Library Technology NOW

Most reliable search tool could be your librarian

2006-09-29T12:24:00.000-06:00

I read about this article on Library Stuff. It is written by CNet, a mainstream tech website. It does a nice job of explaining why Search Engines are not the total solution to patron's informational needs. I love this quote.

"There's a problem with information illiteracy among people. People find information online and don't question whether it's valid or not," said Chris Sherman, executive editor of industry blog site SearchEngineWatch.com. "I think that's where librarians are extremely important. They are trained to evaluate the quality of the information."

I taught several Internet courses over the last eighteen months at Texas Woman's University. These students were in PHD courses and many did not think to question information found on the web. I am sure my students are a good sampling of the general public. If public libraries adopt any role in the community, it should be to teach patrons about information literacy. How do you find the information online and how do you judge its credibility? If you are not offering classes like this, you should be.

Internet Explorer Issue

2006-09-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

Let me just say this: Super Tuesday from Microsoft just came a little Early.

Microsoft has forgone it's once a month patch release to issue a critical Internet Explorer patch, available now. The issue at hand is that there are already around 3000 websites infecting users that aren't patched.

I strongly recommend that you run your microsoft update tonight.

Article in Network World:http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/092606-microsoft-offers-early-fix-ie.html

Web 2.0 and Library 2.0

2006-08-02T10:03:00.000-06:00

I just read an excellent article summarizing Web 2.0 and its implications for library services ("Library 2.0") by Jack Maness at http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a25.html. I really like the implied "what's in it for me?"emphasis for libraries. I think Web 2.0 has great implications for us, both good and bad. However, the message in this article is very positive... for anyone still worried that libraries will become obsolete thanks to the Internet, this article shows how we can change or adapt existing services while embracing Web 2.0 technologies. Great job, Mr. Maness!

Ex Libris to be acquired by Francisco Partners

2006-07-26T15:44:00.000-06:00

I just saw this posted on the Library Technology Guides blog at http://www.librarytechnology.org/fulldisplay.pl?SID=20060726344970703&UID=&auth=&RC=12112&Row=&code=PR&Type=Library+Automation. Ex Libris is an Israeli company... given recent events in their part of the world, I can't help but wonder whether this decision is related to the conditions there, or if it's just a coincidence.

Library Technology NOW 2.0

2006-07-24T15:22:00.000-06:00

Wikipedia describes Web 2.0 in the following manner:

The term Web 2.0 refers to a second generation of services available onthe World Wide Web <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Web> thatlets people collaborate and share information online.

Would it not be great to have a Web 2.0 application available forLibrary Technology? A Web 2.0 Online Social Site devoted to what welove and where people can go to discuss their library technology projects, share with each other about their library technology and collaborate on library technology projects.

Well, now one exists and we are asking you. Using the free services of Ning.com, the LTN Editorial Board is proud to announce the release of its betaWeb 2.0 applications.

1. Go to http://ltngroup.ning.com.
2. Click on Sign Up on the right hand side of the page. This is where you can sign you up for a Ning account. They ask you for an ID,password, your email and zip code. You can also input a photo ofyourself. Once you have signed up, you can use any of the Ningapplications. They are hundreds and some of them are really quite good.

All of this should only take you about five to ten minutes to complete. I would then ask each of you to use the site frequently. Online Social Networks only work if people contribute andshare.

Libraries are facing difficult times in this new technological age andwe need to come together to make it easier on all of us. Let's us all do nothing in isolation and share what we know with each other.

Microsoft Office 2007

2006-06-02T07:54:00.000-06:00

Microsoft Office 2007, slated for release (hopefully) in 2007, has added a suite of the Office softwares that is between the Enterprise Edition (typically large scale business and Higher Education) and the Personal Edition for small business and home use. According to the article linked here, this "Office Ultimate 2007" priced under $700, will be available for the "SOHO" market. Depending on your needs, this package may fit the needs of small to medium Libraries. No information yet on upgrade options or costs, if any.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/052606-microsoft-readies-ultimate-office.html?nlhtmn=0601microsoftalert1

Scan a 1000 pages an hour with the Atiz BookDrive

2006-05-31T13:43:00.000-06:00

The company claims that it can scan a 1000 pages an hour. The cost is reasonable at $3499.

Atiz has now introduced the Atiz BookDrive DIY, which sells for a more affordable $3,499, but still does scan 1,000 book pages per hour. You need to provide though one or two Canon digital SLR cameras to make it work. Currently this book scanner supports the Canon EOS 350D, 20D, 30D, 5D and 1D Mark II.

Here is the company website.

Read more (I4U News)

Dell and Google Reach Agreement

2006-05-25T15:09:00.000-06:00

Dell and Google have joined together. Dell will be installing certain Google Desktop software on over 100 million of its new computers.

In a potential blow to Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) , Google will incorporate its desktop software which integrates a number of personal computing applications, a Google tool bar and a co-branded Internet homepage on Dell computers, one person said.

As many of this blog's readers know, I had a horrible experience with Google Desktop search. I rely heavily on Microsoft Desktop search instead. I really hate this arrangement. I often recommend Dell computers to libraries, but after this I might begin to look in other places.

Read more(Reuters)

Pending Law may affect technology use in Libraries

2006-05-11T09:25:00.000-06:00

Further filtering may be required by law in your library in the near future.

More here:

http://news.com.com/Congress+targets+social+network+sites/2100-1028-6071040.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703

Managing software licenses

2006-05-11T09:17:00.000-06:00

The ISO (International Standards Organization) has agreed to standards on software asset management - what this means to you is that there will be specific actions/software standards you can set for your library to ensure that you are managing your software licenses properly.

More on this here:

http://news.com.com/An+end+to+the+software+police/2100-1013-6070951.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703

Should the Internet Remain Neutral?

2006-05-04T12:06:00.000-06:00

Tim Wu of the Columbia Law School wrote this interesting article about recent movement in Washington to allow Internet providers to give special treatment to companies that pay a "toll". For example, Google could negotiate a deal with AT&T to allow their users easy access to Gmail while Yahoo users would be pushed to a second-tier.

The cable firms and the Bells have (to their credit, but under pressure) sworn off blocking Web sites. Instead, they propose to carve off bandwidth for their own servicesÂnamely, televisionÂand, more controversially, to charge selected companies a toll for "priority" service. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin thinks there is nothing wrong with that. But critics say technological prioritization and degradation are the same thingÂthat given limited room on the network, whoever isn't prioritized is by implication degraded.

The American Library Association has caught wind of this activity and has joined a wide variety of organizations to fight Congress on this development. Here is a quote from the main page of the colloborative effort.

Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldnÂt have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.

Check it out at http://www.savetheinternet.com. If you feel so obliged, you can write Congress to express your reservations.

