogs, short for web logs, are often used as online personal journals. But they’re also a great way to keep up on current events or any topics that interest you. We’ll show you how to set up a free blog reader, then find blogs and subscribe to them. We'll also show how to create your own blog and post messages to it.

Daveman will be on vacation next week at Peet's Coffee in Santa Cruz, CA.

Web Site Update

2007-06-26T09:38:00.000-04:00

We've been getting a lot of positive comments on our new web site. Most people like the new graphics, but some were confused about how to reach the catalog. Based on that, we made some changes to make it clearer. Remote access to the databases has been restored, too.

We also heard from a couple of people who said they couldn't connect to the catalog. This means their browsers needed to be updated to use AquaBrowser, the visual search interface to the catalog. If you're using Windows 98/NT/2000/2003/XP or UNIX, you will need:

* Internet Explorer version 6.02 or higher
* Mozilla Firefox version 1.0 or higher
* Netscape version 7.1or higher
* Adobe / Macromedia Flash player 8 or higher (for the visual search)

These updates are all free. Firefox can be updated by going to the Help menu and selecting Check for Updates. You can also update by going to Google and typing the word "download" plus the program's name. You'll find links to download sites. Don't use the sponsored links, as they sometimes contain adware or want you to pay.

New Library Web Site

2007-06-20T12:59:00.000-04:00

The new Liverpool Public Library web site is live! Please take a look and let us know what you think. Some of our databases are unavailable remotely but we hope to have everything back soon. I have my own corner of the site under Computers and Computing, which pulls content directly from this blog. The new site is built with the Joomla content management system.

Michael and Jake

2007-06-19T11:39:00.000-04:00

For those who wonder, as I sometimes do, about the usefulness of social networking, please read this post from Karen Schneider. The responses below it are worthwhile, too.