Wednesday, July 29, 1998

10:05:56 AM

For a bi-monthly wrap up of NOLA news and information, be sure to check out NOLA Notes!
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Email Flaw Discovered - Sky Said to be Falling

Some Finnish computer security experts have discovered a flaw in popular email clients that can have serious consequences. The security hole is said to open up exposure to a hard drive erasure. The flaw affects Microsoft's  Outlook Express and Outlook 98, as well as Netscape Communications Corp.'s Web browser and is centered around email attachments.

Previous issues required the end-user to actually open the attachment to be exposed, but the sources say this problem could occur just by closing a window. This flaw involves attachments with extremely long filenames and in order for the malicious code to cause problems, the user must select the File menu while viewing the message.

Both companies are hard at work to identify and fix the bug. Microsoft posted a patch on Tuesday, but withdrew it when it turned out to be ineffective. Netscape is promising a fix within two weeks. A simple workaround when receiving suspicious messages with attachments is to simply click on the X in the upper right hand corner to close the message.

``The sky is falling,'' said Russ Cooper, who moderates the respected computer security mailing list called NTBugtraq, hinting at the enormomity of the problem. Microsoft sources said "We're definitely not taking this lightly."

No attacks outside the laboratory have yet been verified, but you should plan on upgrading as soon as a patch is released.

Biblio-Find

Biblio-Find describes itself as "Six million old, used and rare books offered here for sale by two thousand booksellers around the world make this the largest and possibly the most interesting bookselling site on the Web". Filling the niche not covered by Amazon, B&N, et al, Biblio-Find caters to those looking for the rare. Basically it is a network of dealers brought together virtually. A search for an item will return dealers with the item, contact info, sales and return policies.
They also host several listservs such as:

Bibliofind Rare: where antiquarian booksellers, rare book librarians, and collectors of rare books can communicate with each other
Bibliofind ModernFirsts: buying, selling and discussion of collectible first editions
Bibliofind Sporting Books: buying, selling, discussion of books about sports, games, athletics, etc.

Digital Competition Continues

The Library of Congress/Ameritech National Digital Library Competition continues for 98/99. Deadline for applications is Nov. 2, 1998. The program is geared at awarding money for the digitization of primary resources from local collections. The collections will "complement and enhance the collections of the National Digital Library Program at the Library of Congress". Awards will be given for up to $75,000 for individual institutions and up to $150,000 for eligible consortia for projects that can be accomplished in twelve to eighteen months. Visit the overview page with more details.

Today in History

LOC also has a nice page called "Today in History" that snapshots news and events occuring on today's date. Culled from the American Memory collection, the site lists primary resources for further research.  Overall, it makes for a nice link on your library's webpage.

Sandwhich Generation

PLA has compiled a nice bibliography for the Boomers who are feeling evermore "sandwhiched" with responsibilities. Well, you know what they say, the more bread you got . . .

Items submitted by:
Kenneth S. Bell - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

Bicentennial Ad Hoc Committee

Dale Craig of Mentor Public Library and Anne Prusha of Geauga County Public Library are serving on the Ohio Library Council's Ad Hoc Committee on the Ohio Bicentennial.  This Committee is exploring ways in which libraries can help communities celebrate the Bicentennial during March - October 2003. If you would like to participate in a brainstorming session to generate ideas, please e-mail Dale or Anne. They will get back to you with a meeting date.

They are also compiling a one page history about the founding of each public library in Ohio. Please send your one page history to:

Dale Craig
Mentor Public Library
8215 Mentor Ave.
Mentor, Ohio 44060

or e-mail him. The deadline for sending the library history is January 5, 1999. Thanks for your assistance.

Items submitted by:
Millie Fry - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

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