MetaData Standard

2006-04-07T12:32:00.000-06:00

Storage Networking Industry Standard has announced the development in progress of using metadata as the standard. What does this means to Libraries? Software developers, such as FX, (a journal database interface that locates articles within independant subscriptions and creates a direct link to that article), use metadata to locate the pertinent information to create those links.

With a standard developed, we can expect more 3rd party software such as FX that will improve access to multiple databases, interfaces, search engines, and probably a few that haven't been invented yet.

The article is here:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/040306-xam-storage-standard.html?nlhtsrc=0407saralert1

LTN Website Updated!

2006-04-07T10:05:00.000-06:00

We have updated the website in preparation for the 2006 TLA Conference in Houston. Take a look....

Are e-books making a comeback?

2006-04-06T07:25:00.000-06:00

Recent developments in e-books, including new expectations from Sony, may be drawing attention to new possibilities - or at least fulfilling old expectations that were never met.

A couple articles are here for you review:

http://news.com.com/E-books%2C+has+your+time+come/2100-1025-6057814.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703

http://news.com.com/Harry+Potter+publisher+sees+magic+in+digital+ink/2100-1025_3-6057358.html?tag=nl

http://news.com.com/Borders+to+sell+Sony+digital+reading+device/2100-1041_3-6057074.html?tag=nl

Code for a Cause

2006-04-03T13:15:00.000-06:00

Check out this posting I made at the North Texas Regional Library System Blog.

LTN April Newsletter

2006-04-03T13:13:00.000-06:00

Here is a copy of the newsletter I sent out this morning:

We’re Back!!!

For those that wondered about the death of Library Technology NOW, let this newsletter serve as a notice that the project is still alive. We are in the midst of reevaluating its purpose and approach so hopefully you will see some changes in the upcoming months to the website as we reinvent ourselves.

We still have our blog to update you on news relevant to library technology. In addition, we have decided to reintroduce this monthly newsletter. Hopefully between the two of them, you can feel a part of the LTN community.

What changes should you expect to see in Library Technology NOW?

We promise not to change the peer-reviewed articles. However, we realize that LTN can grow as an online community so look for some Web 2.0 features in the next year. Some of the possibilities include:

This or That – A comparison application where two technologies can face off against each other. People vote on their preferred choice. Each week LTN will designate a This or That champion.

Review It – A less structured approach to the Library Technology reviews. We will open these reviews up to all LTN users and rate the products listed.

Wishlist – This will be a place where people can leave wishes for library technology. Hopefully, some of these wishes will come true.

Question and Answer. – If you have a question about Library Technology, this would be the place it and see if a colleague can answer it.

All of these apps will be built using Ning.com: an open source provider of Web 2.0 applications. We need PHP developers to assist us with this project. If you are interested in helping us to plan and develop the Web 2.0 features, please email Adam Wright at awright@ntrls.org as he will be putting a committee together to work out the details.

What happened to the Spring Theme?

No one submitted a query to write for the Spring Theme, which was about Web Technologies, so the Editorial Board decided to cancel this issue. Adam Wright is going to write a review on Content Management Systems which will appear on the page before the end of April.

LTN Funding

We are happy to announce that LTN has received a donation of $1500 from the North Texas Regional Library System. This money will be used for publicity and stipends for writers. Thanks NTRLS!

Future Themes.

LTN will have two additional themes for this year. In June, we will cover WiFi Technologies. In October, Convergence Storage Technologies will be reviewed. If you are interested in writing for these two themes, please go the LTN website and click on How to Write for LTN. For these two themes, writers will be paid a stipend of a $100 for their efforts.

LTN Marketing at Texas Library Association Conference

Many members of the LTN community are also members of the Texas Library Association’s Automation and Technology Round Table so this RT will doing some publicity to get people interested in writing for the Summer and Fall Themes. If you are going to TLA, look for the pink pencils at the ATRT booth in the Exhibit Hall.

LTN Editorial Board

The Editorial Board is seeking new members for the 2006-2007 year. If you are interested in serving, please contact Adam Wright, President-Elect. We will have our officer elections at the August 2006 Meeting.

Usability Testing

This summer, we plan to conduct usability testing of the current LTN website. If you are interested in participating, watch for a call for volunteers later this spring.

Internet Explorer compromise

2006-04-03T05:55:00.000-06:00

It has been reported and confirmed that a "malware" (malicious software) has been posted on the internet to allow hackers to utlize the most recent and yet unpatched flaw in Internet Explorer. A patch is expected Super Tuesday.

This article explains more, with a solution that disables a portion of Internet Explorer.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/033106-ie-malware.html

E-Eye Digital Security has released a temporary patch, for those who need the portion of Internet Explorer that would be disabled as described above. This patch is not tested or approved/encouraged by Microsoft, however, my personal experience with E-Eye Digital Security has been very positive.
http://www.eeye.com/html/research/alerts/AL20060324.html

DVDs: The Next Generation

2006-03-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Every few years, it seems like we have to go something like this.

"But if you thought you could just sit back and enjoy the high-quality DVD presentation, you were sadly mistaken. It's time to open up those wallets again and get a trash bag ready for your DVD collection.

In one corner, there's the Blue-ray format and in the other, HD DVD. Both are new kinds of DVDs that can hold massive files for high-definition versions of movies."

Read more(ABC)

Internet Explorer changes create bumpy ride

2006-03-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Internet Explorer's next major patch will cause web surfers a bumpy ride. If you have security settings on you public stations, this new change may effect patron ability to use the stations. Depending on how locked out your systems are, the new requirement (because of a lost law suit over patents with EOLA), Internet Explorer will give you a pop up box dialog each time you deal with Quicktime or Flash components.

More here:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/032406-eolas-ie-update.html?nlhtsec=032706securityalert1

New Trojan virus

2006-03-23T02:50:00.000-07:00

This particular trojan is being called a "Trojan Hearse", because it includes a rootkit. Rootkits can be virtually undetectable on a computer. To be more specific, this Trojan Hearse only monitors your computer for user id/password information, passively viewing the data, and then sending the information to a server in Russia. The server is unsecure, and continues to receive the data even after the ISP was notified of the situation. To make matters worse, the data is not secure, and is openly viewable by anyone knowing the server IP address.

You can find out if you are infected by looking for some files on your computer. More specific information is available at this link:

http://www.nthworld.org/archives/2006/03/on_march_20th_w.htm

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/032106-trojan-hearse-rootkit.html?nlhtsec=032006securityalert2

GMail Update

2006-03-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

I can say that the Gmail has been a very positive experience for me. The question has become, how does one justify the move of a private e-mail account from one to another, and how do you deal with all the headache?

