It's not that I never write anything useful in this column. Letting people know about library doings is, I trust, a public service.
But lately, I've had a powerful need to document a few things that are REALLY useful. For instance, here's one that I got from reading a kid's book about a Jewish grandmother: when you break an egg, and a piece of the eggshell falls in, the best way to get it out is with the rest of the eggshell. Spoons, knives, fingers just don't work. An eggshell does.
I can't tell you how much aggravation this has saved me.
Here's one that my wife ran across in a book: if you get some kind of berry stain on a shirt, pour scalding water through it. The stain comes right out.
Here's another one that didn't come from a book. It's culled from watching a lot of relationships go sour. It's something every engaged couple should incorporate into their wedding vows, and every married person should give some thought to: don't speak ill of your spouse, especially in public. Some smart remark may get a laugh, but it really isn't funny. What it is, is unattractive, fundamentally discourteous, and destructive. More often than you might imagine, the heart and mind follow the mouth.
Since this is, after all, a library column, here are two library- related tips:
(1) The best way to use the library's computer to find books on a particular subject is first do a title keyword search for the topic -- "Dalmatians," for instance. When the computer displays the list of titles that match whatever word or phrase you entered, look on the middle column of the screen, headed "CALL#" (for "call number" -- the number on the spine of the book). Usually, the books with likely titles have the same general number. Then go to that part of the library and see what's on the shelf. There are, of course, other ways to track down really comprehensive listings of library materials, and just because it isn't on the shelf at a particular library doesn't mean you have to do without. We have a 6 day a week courier system that gets most materials to you the day after you request them. Beyond that, we're connected to a truly international network of libraries.
But most of the time, people are just looking for something, anything, on a topic for that particular day. This method is the simplest, fastest way to do that.
(2) You don't have to finish books you don't like. Really. There's no way anyone else (librarians, for instance) can find out about it. And even if we could, not finishing a book isn't a crime. It's not even a character flaw.
There are a lot of poorly written books out there -- even the ones on the bestseller list. If you're not enjoying something, and you don't HAVE to read it for some other purpose, just stop. There are plenty of books in the world that you WILL enjoy.
Finally, here's one more general life tip, passed on to me by my father-in-law and attributed to the stand-up comic, Jeff Foxworthy: you know how diaper packages are labeled with, say, "5-7 pounds," or "15 pounds?" That's just about the most they'll hold. Don't overload them.
Wednesday, June 19, 1996
Wednesday, June 12, 1996
June 12, 1996 - Highlands Ranch Authors Day and CALL for Volunteers
I can tell you about a place that welcomes everybody, a place where once you walk through the door, you need never be alone again, a place where you can also find the most profound solitude. I can tell you about a place that sometimes leads to glory.
If you have ever read this column before, you'll have an idea what I'm talking about -- not just the public library (surprise!), but the larger world of literature.
What do I mean by "larger world?" I mean the opportunity to live lives that are very like yours, or very different, all through the vicarious reality of fiction. I mean the opportunity to earn the equivalent of -- nay, something superior to -- a college degree in any subject in the world, or in some subject that no college yet has taught, simply by giving diligent consideration to non-fiction in its many forms.
And if you're diligent enough, one day you may even find yourself moving from the status of "appreciator" to "contributor," from reader to writer. That's one kind of the "glory" I was talking about.
Speaking of writers, I'd like to extend an invitation. This is a call to all published writers who live or work in northwestern Douglas County. "Northwestern Douglas County" includes anything north of Castle Rock, and west of I-25. At our Highlands Ranch Library, we will soon be hosting an event to honor our local authors. We've already done one such event in Parker, and we have yet to do one for Castle Rock.
There are a surprising number of published authors in Douglas County. It seems to me that I meet one almost every week. Their subjects range from medical advice for families to historical romance. As librarians, we are tremendously grateful to them. (No books, no business.)
If YOU are a published author living or working in northwest Douglas County, or if you know of one, please give Cindy Murphy, our Public Relations Manager, a call at 841-6942. But now it's time for a confession. I began this week's piece by talking about a place where everyone is welcome. But there is one sort of Douglas County resident that does not feel welcome in a library -- the person who cannot read.
