Top 10 Facebook Fixes

Image by Spencer E Holtaway.

Facebook may be the de facto social network of, frankly, almost everyone, but that doesn't mean you have to use Facebook... more at Lifehacker.com

Upcoming Library Event of Possible Interest

How Can A Textbook Be Free? Keeping Higher Education Affordable with Open Resources

August 25, 2010 -- The UMass Amherst Libraries will host a panel discussion on Open Educational Resources, “How Can a Textbook Be Free? Keeping Higher Education Affordable with Open Resources,” on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Room 163C of the Campus Center, at UMass Amherst. The panel will include Stephen Carson from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Eric Frank ’92 and Michael Boezi from Flat World Knowledge.

1 More Week to go!!

We're down to the wire and almost there.
1 more week to go!!

APPLE IN THE NEWS

Privacy group says Apple plans to patent "traitorware" and spy on users:

Some people may be celebrating the U.S. Copyright Office declaration that it's legal to "jailbreak" iPhones. But Apple is fighting back, and a well-known privacy group warns that a recent Apple patent application "does nothing short of providing a roadmap for how Apple can --- and presumably will --- spy on its customers and control the way its customers use Apple products." The patent application is downright chilling. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has examined Apple's patent application for, in the patent's words, "identifying unauthorized users of an electronic device." Read article here.

WINDOWS 7 & OFFICE 2010 on Public PC's

The public PC's are being updated to include Windows 7 and Office 2010 this week. When you get a chance, take your time and explore this platform. We will be undoubtedly be answering many questions regarding this change.

NO FOOD AT THE DESK

Providing excellent customer service at the LC Desk is our goal. To that end and starting today, there will be no food allowed behind the LC Desk. Covered beverages are okay. Snacks and meals can be consumed on your breaks at the cafe upstairs. Soon, a specified break area for students will be announced. Thank you, and keep up the great work!!

Clock is ticking!!!

18 more wake-ups until the first day of classes for the Fall 2010 Semester!!! Check out First Week Activities on Campus here.

Another Great Resource: Declassified Documents Database!!!

The Declassified Documents Database is a clearing for previously top secret government documents, cables, and reports. The passage of the Freedom of Information Act made the publishing possible. Consider it a legitimate version of the wikileaks database now making news.

The fields of history, politics, and international relations can be enriched with access to the primary documents in this Library Database, found under D in the alphabetic list of Databases on the Library's website.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Things You Can Do Online

Researchers at Internet security service provider CyberDefender looked at some of the most dangerous things you can do online

http://gizmodo.com/5614047/the-top-ten-most-dangerous-things-you-can-do-online

Database of the week: Digitial Sanborn Maps

Here is a rendering of Downtown Springfield in 1911. It was created as tool for the insurance industry by the Sanborn Map Company.

"Sanborn Maps were originally created for assessing fire insurance liability in urbanized areas in the United States. The maps include detailed information regarding town and building information in approximately 12,000 U.S. towns and cities from 1867 to 1970."wikipedia

This collection was digitized into a database, and is available though our Library's Database website under S for Sanborn. There are many locations available. Check out your hometown!!!

Please note: The detail available in the database is much better then the photo on this blog post.

Happy Friday!!!

After today there are only 3 more Fridays until Labor Day weekend and the start of the semester.

Facebook Privacy = Oxymoron!!!

Facebook Privacy Flaw Identified

Despite its struggle to simplify its privacy controls, Facebook still has some work to do. Read article here!

GOT TWEETS???

Follow the LC on twitter at www.twitter.com/umasslc

Even if you don't have a twitter account, you can still check out what we have been posting by clicking the link!

Where did summer go?

The Library's summer employment period will end on Saturday, August 28. No student employees should work after that date unless they have been cleared for fall employment. Paperwork for students returning in the Fall will be available in the next week. Only 3 weeks to go!!!

SIGN THE BOOK

Please remember to sign the red book twice for every shift you work. Random audits are being done by the Library's HR department. These manual records are also important in case Kronos fails. Thank you for your great work done this summer thus far! Only 4 weeks to go!

100 years ago at UMass

the entrance exam looked like this!!

Source: SCUA Public Records 1904 Annual Report of Mass Aggie.

SUMMER IS ALMOST.......

26 days until classes begin!!!

YOUR COMMENTS WANTED!!!!

Please feel free to leave a comment on any blog post. Your feedback is essential to making the LC Desk Daily blog work.

GOOGLE IN THE NEWS......

"WAVE" Goodbye: Google Wave Washed Out

Google says it will stop development on Wave, its real-time communications and collaboration platform, a scant three months after making it available to the public, though the technology will live on in other products inside and outside the company. READ STORY HERE

It's about time: Google Rolls Out Multiple Sign-In

Users with multiple Gmail or Google Calendar, Reader, Code or Sites accounts will be able to log in once and access all accounts without the need to log out and log in again. READ STORY HERE

"Do no evil" : CIA, Google Invest Future Of Web Monitoring

Recorded Future, a Boston-area startup, measures online momentum, sentiment combined with visualization tools to show patterns and links between information and predictions. READ STORY HERE

BREAK TIME!!!

Be sure to take your scheduled breaks. If you work 4 or more hours, be sure to take your paid 15 minute break. If you work for more than 6 hours, you automatically get an unpaid half hour break in addition to the paid 15 minute break. There are always more than 1 supervisor around during the summer, so don't be afraid to ask for coverage when you are ready for a little R & R during your shift.

FIRE! FIRE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!

In the next few weeks, there will be a fire drill in the library. When this occurs, your priority is to exit the building as soon as possible.

If you are in the Teaching Commons, please proceed down the stairs and avoid the elevator. If you are physically unable to descend the stairs, call 911 and inform the UMPD of your name and location. They will tell you if its a drill, and if not, send help.

If you are in the LC, proceed to the exit by the Academic Advising station. Try to guide people with you, but exit the building immediately. Lead others out the door by your example.

The rally point for all Learning Commons and Teaching Commons full-time and student staff is the minuteman statue, regardless of weather. Once you arrive there, check in with a supervisor, or Carol, or Sarah, because we will be looking for you and waiting for the "all clear."

If you have any questions about this, please ask a supervisor.

SLEEP IN NEXT WEDNESDAY

Next Wednesday, August 11th, the library will be opening at 9 A.M. due to an electrical inspection. If you have a normally scheduled start time of 8 A.M., your shift is reduced and you get to sleep for an extra hour. All other shifts start at the normal time that day.

GOT VOICEMAIL???

If the red light is blinking on the LC Desk phone, please be sure to check for voice mail messages, and pass along any relevant information to a supervisor. If you are unsure about the password or the process on how to obtain the messages, ask a supervisor. It's easy!!

The blog is back baby!!!!

The blog is back from a restful vacation. There are only 30 days until classes begin here in the happy valley. I would like to say thank you for your universal great efforts this summer thus far, and keep up the great work!!!

If you are interested in learning more about the great activities on campus during the opening week, click here!!!!

Please try and check this blog frequently. There will be updates daily.