Professionally it's easier to justify if you take a new job. I might add it's easier to motivate yourself. But for a personal account, well, do you even remember where all you've used the e-mail account at? Bill paying, on-line news or journals, club memberships, e-bay or online retail stores. Is G-mail worth the move privately? I've only had my personal e-mail account with Hotmail for 7 years, and I can't bring myself to do it.

I had decided to switch - but when I started to write down everywhere that I would have to log on and make the change - it was overwhelming. No way to automate that (yet).

It is an excellent back up though.

Microsoft Vista is just around the corner

2006-03-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

Depending on your primary patron needs, when Vista is released you may consider upgrading your operating system. Question is, will your existing hardware support this new behomoth?

The first article I've found that discusses the reality is here.
http://news.com.com/Will+your+PC+keep+pace+with+Vista/2100-1016-6050116.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433

Another Internet Explorer Alternative

2006-02-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting post from TechCrunch about Maxthon, a very popular browser in Asia.

Founded by the very young and brilliant Jeff Chen in 2003 in China (under MyIE name), Maxthon became very quickly popular in Asia (awarded last year in Red Herring Asia ) and all over the world. The big difference with other browsers is that Maxthon is based on IE code which makes the software very familiar from the beginning but with a few twists. Unlike IE, it is very fast, safe and very stable and brings a unique browsing experience as it enables you to customize nearly any part of the software. Like Firefox, Maxthon brings tab browsing, embedded RSS and podcast reader (a very cool one), search bar… but without necessity to add any extension.

I am going to download this software and report on it here. Check back for details. Has anyone else tried this browser?

Google Deskop - Day 19

2006-02-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to say that I had to uninstall Gooble Desktop today. My laptop was performing very slowly. I tracked down the issue with Yahoo Messenger so I uninstalled it and reinstalled it. However, for whatever reason, it still frooze my system. I then noticed my Outlook having some connection issues. Both of these issues were brand new and I need both applicaitons to work effectively. What had changed? It then hit me. I had installed Google Desktop. Although it pained me to do so, I uninstalled the software and now everything is back to normal. I am now going to try some other desktop searching apps to see how they perform. I will record my observations as time allows.

Laptops loosing power too quickly?

2006-02-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

A newly revealed flaw that has existed for some time now with Microsoft software, will drain laptop batteries quickly while using USB 2.0 additions. The flaw was reported to vendors, but not to the public. If you've noticed your laptops, or have complaints about the batteries not lasting as long as expected, don't replace the battery just yet.

A patch should be released soon to resolve the issue. It involves most Intel processors, more on that with this article in Network World:

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+driver+flaw+saps+battery+strength/2100-1012-6040586.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433

Gmail is impressive

2006-02-16T05:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I must admit that Google has stumbled onto something here. When surfing the web I have adjusted to the banners and flashy lights, I just block them out. However, everytime I log onto GMail, I have read the little text link/snippit. It's almost like an RSS feed. I've even clicked on a few of them to see what they were about.

The built in Chat function intrigues me, as I think it would be a valid work place tool since everyone is always checking their e-mail for work related issues.

In addition to all of this, there is a small download that you can run in the background on your computer to alert you to new mail. I'm going to see how that works.

I'm seriously thinking about switching from Hotmail to Gmail as my primary personal e-mail.

Gmail Successful so far

2006-02-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

GMail seems pretty decent so far. Instructions exist on exporting (step by step) contact lists from diverse mail programs or sites. Within a few minutes and a couple tweaks I was able to import my Hotmail account contacts. Hotmail doesn't offer an export option, but Gmail instructions were clear on how to obtain it.

On refresh, right above the inbox bar is a small single line text that offers a link to a current advertisement or other - in this case a link to NYT Travel section with an article on Itineraries.

A "Star" can be attached to specific e-mails to make them easier to find. I thought that was clever, but too many and it's a mute point.

Chat is included with other Gmail account holders. A Beta program called Google Talk for instant messaging and voice capacity - will need to find someone to test this with.

Overall the feel is much less cumbersome than my Hotmail account. Need an invite? Let me know, we'll experiment together.

Google Desktop Day 5

2006-02-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

It is day five of my experiment with Google Desktop. It is done indexing my documents so I have been able to go into the options and check out what I can do to customize the sidebar. The first choice is to Add/Remove Panels. After looking over the default choices I selected Email, Maps, News, System Monitor, Weather, Web Clips and What's Hot. I did not select Photos, Quick View, Scratch Pad and Stocks. I personally like Web Clips the best because it displays clips from blogs, news sites and other online services based on what you have viewed recently. I receive web clips alerts based on my browsing behavior. I discovered a new blog this way: Library Dust.

I also like the System Monitor. It is nice to know how my system is performing as I work.

As far as the search capabilities, I love them. It really does a nice job of finding documents for me when I need them, and it puts them in one browser window so I don't have use different applications to search my email and my documents. I'll more details on this as I discover them.

Come back for more as I experiment...

Google's GMail

2006-02-14T03:24:00.000-07:00

All things Google considered, Google's GMail is an interesting horse. To start an account requires either an invitation from an existing account holder, or sending a text message to your cell phone (if it has text message capabilities). All this to prevent SPAM mail accounts and to, in my opinion, keep things 'real'.

The reason my curiosity was piqued was an article in Network World that indicated the use of @whatever-your-domain-name is as an address. One such use is with a college (out-sourcing student e-mail?) and the .edu suffix. It is also supposedly available for business.

I will try to start an account and let you know how it works out. It may be something that smaller libraries with small servers may wish to consider, if they can have their domain name as an e-mail address. 2.5GB of storage... no bad.

Google Desktop Day 4

2006-02-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

It has now been four days since I downloaded and installed Google Desktop. It is still indexing my files in my computer's idle time. It seems to lose some ground whenever I log back into our domain. At one point, it was at 30 percent, but the next time I logged into it was back down to 6 percent.

I have fallen in love with the alerts. It alerts me of news stories and emails. I ended up turning off Outlook's desktop alert so I wouldn't get two for every email. I also love the convenience of searching from the taskbar. I recently did a search on Gate Counters and was presented with results from the web and my files.

I did attempt to customize my options. However, when I did this, my laptop froze and required a reboot. I am going to wait until it is finished indexing my files before attempting any additional changes. This might be the reason for the crash.

I'll post again after it gest done indexing. I am going to leave on my computer overnight so hopefully we will be done.

Google Desktop Reviewed

2006-02-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

I had heard so much about Google Desktop that I decided to download the tool and see what it could do. Right now, it is indexing my desktop and giving me all kind of alerts: news stories, Microsoft Outlook tasks, etc. It tells me that it will take 20.9 idel hours to finish my index. For the next several days, I will make note of when I use Google Desktop and tell you how it went.