I've mentioned this before: in every generation, a steady percentage of people pass through or drop out of our educational system without ever learning to read. Let's talk about what it means to be "functionally illiterate." You can't make sense of newspaper headlines, you can't read the instructions on your medicine, you can't fill out a job form, you are truly ashamed (even though the odds are good it was the original instructional method that was the problem, not you), you are anxious that you'll be found out by a boss, a colleague, or a grandchild.
But the truth is, anyone can learn to read. It takes about 20 hours of focused instruction, followed up with practice. And the best way to get this instruction is one-on-one tutoring.
And here's my second pitch: Douglas County needs literacy tutors. The Center for Adult Learning and Literacy (CALL) needs help. They have 10 students who are waiting for tutors. Seven of them are English as a Second Language students: 5 in Highlands Ranch, 1 in Parker, and 1 in Castle Rock. Three students are working on their G.E.D.'s.
I should mention that as a tutor, you will receive all the training you need to be successful. Tutors, of course, are volunteers. The usual commitment is just one to two hours a week, usually spent in the comfortable surroundings of the public library.
I've worked as a tutor myself. The current program director, Susan Cook, tutors 6 students -- you'll find her a ready and knowledgeable resource.
The literacy program is aptly named: please CALL today. The number is 841-8615.
If you have ever read this column before, you'll have an idea what I'm talking about -- not just the public library (surprise!), but the larger world of literature.
What do I mean by "larger world?" I mean the opportunity to live lives that are very like yours, or very different, all through the vicarious reality of fiction. I mean the opportunity to earn the equivalent of -- nay, something superior to -- a college degree in any subject in the world, or in some subject that no college yet has taught, simply by giving diligent consideration to non-fiction in its many forms.
And if you're diligent enough, one day you may even find yourself moving from the status of "appreciator" to "contributor," from reader to writer. That's one kind of the "glory" I was talking about.
Speaking of writers, I'd like to extend an invitation. This is a call to all published writers who live or work in northwestern Douglas County. "Northwestern Douglas County" includes anything north of Castle Rock, and west of I-25. At our Highlands Ranch Library, we will soon be hosting an event to honor our local authors. We've already done one such event in Parker, and we have yet to do one for Castle Rock.
There are a surprising number of published authors in Douglas County. It seems to me that I meet one almost every week. Their subjects range from medical advice for families to historical romance. As librarians, we are tremendously grateful to them. (No books, no business.)
If YOU are a published author living or working in northwest Douglas County, or if you know of one, please give Cindy Murphy, our Public Relations Manager, a call at 841-6942. But now it's time for a confession. I began this week's piece by talking about a place where everyone is welcome. But there is one sort of Douglas County resident that does not feel welcome in a library -- the person who cannot read.
I've mentioned this before: in every generation, a steady percentage of people pass through or drop out of our educational system without ever learning to read. Let's talk about what it means to be "functionally illiterate." You can't make sense of newspaper headlines, you can't read the instructions on your medicine, you can't fill out a job form, you are truly ashamed (even though the odds are good it was the original instructional method that was the problem, not you), you are anxious that you'll be found out by a boss, a colleague, or a grandchild.
But the truth is, anyone can learn to read. It takes about 20 hours of focused instruction, followed up with practice. And the best way to get this instruction is one-on-one tutoring.
And here's my second pitch: Douglas County needs literacy tutors. The Center for Adult Learning and Literacy (CALL) needs help. They have 10 students who are waiting for tutors. Seven of them are English as a Second Language students: 5 in Highlands Ranch, 1 in Parker, and 1 in Castle Rock. Three students are working on their G.E.D.'s.
I should mention that as a tutor, you will receive all the training you need to be successful. Tutors, of course, are volunteers. The usual commitment is just one to two hours a week, usually spent in the comfortable surroundings of the public library.
I've worked as a tutor myself. The current program director, Susan Cook, tutors 6 students -- you'll find her a ready and knowledgeable resource.
The literacy program is aptly named: please CALL today. The number is 841-8615.
