Windows 2000 Server Security Risk
Administrators: Last week Microsoft announced a patch for a recently discovered, and very serious security hole found on all Windows 2000 Servers running IIS version 5.0.  The TechNet Bulletin and the hot fix can be found at Microsoft's Site The application of the patch is simple, but does require the server to be restarted.

What happens to your information when a .com disappears?
Lets say that you are among the group of folks who purchased toys from now defunct EToys.com or any of the hundreds of other failed .com companies.  Have you ever wondered what they do with your personal information: name, address, phone number, email address, buying habits, etc?  The answer in the past has frequently been - SELL IT!

That’s right, this information is valuable to other retailers and in the past has been used to help satisfy creditors. 

Read more about this trend and where it is going

Biometric identification in the everyday world
What if you could issue a library card that patrons could never forget, couldn’t be lost, couldn’t be stolen, and was immune to patron deception.  While we’re not there yet in a few years you’ll be able to make this happen.  Here’s how……

Many of you have heard about the FBI’s use of facial identification technology deployed at the last Super Bowl.  This was one of the first widely publicized uses of a technology that was developed by the US Government throughout the 1990’s.  The technology, called facial imaging, captures an image of person’s face and compares the image to a database of known faces (in the case of the FBI this database contained the faces of known criminals and terrorists).  If they get a match, agents are able to apprehend the bad guys and make the world a safer place; although some will argue that the damage to personal privacy outweighs the benefits in this application. 

While the above example illustrates the ability of such technologies to be used for surveillance purposes it is the possibility of using them for identification purposes that provides interesting opportunities for libraries, schools, universities and businesses. 

In such a world a library patron would approach the desk, look at a spot on the wall and be instantly identified. They would then be able to check out materials.  Imagine the days of  patrons saying “I forgot my card” would be gone forever.   The same technologies used by libraries to identify patrons could be used by schools and universities for student identification.

Even more interesting uses of this technology can be expected from the commercial sector.  Imagine how check cashing and the use of credit cards will be changed - just smile at the camera to pay for your purchases at the mall! 

If you’re interesting in reading more about this here are two more articles:
http://www.wired.com/news/gizmos/0,1452,42317,00.html
http://www.wired.com/news/gizmos/0,1452,42353,00.html

Find our more about XP at the official site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/preview/default.asp

Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

“What is your library planning for Banned Books Week 2001 (September 22-29)? We need several really good examples for press releases, editorials, letters to the editor, talks, etc.

Please send us information on what you are planning.  Are you planning to display banned books in a unique way?  Are you planning on conducting a read-a-thon in which students read passages from banned books?  Are you planning on discussing the dangers of suppressing books and ideas?  Whatever you plan on doing, we'd like to hear about it, so we can share your ideas with others.

Thank you for your willingness to share!”

For details on Banned Books Week 2001, see http://www.ala.org/bbooks/

Family Programming in Libraries
Many public libraries are increasing the number of family programs that they hold, recognizing the value of the entire family unit sharing literature together. The Winter 2001 issue of Journal
of Youth Services in Libraries contains an excellent article by Heather McNeil-Nix sharing her ten most successful family programs/projects. The article is titled “Family Friendly Libraries
Are Us.” If you would like to see this article and are unable to obtain a copy, please let me know.

The winners for 2001 were: Bark George for Grades K-2; The Adventures of Captain Underpants for Grades 3-5; and Holes for Grades 6-8.

The award is granted every two years and so for the upcoming school year of 2001-2002, we are involved in the nomination process. This is a great opportunity for school and public libraries to get children involved in the election process. You can hold an actual election with a voting booth and children can campaign for their favorite books. For guidelines on how to conduct the nomination and other information about the award, go to the web site at: http://www.wpl.lib.oh.us/buckeyebook

Patrick Jones Request
Patrick Jones, author of Connecting Young Adults and Libraries, and main speaker at our upcoming Youth Services Symposium, has a favor to ask of librarians who serve youth in public libraries. Presently he is writing a book about library card campaigns and has the following question to ask: 

“Has your library ever conducted a library card campaign and you were involved in efforts to increase the number of children and teen library card holders?”

If so, and you would be willing to share information with him, please write to him at: [email protected]

Children’s Books on Book TV
Have you caught C-Span 2’s “Children’s Books on Book TV” program yet? The program airs every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and noon (EST) on C-Span 2. To learn more about Book TV and its children’s books programming including an upcoming schedule of books to be covered, visit the Book TV Web site at: http://www.booktv.org/children

Bulletin Board Ideas for School Libraries
One of the most frequently asked question from school librarians/media personnel is where to get ideas for bulletin boards. Here is a site with some ideas (plus they are hoping you will add some of your own best ideas) http://www.ccps.ga.net/bulletinboards

Zero to Three
The December 2000/January 2001 issue of Zero to Three's Bulletin is all about libraries. Articles include "Family Place Libraries: Transforming Public Libraries to Serve Very Young Children and Their Families," "Creating Welcoming Library Environments for Infants, Toddlers and Their Families," and "Together is Better: The Role of Libraries as Natural Community Partners," among others.

One article ("The Role of Public Libraries in Emergent and Family Literacy") is available on the Zero to Three web site at:

http://www.zerotothree.org/professional.html?Load=prof_intro.html

Click on "ZTT Bulletin" in the left-hand frame, and then on "Read a Sample from the latest issues."

Individual copies of this issue can be ordered for $10.00 each, plus $4.50 for shipping by sending a check payable to Zero to Three to: Zero to Three, c/o SunTrust Bank, PO Box 79768, Baltimore MD 21279-0768.

Preschool Literacy Initiative
Check out this website from the Public Library Association.  It includes some research-based program initiatives presented at the recent PLA Symposium on Early Childhood Literacy.
http://www.whitehurst.sbs.sunysb.edu/pla2/default.htm

Included is a background on the initiative; research on emergent literacy; pamphlets for parents and library patrons, and programs for parents of infants, toddlers, two-and three-year-olds, and programs for parents of four-and five-year-olds.

Items submitted by:
Sue McCleaf Nespeca
[email protected]