My initial impression is a good one. I especially like the fact that I can put a search box on my taskbar to do Google Searches without necessarily opening a browser. It puts the search results in a neat pop up window. The search includes the web and my own hard drive(even email.) If I wanted to, I could put the tool in a sidebar, but I find this to be too busy to my liking. It distracts me.

Check back to see how things go.....

Microsoft Enters the PC Security Market

2006-02-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

Microsoft will introduce OneCare Live in June. It will cost $49.95 a year and include "anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware software along with backup and computer performance maintenance tools." The software will be delivered via the web.

Read more (Reuters)

Yahoo and AOL to charge email users

2006-02-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

There were a lot of rumors floating around the net last week that Yahoo and AOL were going to start charging users for email. Here is a recent post about this.

"The fees, which would range from 1/4 cent to 1 cent per e-mail, are the latest attempts by the companies to weed out unsolicited ads, commonly called spam, and identity-theft scams. In exchange for paying, e-mail senders will be guaranteed their messages won't be filtered and will bear a seal alerting recipients they're legitimate."

Read more (Tom's Hardware News)

Download to CD Policies

2006-01-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

With the advent of CD Burners, and their subsequent affordability, they are popular for storing large documents for research or study in Academic Libraries that offer the feature.

Does policy and software prevent the same equipment on public stations from being used for illegal music or hacked software? Obivous concerns to a Library would be liability - the legal aspects of which I have as a network administrator, have had to deal with. With the ability of consumers now being able to legally purchase and download music, have your policies changed to reflect that possibility?

Now, with the cost of hardware and software coming down, and patron demand rising, do Libraries upgrade during appropriate fiscal cycles to DVD Burners? The requests may come in, as DVD's will soon be downloadable from the internet (see article below). Do libraries begin to offer their public stations (if equiped) for legal music and movie downloads?

http://news.com.com/Legal+DVD+downloads+to+hit+U.S.+shores/2100-1026-6033397.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433

Thinkfree Office Online

2006-01-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

I read a review of Thinkfree Office Online in the February 2006 edition of PC World. It is a java-based application that allows people to create office documents for free. You can read and write .doc, .xls., .ppt and other native office formats. You can also write PDF files. Very neat. Nice tool for libraries looking to save some money on the expensive Microsoft Office suites.

Want to Track Web 2.0

2006-01-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

Try TechCrunch. It has some great reviews on some of the latest Web 2.0 services. The latest posting discusses VideoEgg, a service that allows for easy video publishing.

Polaris 3.2 incorporates RSS as core capability

2006-01-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for ILS vendors to add more enhancements to the patron experience. Here is one example. Polaris is add RSS to its product.

Read about here. (Library Technology Guides)

MYSQL has Government Approval

2006-01-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

MySQL, which is the database software that is, in a basic capacity, open source, has met U.S. Government approval. Efforts have been made to make it easier for Government agencies to buy and use the software.

Article here: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/011006-mysql-government.html?nltxsec=010906securityalert2&code=nlsecuritynewsal16251

Media Librarians - CES will have new items for you

2006-01-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

First in review is the new High Definition DVD players. According to this article, the give the impression of some of the old clunky VHS tape players that had to be on a cart because of their weight (bet you still have one or two...)

The review is here:
http://news.com.com/Blu-ray%2C+HD+DVD+players+clunky%2C+unimpressive/2100-1041-6024750.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433

WMF FIle flaw - unnofficial patch

2006-01-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

SANS, the Internet Storm Center, has made available an unnofficial patch for the flaw, as it seems to be causing a few problems thru malicious files targeting that flaw.

Microsoft does not recommend using unnofficial patches, however, they will not issue one until January 10th.

The article discussing this is located here: http://news.com.com/Firms+urged+to+use+unofficial+Windows+patch/2100-1002_3-6016649.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703

The patch is located here: http://isc2.sans.org/diary.php?storyid=1010

2nd Call - Library Technology NOW! Seeks Submissions for the Winter 2006 Theme.

2006-01-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

FORT WORTH — January 3, 2006 — Library Technology NOW is currently seeking queries for its Winter 2006 Theme of “New Web Technologies”. This theme will cover the following topics: Blogs, RSS, Podcasting, and Content Management Systems. Library Technology NOW features product reviews written by library people for library people. Interested parties should send a short 500 word query including the planned products to review and the criteria used in reviewing the products. The query should also include a brief biographical sketch including any previous writing experience. For examples of previous articles, please refer to the Library Technology NOW website located at http://www.librarytechnologynow.org. All queries are due to Library Technology NOW by January 15th for the late February release. Please send submissions to Deborah Duke at dduke@fortworthlibrary.org or fill out the online query form at http://www.librarytechnologynow.org/default.asp?action=article&ID=87.

About LTN
Library Technology NOW! was founded in early 2004 by the North Texas Regional Library System’s Technology Committee and the Automation and Technology Round Table of the Texas Library Association. Other partners include Texas Woman’s Univ., Univ. of North Texas, Texas A&M Kingsville and Univ. of Texas at Arlington.
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For more information:
Adam Wright, 1-800-856-3050, awright@ntrls.org, or visit Library Technology NOW at http://www.librarytechnologynow.org

Windows XP SP2 Flaw

2005-12-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

According to eEye Security, although a flaw existed and has been patched, the same component that was patched has an additional flaw that creates a vulnerability in both I.E. and in FireFox. This has not been patched yet.

Microsoft has created an alert at their website,

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/912840.mspx

Jan 3, 2006 - Attacks are reported using this flaw, see:
http://news.com.com/Windows+flaw+spawns+dozens+of+attacks/2100-7349-6016140.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433
Time to check your patches.

Useful & Interesting Freeware

2005-12-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has released Version 1.0 of the Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP. You can read more about it at www.microsoft.com/sharedaccess. It's a tool to lock down shared computers - it even will 'refresh' changed files.

Another interesting freeware tool is CCleaner from www.ccleaner.com. I won't explain what the first 'c' stands for.

SoftPhones and your network

2005-12-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Voice over IP. Are you ready for it? This article offers extremely good information on Skype, an e-Bay product, that acts as a voice over IP phone. I would like to offer as a thought it's use as a way to provide distant technical support or possibly in conjunction with programs such as Ariel or some other interlibrary loan program to exclude long distance calling costs. Please read on ...

http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2005/121205-skype-test.html

Dell Battery Recall - Are you affected?

2005-12-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dell has placed a recall on 35,000 notebook batteries, the following models: Latitude: D410, D505, D510, D600, D610, D800, D810; Inspiron: 510M, 600M, 6000, 8600, 9200, 9300; XPS Generation 2; Precision M20 and M70 mobile workstations.