Wednesday, June 5, 1996
June 5, 1996 - Public PCs Redux
A few days ago, I got a call from a patron with a complaint. Why didn't any of our libraries provide public computers? It happened that her son was in town and needed to crank out some resumes. She was, she said, shocked that her local library -- and even the Koelbel Library in the Arapahoe Library District -- didn't have a computer, equipped with a word processor and laser printer, available for such a task.
It happens that this idea of publicly accessible computers comes up regularly. So I told her that I'd raise the issue in the newspaper to both (a) walk through my reasoning on the idea, and (b) find out how close or how utterly out-of-synch I am with our community.
Do any public libraries in Colorado provide public PCs? Yes. Some have one; some have several. Some charge for them; some don't. Some require people to attend training sessions; others post signs that say, "You're on your own!"
Why doesn't the Douglas Public Library District have public computers?
First, we don't have a whole lot of extra space. Public computers should be situated either where their use can be easily monitored by staff, or in a locked room. Such locations are hard to come by at all but maybe two of our branches. And in those two, we've come up with what we think are better uses: the display of new library materials and quiet study rooms, respectively.
Second, I'm not convinced there's a need. Every time I give a talk in this county -- and I give a fair number of them -- I ask how many people have a computer and modem in their homes. It's over 90%, and may be over 95%. This squares with a survey I did in Parker last year.
Third, the people that don't have computers quite understandably don't know how to use them, either. That means that they'll need some training and or direct support. We put a lot of time and money into keeping our staff educated on the software we use daily.
Frankly, I shy away from trying to train every staff member in the quirks and obscurities of a product that they won't be using at all. Remember those signs saying, "You're on your own!"? They don't work. People still come to staff when something doesn't work, and get mad at us if we can't solve their problems. I'm unwilling to put out a product that we can't do a good job of supporting.
Fourth, I just don't think providing public computers is our job. A few of our libraries do have some old typewriters, usually donated, that we put out for people to use to fill out the odd form, or type out an address on an envelope. (We don't sell envelopes.) But even this is a marginal service, in my opinion. It's a patron convenience that doesn't cost us much. Public computers aren't like that; they're either expensive to buy, or expensive to maintain, or both.
When we opened our new Parker Library, I tried to find somebody who would sponsor this service, kind of like a photocopy contract: make it coin-operated, and in return, collect the cash, schedule some classes, and take care of any computer viruses and equipment problems on a regular maintenance schedule, or in response to a service call. Nobody took us up on it.
So you tell me: is providing this service a good use of your library tax dollars? Right now, I don't think so. But I'm willing to listen, and susceptible as always to a logical argument.
Or e-mail me at jaslarue@earthlink.net. We're getting into the budget cycle for next year, so this would be a good time to make the case.
It happens that this idea of publicly accessible computers comes up regularly. So I told her that I'd raise the issue in the newspaper to both (a) walk through my reasoning on the idea, and (b) find out how close or how utterly out-of-synch I am with our community.
Do any public libraries in Colorado provide public PCs? Yes. Some have one; some have several. Some charge for them; some don't. Some require people to attend training sessions; others post signs that say, "You're on your own!"
Why doesn't the Douglas Public Library District have public computers?
First, we don't have a whole lot of extra space. Public computers should be situated either where their use can be easily monitored by staff, or in a locked room. Such locations are hard to come by at all but maybe two of our branches. And in those two, we've come up with what we think are better uses: the display of new library materials and quiet study rooms, respectively.
Second, I'm not convinced there's a need. Every time I give a talk in this county -- and I give a fair number of them -- I ask how many people have a computer and modem in their homes. It's over 90%, and may be over 95%. This squares with a survey I did in Parker last year.
Third, the people that don't have computers quite understandably don't know how to use them, either. That means that they'll need some training and or direct support. We put a lot of time and money into keeping our staff educated on the software we use daily.
Frankly, I shy away from trying to train every staff member in the quirks and obscurities of a product that they won't be using at all. Remember those signs saying, "You're on your own!"? They don't work. People still come to staff when something doesn't work, and get mad at us if we can't solve their problems. I'm unwilling to put out a product that we can't do a good job of supporting.