Article here: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/121605-dell-recall.html

Keyboard Use injury study

2005-12-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are glued to your computer for long hours of the day, there is a new study by Harvard Medical School about injuries related to keyboard usage.

http://news.com.com/Keyboard+carpal+culprit+Not+so%2C+study+says/2100-1022-5994827.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433

Stopping Spyware

2005-12-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

A wonderful article describing 10 ways available to the common person (in our case the average librarian) that will help get a handle on Spyware.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/120805-cisco-napa.html

Cisco Network Management Software

2005-12-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

Having problems with the performance of you local in-house network? If you are using Cisco network devices (switches, routers, and firewalls), Cisco has a new product line they have announced that should enhance your ability to improve your network performance and allow you to address Quality Assurance/Bandwidth issues more efficiently.

Article is here:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/120805-cisco-napa.html

Cisco IOS version 11 and up

2005-11-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

If your network closets have new or recent Cisco technology in them, there is a new security issue that effects IOS version 11 and up. The Web interface (by default is turned off/disabled) has a security hole that could allow administrative access if attacked.

More here:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/113005-cisco-ios.html

Latest On General Public License 3 (GPL)

2005-11-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

For those of you that enjoy using or allowing use of public shareware or freeware licenesed software on your computers and network, the most recent version of GPL, version 3, is about to get underway. As an Administrator, I always try to keep up with the license changes and how it might effect policy on copyright or safety/security issues.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/113005-fsf-gpl.html

The Next Storage Technology

2005-11-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

CDRoms and DVD's move over... 300GB "floppy" type diskette to use photoelectric/light sensitive crystals to store data.

http://news.com.com/Maxell+focuses+on+holographic+storage/2100-1015-5973868.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e433

How do Libraries keep up, plan, and adapt to the constant change in technology? I know that the Library I came from had a cabinet with close to 300 CD's in special trays that worked in two drive CDRom external boxes, and required special programing to access the data. It hadn't worked since before my tenure, but since the Library paid good money for it, they couldn't be tossed out.

You can't change the format of stored data according to copyright laws, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe ALA should consider lobbying for public, research, and academic Libraries to be specifically exempt from format changes so they can protect their investments and the data accessibility.

Just a thought.

SANS Top 20 Internet Security Vulnerabilities

2005-11-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

"Four years ago, the SANS Institute and the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) at the FBI released a document summarizing the Ten Most Critical Internet Security Vulnerabilities. Thousands of organizations used that list, and the expanded Top-20 lists that followed one, two, and three years later, to prioritize their efforts so they could close the most dangerous holes first. The vulnerable services that led to worms like Blaster, Slammer, and Code Red have been on these lists."

Library Techs can learn a lot by reading this list. Read more (SANS Homepage)

Library Technology NOW! Seeks Submissions for the Winter 2006 Theme.

2005-11-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

For those LTN vets, we have changed some of the editorial process. The first major change is we are requiring queries from prospective writers. Please see below for the press release concerning the Winter Theme.

FORT WORTH — November 22, 2005 — Library Technology NOW is currently seeking queries for its Winter 2006 Theme of “New Web Technologies”. This theme will cover the following topics: Blogs, RSS, Podcasting, and Content Management Systems. Library Technology NOW features product reviews written by library people for library people. Interested parties should send a short 500 word query including the planned products to review and the criteria used in reviewing the products. The query should also include a brief biographical sketch including any previous writing experience. For examples of previous articles, please refer to the Library Technology NOW website located at http://www.librarytechnologynow.org. All queries are due to Library Technology NOW by January 15th for the late February release. Please send submissions to Deborah Duke at dduke@fortworthlibrary.org.

About LTN
Library Technology NOW! was founded in early 2004 by the North Texas Regional Library System’s Technology Committee and the Automation and Technology Round Table of the Texas Library Association. Other partners include Texas Woman’s Univ., Univ. of North Texas, Texas A&M Kingsville and Univ. of Texas at Arlington.

#########
For more information:
Adam Wright, 1-800-856-3050, awright@ntrls.org, or visit Library Technology NOW at http://www.librarytechnologynow.org

Code published on Internet Explorer Flaw

2005-11-22T03:36:00.000-07:00

Exploit code for a flaw in Internet Explorer was found published on the internet on Monday of this week. It does require a redirection to a malicious site, possibly thru a pop up or hijacked add, or any other number of ways you could be drawn to a malicious site, to trigger the exploit.

The patch is currently not available, as the issue had only been exploited as a partial Denial of Service attack. There are no current reports of it being seen in the wild, and no indication if Microsoft will update quickly or wait until their monthy patch cycle.

http://news.com.com/Attack+code+released+for+IE+hole/2100-1002-5965247.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e433

Anti-Spam Fest

2005-11-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

TechSoup is organizing "Stop Spam Today!" to help public libraries and (other) non-profits combat spam. There is an anti-spam software give away, plus lots of tips.

Seen on LIS News.

Sony makes the Security Threat list

2005-11-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sony in an effort to protect copyrighted material (songs) installed a "rootkit" that automatically installs itself without permission onto a computer that plays the music. This "rootkit" is burried deep within the computer, and is difficult to find and remove.

Last week, Viruses and Trojans started to appear that used the insalled Sony Rootkit to take over the computer it was 'innocently' installed on. The topic of concern for Network and Security administrators is what to do to prevent it. Some are considering a ban on allowing users to listen to CD music on their computers at work, while others are just turning off the auto play.

More here:

Medium to Large Libraries

2005-11-14T04:36:00.000-07:00

Need redundancy on internet access? Something that looks very interesting, and just recently reduced pricing, is an appliance that uses other vendors software (such as McAffee antivirus and SurfControl) to reduce impact on any servers you may have that do this same job.

Upcoming for this product will be the ability to use two T-1 or similar connections for fail over and (I would assume) bandwidth control.

More here
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/111405-servgate.html

Sony Music CD's a security problem

2005-11-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sony's recent inclusion of a root kit installer on their music CD's has created a serious problem for computer users that listen to music thru their CDRom drives. It's supposed to protect their copyright - as of yesterday, it opens up your computer for serious security problems.

More here...
http://news.com.com/Bot+for+Sony+CD+software+spotted+online/2100-1029-5944643.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e433

Bought a Dell lately?

2005-11-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dell, Apple, and a few other computer vendors have reported an issue with bad capacitors on their logic boards causing problems. If you own a few Dell Optiplex (mind you I hold Dell and Apple in high regard - they were about all I bought as a Network Manager) recently, you may wish to visit their site and check your equipment against their database for upgrade/replacement as needed.

More here:http://news.com.com/PCs+plagued+by+bad+capacitors/2100-1041-5942647.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e703

Are your copiers Safe?