Fourth, I just don't think providing public computers is our job. A few of our libraries do have some old typewriters, usually donated, that we put out for people to use to fill out the odd form, or type out an address on an envelope. (We don't sell envelopes.) But even this is a marginal service, in my opinion. It's a patron convenience that doesn't cost us much. Public computers aren't like that; they're either expensive to buy, or expensive to maintain, or both.
When we opened our new Parker Library, I tried to find somebody who would sponsor this service, kind of like a photocopy contract: make it coin-operated, and in return, collect the cash, schedule some classes, and take care of any computer viruses and equipment problems on a regular maintenance schedule, or in response to a service call. Nobody took us up on it.
So you tell me: is providing this service a good use of your library tax dollars? Right now, I don't think so. But I'm willing to listen, and susceptible as always to a logical argument.
Or e-mail me at jaslarue@earthlink.net. We're getting into the budget cycle for next year, so this would be a good time to make the case.
Wednesday, May 29, 1996
May 29, 1996 - YAPP Program
I freely admit it. There are lots of things going on at the library that I don't know anything about. Mostly, I'm ok with that.
I finally figured out that it's impossible for one person to keep track of all the activities of 100 others -- especially when they're as creative as our staff. It's more important that the environment is lively than that I know all about it ahead of time.
Besides, I like surprises. (Usually.)
Here's an example. One of our staff people, Carolyn LaPerriere, dreamed up a reading program for Young Adults. It's called "Y.A.P.P." When I asked her what it stands for, she said, "Young Adult Program at Philip S. Miller Library." I'll bite, I said. Shouldn't that be, Y.A.P.a.P.S.M.L.? She just laughed.
The acronym may be complex, but the Y.A.P.P. program is pretty simple. If you're 12-17 years old, you need to fill out a green registration card for the program. This qualifies you for the drawing, held twice a week for the duration of the program, to win a $15 gift certificate at Bogey's West (a music store). If you complete the program -- which requires you to read 6 books of your own choice between June 10 and July 15 -- then you go into the big drawing. Win that, and you win a $35 gift certificate at Bogey's.
"Why should a Young Adult sign up for such a program?" I asked. Carolyn allowed that she thinks the odds are better than they were last year that you'll win something. (More prizes.) Then she laughed again.
There's another benefit, of course. Carolyn also walked me over to the Philip S. Miller Library's Young Adult collection. (We have over 4,000 young adult books and paperbacks in the district's collection these days.) She showed me the Young Adult Reader's Advisory Notebook -- something else I didn't know about. This notebook included various book lists staff have produced over the past year or so. But it also included book reviews written by the intended audience -- teenagers.
Here are a few samples.
"Chorus Skating," by Alan Dean Foster: "It is a witty fantasy with a strange sort of humor. Definitely a book that would produce at least a short grin." Then the phrase "a short grin" was crossed out and replaced with "a violent fit of hysteria."
"Johnny Mnemonic": "It was a depressing and violent book in an even more depressing and violent future. Definitely not your cozy- up-with-a-hot-cup-of-cocoa kind of book." That's one of the best short book reviews I've seen, concise and informative.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth," by Jules Verne: "This book was boring and hard to understand." And my favorite: "The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks," by Nancy McArthur: "...it's a strange book. It is also a funny book. The plants eat socks, some dirty ... and some clean."
I have to end this with a great story I heard from the Philip S. Miller Library's branch manager, Holly Deni. Holly says that a recent study about how people interpret street signs yielded an interesting observation. You've probably seen the library sign. It features a sort of international bald-headed kid, holding an book.
How did people interpret it? "People reading as they cross the street." A Readers Crossing.
Hey, it could happen. Who knows? Some of them might even be young adults.
I finally figured out that it's impossible for one person to keep track of all the activities of 100 others -- especially when they're as creative as our staff. It's more important that the environment is lively than that I know all about it ahead of time.
Besides, I like surprises. (Usually.)
Here's an example. One of our staff people, Carolyn LaPerriere, dreamed up a reading program for Young Adults. It's called "Y.A.P.P." When I asked her what it stands for, she said, "Young Adult Program at Philip S. Miller Library." I'll bite, I said. Shouldn't that be, Y.A.P.a.P.S.M.L.? She just laughed.