2005-11-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

Computers aren't the only thing that can be 'hacked' into. This article discusses an area that most network and technical people pay little attention to.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/110905-hacking-copiers.html

blog your tech services

2005-11-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

with the advent of new technology, such as blog specific vendors, what type of productivity might copy catalogers or tech service librarians achieve?

only having an awareness of their jobs thru my network/computer support, and not being a librarian, my thoughts may not be sound - anyone have any thoughts?

http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2005/103105buzz.html

Microsoft Live

2005-11-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's new offering will utilize web-based technology, requiring bandwidth for effecient use (I suspect - they don't seem to indicate that anywhere in their roll-out news).

It will be very powerful if you have the bandwidth - are your public access stations powerful enough and ready for patron demand (if it develops)?

More here:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/110105-gates-ozzie.html?ts

Cisco IOS problems

2005-11-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Does your Library have it's network infrastructure on Cisco equipment? Cisco announced problems in it's IOS, the operating system running on it's routers, firewalls, and switches.
More information is at:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/110305-cisco-holes.html

Library Technology NOW News

2005-11-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Next Theme

The Library Technology NOW editorial board is currently working on streamlining its editorial process and procedures. Our original intent was to publish the next theme in December 2005. Because of this review process, we are going to delay the publication of the next theme until January/February 2005. The board is meeting on Friday, November 11th so a more firm target date will be known after the meeting.

Bloggers wanted:

As you might have noticed, LTN blog has been inactive for a couple of weeks. We are looking for willing volunteers to post newsworthy items to the blog and discuss their significance to the library world. If you are interested, please contact us.

Standford on iTunes

2005-10-21T07:25:00.000-06:00

Standford University has paired up with Apple's iTunes to carry lectures and sports free to the public, and academic content for students.

You need the iTunes software (available for both Mac and Windows computers). More info and access at http://itunes.stanford.edu/.

As an aside, the "Questions and Answers" states bluntly that "sharing music files is illegal." Well, actually, sharing music files without permission and beyond fair use is illegal.

Librarian's Wishlist

2005-10-19T12:30:00.000-06:00

The North Texas Regional Library System is proud to announce the launch of the Librarian's Wishlist at http://librarianswish.ning.com. With this application, Librarians can go online and make a wish. No wish is too small. Do you need incentives for your Summer Reading Program? Do you need refreshments for a program next week? Do you want Librarians to get paid more? Let the rest of the world know about it.

Here is how I would do it: Click on the Sign Up button on the right hand side. Hint: You want to pick a username that people can easily identify your library. For example, Anytown Public Library could select AnytownPublicLibrary as their username. Once you have an account, you can log in and click on Add a Wish at the top of the screen. Tell everyone what you are wishing for. If you are wishing for some donated items, make sure to note where people can donate the items. Give your wish a priority and give it some subject descriptors in the tag section. Hit Add Wish.

Once you have started to add wishes. You can begin to advertise Librarian’s Wishlist to your community. Tell them to go Librarian’s Wishlist and click on People at the top of the screen. They can then select your user account from the ones listed to view your library’s wishes.

E-Rate is Poorly Run

2005-10-18T14:23:00.000-06:00

"The lawmakers called for more rigorous oversight, stricter rules for approving funds so schools get only equipment they will use, better bidding procedures, and the establishment of specific goals and measures of effectiveness."

For those of us who fill out the E-rate forms....

Read more...(Reuters)

Build a Social Application for your Library

2005-10-06T14:53:00.000-06:00

Here is a very interesting site.

What is Ning?
Ning is a free online service (or, as we like to call it, a Playground) for people to build and run social applications. Social "apps" are web applications that enable anyone to match, transact, and communicate with other people. Our goal with Ning is to see what happens when you open things up and make it easy to create, share, and discover new social apps. These might include for any city, your own take on Craigslist...for any passion, your own take on Match.com...for any interest, your own take on Zagat...for any event, your own take on Flickr...for any school, your own take on the Facebook...for any topic, your own take on del.icio.us...for any mammal, your own take on Hot or Not or Kitten War. You choose the app, decide for whom it's most relevant, create the categories, define the features, choose the language - or just clone an app that's already up and running on Ning - and be on your way. (taken from the site's FAQ)

I plan to try this site out to build some social applications for my member libraries. You have to be classified as a beta developer to use the site, but it only takes a few days for them to approve you. I would love to hear if other libraries decide to use this platform to build some social applications for their communities.

$299 PC Now Available in US

2005-10-03T13:50:00.000-06:00

I wrote about this cheap PC being released in India. It has made its way to store shelfs in Radio Shack.

"The Personal Internet Communicator, a brainchild of chip company Advanced Micro Devices, went on sale at Radio Shack over the weekend. The deal is a departure for AMD as it was specifically designed for developing countries. AMD first launched the device in India nearly a year ago. "

Read more (Tom's Hardware)

Microsoft Office will support PDF documents

2005-10-03T13:47:00.000-06:00

The new version of the operating system will allow you to save to PDF. Nice feature for those who can't afford the pricey Adobe Acrobat.

Read More (The Register)

Microsoft to release Service Pack 3 for Windows XP

2005-10-03T13:45:00.000-06:00

They will release after the launch of the new OS, Vista some time next year.

Read more...(Tom's Hardware)

Physics Access Assistance for Libraries affected by Katrina

2005-10-03T11:59:00.000-06:00

From the American Institute of Physics:

Melville, NY 
September 30, 2005

The American Institute of Physics would like to help accommodate the
research needs of the many members of the scientific community who were
affected by the recent hurricanes. If you or your library has lost access
to AIP publications as a result of hurricanes Katrina or Rita, please
contact us at 1-800-874-6383 or help@scitation.org so that we may provide
you with a username and password which will remain valid through December
31, 2005.

Librarians, please contact us if you require assistance in re-establishing
access for your researchers, of if you have concerns regarding your 2006
renewals. We understand that the needs of our customers vary, and we will
be pleased to find a solution that addresses your specific situation. To
this end, please contact our Sales and Marketing staff at 516-576-2411 or
corr@aip.org.

Sincerely,

Martin L. Burke
Publisher, Journals and Technical Publications
American Institute of Physics

AIP also hosts a bulletin board for the astronomy and physics community affected by Katrina, available from their homepage.

Library Technology NOW

2005-10-01T06:38:00.000-06:00

Google, Yahoo, MSN Search Engines are still safe, but a new worm is spoofs the sites and sends you to predetermined sites as a money making revenue. If your results don't appear to be valid, or bring up the same sites offering everything you were looking for - be suspicious and check your virus definitions.

Public systems in Libraries used for searching - if infected - might cause a certain level of, ah, frustration, among patrons.

More information here (if the link does not work, copy/paste this into your browser address window)

http://news.com.com/New+worm+spoofs+Google%2C+Yahoo+and+MSN+sites/2100-7349-5886484.html?tag=nl.e433

Wireless Anywhere in Europe

2005-09-30T08:48:00.000-06:00

"Known as 'BT Datazone', punters are able to access the internet and check emails via more than 7,800 BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK and Ireland, or "on the move" through a 3G or GPRS connection.....This is an important step towards meeting BT?s convergence vision, of being able to access all your information regardless of where they are in the world, on your choice of device and over the most suitable network."