The acronym may be complex, but the Y.A.P.P. program is pretty simple. If you're 12-17 years old, you need to fill out a green registration card for the program. This qualifies you for the drawing, held twice a week for the duration of the program, to win a $15 gift certificate at Bogey's West (a music store). If you complete the program -- which requires you to read 6 books of your own choice between June 10 and July 15 -- then you go into the big drawing. Win that, and you win a $35 gift certificate at Bogey's.
"Why should a Young Adult sign up for such a program?" I asked. Carolyn allowed that she thinks the odds are better than they were last year that you'll win something. (More prizes.) Then she laughed again.
There's another benefit, of course. Carolyn also walked me over to the Philip S. Miller Library's Young Adult collection. (We have over 4,000 young adult books and paperbacks in the district's collection these days.) She showed me the Young Adult Reader's Advisory Notebook -- something else I didn't know about. This notebook included various book lists staff have produced over the past year or so. But it also included book reviews written by the intended audience -- teenagers.
Here are a few samples.
"Chorus Skating," by Alan Dean Foster: "It is a witty fantasy with a strange sort of humor. Definitely a book that would produce at least a short grin." Then the phrase "a short grin" was crossed out and replaced with "a violent fit of hysteria."
"Johnny Mnemonic": "It was a depressing and violent book in an even more depressing and violent future. Definitely not your cozy- up-with-a-hot-cup-of-cocoa kind of book." That's one of the best short book reviews I've seen, concise and informative.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth," by Jules Verne: "This book was boring and hard to understand." And my favorite: "The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks," by Nancy McArthur: "...it's a strange book. It is also a funny book. The plants eat socks, some dirty ... and some clean."
I have to end this with a great story I heard from the Philip S. Miller Library's branch manager, Holly Deni. Holly says that a recent study about how people interpret street signs yielded an interesting observation. You've probably seen the library sign. It features a sort of international bald-headed kid, holding an book.
How did people interpret it? "People reading as they cross the street." A Readers Crossing.
Hey, it could happen. Who knows? Some of them might even be young adults.
Wednesday, May 22, 1996
May 22, 1996 - Long Range Planning Effort
Over the next several months, the library will be working on its long range plan. Our planning period is 5 years; a span that will sweep the library into the 21st century.
So far, our long range planning process has involved three basic approaches.
First, the Douglas Public Library District Board of Trustees has assembled a planning committee. Serving on it are board members Bob McLaughlin (of Parker) and Steve Roper (of Highlands Ranch). The committee also includes Denny Hill, whose number-crunching skills and demographic projections have served the school district so well. We are also pleased to have J. Tom Graham, publisher of the News-Press, who brings a freshness of insight to Douglas County, and a good deal of seasoned business experience. Another member of our team is Alvaro Pisoni, who recently has put a great deal of work into the master plan for the Parker's downtown, and brings an international sensibility to our discussions. Finally, we have Kim Wolz, a long-time citizen member of the Douglas County Planning Commission, and a big time library user, a woman of experience and penetrating insight. I serve as facilitator for the group.
Second, we have established several staff committees, chaired not by our managers, but by our front line staff. Our intent here is to make sure we capture the direct, service-point perspective in our planning. These committees include "Looking Around" (a survey and statistical review committee), Automation (to look at trends and costs for technology), Collections (to look at how we acquire materials, and what formats of materials should be phased in or out), New Services (to identify useful and appropriate new library functions), and Personnel (to consider not only our whole compensation package, but to look at staff training needs, organizational structures, and so on).
Third, I've worked up a document detailing what kinds of things I see in our immediate future. Among other things, I've proposed a new service model (contrasted with the old "organization chart") and tried to predict some of the key trends that will affect the library environment.
I know that there are hordes of people out there "visioning" and the like. It could be that you have been involved in such efforts yourself, and as a result, cast a cynical eye on such doings.
But I humbly submit that the library is different. The last time we worked up a plan, we stuck to it. In fact, we exceeded it. We're not just compiling nicely formatted documents to be shelved and forgotten. We're trying to pull together the best thoughts of our best minds to hammer out a solid action plan through the year 2001.