I have seen diagrams of how this works. You have a device that connects to the Wi-Fi, if it is available. If there are no Wi-Fi networks available, it attempts to connect to the Wireless WAN network. I have also heard that some automobiles will come equiped with the ability to connect to these networks.

What does this mean for libraries? It means more patrons will have constant access to information no matter their location. If you don't have WiFi in your library, it might be time to start planning for it.

Read more (The Register)...

Google's Toolbar for Firefox

2005-09-26T09:38:00.000-06:00

"The add-in, which was released after two months in beta, also adds to the open-source Web browser capabilities that include query suggestions while someone types in the search box and an auto-filler that fills out forms for faster checkouts on retail sites. "

Read more (Techweb)

Windows Vista will boot faster

2005-09-23T09:52:00.000-06:00

"So when the Core OS' Group's software architect, Rob Reinauer, offered to provide us with more in-depth information, we weren't going to be too proud to pass it up. One of Reinauer's key projects is a technology called Superfetch that appears to speed up system boot times by as much as a factor of four. Superfetch is part of an effort by the Core OS Group to extend and improve Vista's virtual memory system, which provides data to Windows after collecting that data from disk and from the output of running applications. "

For those of use who wait for the long reboots, this will be a godsend.

Read more (Tom's Hardware)

New Flaw in MS SP2 and Internet Explorer

2005-09-19T09:02:00.000-06:00

There is a new flaw announced Friday that could negatively impact Service Pack 2 and Internet Explorer. It was announced by e-Eye Security.

http://news.com.com/IE+flaw+puts+Windows+XP+SP2+at+risk/2100-1002-5868867.html?tag=nl.e433

If the link does not work properly, copy-paste into your browser address bar.

Meebo for IM Reference

2005-09-16T07:57:00.000-06:00

"A very slick AJAX-based meta-IM service called Meebo was launched in the beginning of the month. It's like a web-based Trillian, so you don't have to be at your own computer (where you downloaded Trillian) to use it. I think librarians that do IM reference will absolutely love this as front line staff are always sitting at different computers. It currently supports AIM, Y! Messenger, ICQ, and MSN. How about Skype?!"

Neat service and can really help those libraries offering IM reference.

Read more (LibraryStuff)

Microsoft's New Web Development Tools

2005-09-15T09:48:00.000-06:00

"The suite - whose final release date was not announced - is comprised of a Web graphics development tool called "Acrylic" (to compete with Fireworks) an interactive Web page development tool called "Sparkle" incorporating XHTML and CSS without the use of code (to compete with Dreamweaver), and a back-end development tool called "Quartz" that makes extensive use of Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML), a Microsoft-driven, semi-open standard for stylesheets applied to XML classes and data items."

I am excited to see how this product will turn out. I personally like Dreamweaver than other web development tools better because of the way it renders the scripts. I am going to optimistic and hope that this new product will be better than what we have in Frontpage right now.

Read more (Tom's Hardware)

Google Creates Tool for Katrina Survivors

2005-09-13T10:34:00.000-06:00

"Google has created search tools designed to locate information and people, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Keywords typed in Katrina Search will return results only from hurricane-related Web pages, while Katrina People Search can help find information about persons affected by the disaster, the company said. Katrina People Search indexes information collated from several public databases, including the Red Cross."

Read more...

Firefox Bug

2005-09-09T10:16:00.000-06:00

"Security researchers have discovered an unpatched vulnerability in Firefox that might be used to crash vulnarable systems. Hackers might also use the security bug to trick surfers into running malicious code by simply fooling them into visiting a maliciously constructed website."

Read more...

Google Hires Vinton Cerf

2005-09-08T14:20:00.000-06:00

This just posted by Michael Bazeley on The Mercury News:

"Adding to its all-star roster of engineering talent, Google has hired Vinton Cerf, often referred to as the `father of the Internet.'

Cerf, who was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President Bill Clinton in 1997, joins Google from MCI, where he is senior vice president of technology strategy."

Google Honeypot Hack

2005-09-08T10:15:00.000-06:00

Google is offering a new 'service' that will allow you to monitor the frequency in which your webstie is being examined thru the "Google hack" (which as it turns out, is not an urban myth).

This is the article, if the direct link does not work, please copy paste into your browser address bar.

http://searchwindowssecurity.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid45_gci1122914,00.html?track=NL-122&ad=527326

Is blogging bad for your career?

2005-09-07T17:11:00.000-06:00

They Shoot Messengers, Don't They?

"Ivan Tribble's" response to the heated debate in the blogosphere about his first article on blogging and academic job hunting. Essentially, he is asking us to consider what our online presence says about us and how it might affect the decision of a search committee. His advice is to avoid posting anything that might compromise our 'good names'. (By the way, the name is a pseudonym.)

I agree, we should consider it. But my conclusion is exactly opposite. We should maintain an online presence, especially those of us, like most librarians, whose skills are not well represented by a list of publications. I Googled myself, and I am quite proud of the results. I think it shows my versatility, the extent of my skills, and my sense of humor. Search committees are welcome to do the same.

Rollable screens

2005-09-07T15:58:00.000-06:00

Philips Paper-like Display Earlier Than Expected

The real electronic books are on the way. Philips Polymer Vision is showing off a prototype e-reader at an international exhibition in Germany. The device won't be marketed as such. Philips is hoping to interest mobile device manufacturers in using their screens in the next generation mobile devices. Polymer Vision Web Site.

LibraryThing.com Tags Your Personal Library Collections

2005-09-07T14:26:00.000-06:00

I discovered this site yesterday and it really got me thinking. What if libraries allowed their patrons to tag their collections in the same way that this site allows for individuals to tag their personal collections. It would be an interesting experiment to discover how closely patron tags match the more traditional classification methods.

Anyway, despite my day dreams, I think this site has an original idea that one can use for reader's advisory. Find out what other people have in their personal collections so you know what to read next....Libraries should approach the creator and ask if they can include links from their websites. ILS vendors should see what can be done to integrate the technology in the library catalogs. LibraryThing should see if they can tie into OCLC Worldcat like Google Scholar. It would be neat to see if you if a book can be picked up at your local library.

Apple Introduces the Ipod Phone

2005-09-07T14:22:00.000-06:00

"Apple Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL - news) on Wednesday unveiled a cellphone that works like an iPod music player, in a bid to extend its domination of the digital music market into the wireless arena. "

Cellphones have everything today. We are embarking on a generation where wireless dominates the scene and more services will be available via your cellphone than ever before. Libraries should be aware of this fact and begin to move in the direction of offering services targeting mobile users.