I'll be reporting on the results of our efforts over the next few months. The point of this week's column is to remind you that you, O Gentle Reader, are also part of the library's braintrust. You are the source of some of our very best ideas, and the final judge of their worth.
So if there's some burning issue that has been bothering you about the library, or some wonderful idea that we need to know about, don't hesitate to let us know.
Stop in and talk to us about it. Give either your local branch, or me, a call (I'm at 688-8752). If you have e-mail, try me at jaslarue@earthlink.net. Too, be prepared for a library survey. We haven't worked out, yet, whether it will be by telephone, by mail, or even door to door. And you may not hear from us until fall. We're still working on which questions are the most important.
But if we do contact you, we hope you'll be willing to talk to us.
So far, our long range planning process has involved three basic approaches.
First, the Douglas Public Library District Board of Trustees has assembled a planning committee. Serving on it are board members Bob McLaughlin (of Parker) and Steve Roper (of Highlands Ranch). The committee also includes Denny Hill, whose number-crunching skills and demographic projections have served the school district so well. We are also pleased to have J. Tom Graham, publisher of the News-Press, who brings a freshness of insight to Douglas County, and a good deal of seasoned business experience. Another member of our team is Alvaro Pisoni, who recently has put a great deal of work into the master plan for the Parker's downtown, and brings an international sensibility to our discussions. Finally, we have Kim Wolz, a long-time citizen member of the Douglas County Planning Commission, and a big time library user, a woman of experience and penetrating insight. I serve as facilitator for the group.
Second, we have established several staff committees, chaired not by our managers, but by our front line staff. Our intent here is to make sure we capture the direct, service-point perspective in our planning. These committees include "Looking Around" (a survey and statistical review committee), Automation (to look at trends and costs for technology), Collections (to look at how we acquire materials, and what formats of materials should be phased in or out), New Services (to identify useful and appropriate new library functions), and Personnel (to consider not only our whole compensation package, but to look at staff training needs, organizational structures, and so on).
Third, I've worked up a document detailing what kinds of things I see in our immediate future. Among other things, I've proposed a new service model (contrasted with the old "organization chart") and tried to predict some of the key trends that will affect the library environment.
I know that there are hordes of people out there "visioning" and the like. It could be that you have been involved in such efforts yourself, and as a result, cast a cynical eye on such doings.
But I humbly submit that the library is different. The last time we worked up a plan, we stuck to it. In fact, we exceeded it. We're not just compiling nicely formatted documents to be shelved and forgotten. We're trying to pull together the best thoughts of our best minds to hammer out a solid action plan through the year 2001.
I'll be reporting on the results of our efforts over the next few months. The point of this week's column is to remind you that you, O Gentle Reader, are also part of the library's braintrust. You are the source of some of our very best ideas, and the final judge of their worth.
So if there's some burning issue that has been bothering you about the library, or some wonderful idea that we need to know about, don't hesitate to let us know.
Stop in and talk to us about it. Give either your local branch, or me, a call (I'm at 688-8752). If you have e-mail, try me at jaslarue@earthlink.net. Too, be prepared for a library survey. We haven't worked out, yet, whether it will be by telephone, by mail, or even door to door. And you may not hear from us until fall. We're still working on which questions are the most important.
But if we do contact you, we hope you'll be willing to talk to us.
Wednesday, May 15, 1996
May 15, 1996 - 3 Ways to Connect to Library Home Page
Over the past year or so, many librarians have been exploring a new technology. That technology is the World Wide Web.
Let me say at the outset that the Web won't solve everything. But, for some kinds of library tasks, it has potential.
The Web also addresses several identifiable trends among our library patrons. More people have home computers and modems. More people are looking for ways to conduct their business and do their research from home. More people are working odd hours.
As I've written here before, the Douglas Public Library District offers a "home page" of its own -- the address is: http://douglas.lib.co.us.
This home page does several things. First, it gives some information about the library: our hours, locations and phone numbers of our branches, brief descriptions of some of our special services, and even the names and e-mail addresses of our Board of Trustees. Second, it links to various library resources: our catalog, an Interlibrary Loan connection, and something we call "Local Reference Information." Third, it connects to a host of other library or library-related sites. More recently, we have also included selected articles from the Douglas County News- Press.
The purpose of this week's column is to tell you the three ways you can connect to our home page.
* Come to the library. At some of our branches, we have set aside a terminal running "Lynx" -- a non-graphical program that lets you surf the internet. Ask one of our staff for directions. Look, too, for our hand-out about using Lynx.
* Connect through the Access Colorado Library and Information Network (ACLIN). ACLIN is free, and you don't have to have an Internet account with anybody. You can connect either from our "Other libraries" option from our main catalog (if you come to the library), or by connecting your home computer to a telephone (see below). * Connect through an Internet account. Just point your browser to the two addresses listed above (http://www.csn.net/~jlarue OR http://douglas.lib.co.us/).
The ACLIN connection is probably the trickiest to explain. These are the steps.
1. Set up your computer's communications program to use 8 bit word, 1 stop, no parity. Set your modem's speed or baud rate to the fastest it will support. (If you can't connect at the higher speed, just back it down one.) Use the VT100 terminal emulation, if possible.
2. Call the ACLIN modem (modems, actually -- they have hundreds). Use any of these three numbers: 786-8700, 440-9969, or 294-7260. When you see the "Annex username" prompt, type "ac" (again, no quotes, but you must type this in lower case).
3. You'll be prompted with a list of terminal emulations. Again, if possible, choose #1 -- VT100.
4. You MAY get asked to choose a menu: the older "gopher" or the new ACLIN or Lynx menu. (I say "may" because the gopher will soon be phased out.) Choose Lynx if necessary.
5. Now you get the main ACLIN menu. You might want to explore a little. ACLIN is adding interesting new selections almost daily. But if you want to connect to the DPLD home page, use the down arrow key to put your cursor on the line right after "Code." Type "dpld" (without the quotes) then hit the Return key. This moves you to "Find." Hit the Return key again. You'll soon highlight a heading for Douglas Public Library District. Press Return a third time. Now you're at our home page. To quit, just type the letter "q" (without the quotes).
I recognize that at first, Lynx seems a little confusing. But you can use just 6 keys to navigate. The space bar scrolls to the next page. The minus sign scrolls to the previous page. The up and down keys move you to the previous or next links. The right arrow key selects the current highlighted link, and the left arrow takes you back to where you were before you chose the current link. Beyond that, you can type the number of a link that appears anywhere on the screen.
Happy surfing!
Let me say at the outset that the Web won't solve everything. But, for some kinds of library tasks, it has potential.
The Web also addresses several identifiable trends among our library patrons. More people have home computers and modems. More people are looking for ways to conduct their business and do their research from home. More people are working odd hours.
As I've written here before, the Douglas Public Library District offers a "home page" of its own -- the address is: http://douglas.lib.co.us.
This home page does several things. First, it gives some information about the library: our hours, locations and phone numbers of our branches, brief descriptions of some of our special services, and even the names and e-mail addresses of our Board of Trustees. Second, it links to various library resources: our catalog, an Interlibrary Loan connection, and something we call "Local Reference Information." Third, it connects to a host of other library or library-related sites. More recently, we have also included selected articles from the Douglas County News- Press.
The purpose of this week's column is to tell you the three ways you can connect to our home page.
* Come to the library. At some of our branches, we have set aside a terminal running "Lynx" -- a non-graphical program that lets you surf the internet. Ask one of our staff for directions. Look, too, for our hand-out about using Lynx.
* Connect through the Access Colorado Library and Information Network (ACLIN). ACLIN is free, and you don't have to have an Internet account with anybody. You can connect either from our "Other libraries" option from our main catalog (if you come to the library), or by connecting your home computer to a telephone (see below). * Connect through an Internet account. Just point your browser to the two addresses listed above (http://www.csn.net/~jlarue OR http://douglas.lib.co.us/).
The ACLIN connection is probably the trickiest to explain. These are the steps.
1. Set up your computer's communications program to use 8 bit word, 1 stop, no parity. Set your modem's speed or baud rate to the fastest it will support. (If you can't connect at the higher speed, just back it down one.) Use the VT100 terminal emulation, if possible.