Read more...

New Sharp Laptop's Battery Can Last Up to Six Hours

2005-09-06T10:14:00.000-06:00

"Sharp today announced the M4000 Widenote notebook that combines a 13.3-inch screen and a Pentium M processor in an ultra-portable package that can deliver more than 6 hours of operating time on one battery charge, according to the manufacturer. "

More laptops are bought today than desktops...NTRLS member libraries seem to have taken notice because I field more questions about them than previously.

Read more...

Master of Disaster

2005-09-06T08:52:00.000-06:00

The Master of Disaster is a professor (law and libraries) at the University of Houston. I especially like the One Hour Emergency Plan, which gets you the basic information you need to respond to an emergency. If you don't have a plan yet, this is the way to start.

Future Search Engine Technology - Will it Replace the Librarian?

2005-09-02T10:43:00.000-06:00

""Search will ultimately be as good as having 1,000 human experts who know your tastes scanning billions of documents within a split second," says Gary Flake, one of just seven Distinguished Engineers at Microsoft, who are paid to think big thoughts. "It will model the human brain. "

"Mobile search is mostly done today with limited text messaging, but by 2008, when more than 75% of new cell phones globally are expected to be Internet-ready, searching the Web on the go will be standard. On the street, and want to find out the nearest movie theater? Or get sports results? Pankaj Shah's mobile service 4INFO, which the 32-year-old launched this February in Palo Alto, Calif., will give you all the information--for free--by text or Internet on your cell phone. Yahoo! also offers such local information."

All this by the end of the decade. What role will Librarians have in this type of a future? In my opinion, if we don't start changing now, we will be left in the dust of advancing technology.

Read more...

Microsoft Firewall flaw - fix available now

2005-09-02T09:25:00.000-06:00

Microsoft announced a flaw in thier computer Firewall, where ports could become active and not be reported or addressed by the firewall. The Microsoft explanation and patch is available here

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897663

and the article explaining it in plain English is here

(copy paste the address if you have problems linking from the window)
http://news.com.com/Windows+Firewall+flaw+may+hide+open+ports/2100-7355-5845850.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e703

Open Standards Productivity Software

2005-09-01T15:38:00.000-06:00

Well, the Commonwealth of Massachussets is proposing a plan to phase out Microsoft productivity software in favor of others based on open standards. I believe that LTN has already realized that this may be an option of the future in Libraries.

If this link does not work, please 'copy-paste' into your browser address line.

http://news.com.com/Massachusetts+to+adopt+open+desktop/2100-1012-5845451.html?tag=nl.e433

Anti-Phising Toolbars

2005-09-01T12:09:00.000-06:00

"Phishing is a fraudulent practice in which scammers dress up e-mail messages to make them look as though they had come from a legitimate organization, such as an online store or a bank. The phishing e-mail message tries to lure users into linking to a fraudulent Web site that resembles the real one from the legitimate organization mentioned in the message. The idea is to get users to enter sensitive information--such as passwords, account numbers, or U.S. Social Security numbers--at the phony Web site, in order to steal the users' identities."

Nice description of phishing here along with a description of the new Microsoft tool. I had never heard of anti-phishing tools. Apparently, you can get one through gmail, Google's email service of which I am not a user. You can also expect one in Internet Explorer 7.0

High Speed Wirless Connections in Europe

2005-09-01T11:55:00.000-06:00

"The new service, also dubbed the "data turbo," will deliver transmission rates of up to 1.8 megabits per second initially, and 7.2 megabits per second eventually, Obermann said. Typical DSL fixed-line broadband delivers 1 megabit per second."

The service will be launched in March. Even though this is for cell phones, there are communities in Europe that get this kind of speed in their homes. Librarians should keep on eye out for this type of service to provide better bandwidth for their libraries.

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Are your Library's DVD and CDs Disintegrating

2005-08-31T15:28:00.000-06:00

"Reliability is a very amorphous proposition in the world of optical media. No one knows how long such media will last, and the same NIST report says:

It is demonstrated here that CD-R and DVD-R media can be very stable. . . Results suggest that these media types will ensure data is available for several tens of years and therefore may be suitable for archival uses. "

This is very contrary to what I have been told in the past. Optical storage will last five to ten years. The article stresses proper storage is required.

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Ready for your "Katrina" ?

2005-08-30T09:29:00.000-06:00

What do you do for your library technology during a natural disaster? Or for other disasters? Do you have a plan in place, or are you flying by the seat of your pants?

While the topic is fresh on everyone's minds from the problems caused by Katrina, maybe it's time for you to review your paperwork, if you have any.

Although it takes some energy and serious effort, building a disaster recovery plan and a business continuity plan are essential elements of good technology management. In the library I currently work in, we have a seperate disaster recovery and business continuity plan for our technology from our collection and building plans.

SPAM filter help

2005-08-30T08:39:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for a website that can offer you information on e-mail addresses or e-mail domains that are notorious for SPAM, a new website has been started that offers a 'trustworthy' list based on information they have collected through one of their products.

The website is www.trustedsource.org

The article (copy/paste if the link does not work):
http://news.com.com/Web+site+gives+e-mail+senders+a+reputation/2100-7355-5844408.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e703

Internet Explorer - Be All You Can Be

2005-08-30T08:24:00.000-06:00

And yet again, a new flaw in I.E. 6 with the announcement yesterday of a new flaw that allows complete ability to run executable code on an unpatched computer. Considering there is no patch yet, or confirmation from Microsoft at this time (it was announced yesterday), and that the flaw is not published yet to allow malicious folks to abuse it, it shouldn't worry anyone too much.

In this particular article, they pointed out a specific bit of information that you should take into consideration when creating policy and in having safe and sound surfing habits. A security company (that I have great faith in) called Secunia, has issued 69 (not including the one mentioned above) alerts on Internet Explorer 6 since it's release in 2003. According to Secunia - almost 1/3 of those security bugs remain unpatched.

Article is here: (copy paste if link doesn't work properly)
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+investigates+another+IE+flaw+report/2100-1002-5844431.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e703

MP3 Player News

2005-08-30T08:06:00.000-06:00

"There is one big hitch to downloading books from the library.
The leading services offer Windows-friendly audiobook files that can’t be played on Apple Computer’s massively popular iPod player."'

This fact along with the demise of the Rio MP3 player makes one think twice before investing money in Online Audio Books.

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Google's Library Project In Trouble Again

2005-08-29T14:35:00.000-06:00

"Google, based in Mountain View, Calif., said this month that it would suspend until November scanning copyrighted books into its database, unless it has prior permission from the publisher or other copyright holder. At the end of the suspension, Google will resume copying books, unless it receives from publishers a list of specific titles they do not want in the search engine's database. "

Publishers are threatening to sue due to copyright violations.

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