2. Call the ACLIN modem (modems, actually -- they have hundreds). Use any of these three numbers: 786-8700, 440-9969, or 294-7260. When you see the "Annex username" prompt, type "ac" (again, no quotes, but you must type this in lower case).
3. You'll be prompted with a list of terminal emulations. Again, if possible, choose #1 -- VT100.
4. You MAY get asked to choose a menu: the older "gopher" or the new ACLIN or Lynx menu. (I say "may" because the gopher will soon be phased out.) Choose Lynx if necessary.
5. Now you get the main ACLIN menu. You might want to explore a little. ACLIN is adding interesting new selections almost daily. But if you want to connect to the DPLD home page, use the down arrow key to put your cursor on the line right after "Code." Type "dpld" (without the quotes) then hit the Return key. This moves you to "Find." Hit the Return key again. You'll soon highlight a heading for Douglas Public Library District. Press Return a third time. Now you're at our home page. To quit, just type the letter "q" (without the quotes).
I recognize that at first, Lynx seems a little confusing. But you can use just 6 keys to navigate. The space bar scrolls to the next page. The minus sign scrolls to the previous page. The up and down keys move you to the previous or next links. The right arrow key selects the current highlighted link, and the left arrow takes you back to where you were before you chose the current link. Beyond that, you can type the number of a link that appears anywhere on the screen.
Happy surfing!
Wednesday, May 8, 1996
May 8, 1996 - Seeing Isn't Believing - Faking of Photographs
Seeing isn't believing. Not anymore.
I started thinking about this when I saw a video clip from the first moon walk. I have to say, it looked a little cheesy -- about on a par with the special effects of Star Trek (and I mean the original series).
Not long after that, I watched a rerun of "Terminator 2," the science fiction movie blockbuster. I saw a man walk through steel bars, just ooze right through them, and recongeal on the other side. I believed it.
But the moon walk happened. The shape-shifting liquid metal android from the future did not. (I think.)
Part of me longs to believe those great photographs on the covers of tabloids: the "alien talks to Clinton" photos, or the half- alligator child, born to a seven-year old.
But even National Enquirer has admitted -- when it ran the photo of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding skating side by side, almost hand in hand -- that a cover photo can be faked. These days it doesn't really take all that much technical expertise to splice two photos together. When such products are created with care, even the pros can't swear that the picture is real.
The day has almost arrived when videotapes and photographs cannot be accepted as evidence in court. Connie Willis, a science fiction writer and a friend of mine, maintains that this highlights a new and heretofore unrealized purpose of the library: to maintain the evidence. When an unscrupulous publisher comes out with a book showing that Hitler and F.D.R. had lunch together in Munich just before the invasion of Poland, the only way more ethical researchers can disprove it is to go back and examine the sources. That's assuming that the original photographs can still be found.
The same point can be made about historical documents. I spend a lot of time on the Internet -- my wife would say, too much time. I've watched a sort of electronic credulity come into being: a lot of people seem to believe that if you find something on the World Wide Web, then it must be true.
You can see how this might be dangerous. Suppose in our haste to digitize our documents, we scan in the United States Constitution, then destroy the original paper. If somebody then goes in and changes the Constitution on-line -- removes those pesky Amendments, for instance, or even just changes a phrase or two -- how would you know?
The answer: only by comparing it to text that pre-dates the on- line version. In this age of instant information, just who is going to take the time to do that? The danger is greater with less well-known materials -- local laws and policy statements, for instance. Why? Because they haven't been as widely disseminated. The electronic version may be the only version.
For a long time, I have held the philosophy that the public library must keep its inventory current. A well-used library gets "weeded" regularly; unused materials get pulled and placed into book sales. Mostly, I still believe that. Public libraries are not museums; they are cultural retail outlets.
But lately I'm beginning to look up a few basic historical documents, just to make sure that the library still has a copy. Like I always say, reading is believing.
I started thinking about this when I saw a video clip from the first moon walk. I have to say, it looked a little cheesy -- about on a par with the special effects of Star Trek (and I mean the original series).
Not long after that, I watched a rerun of "Terminator 2," the science fiction movie blockbuster. I saw a man walk through steel bars, just ooze right through them, and recongeal on the other side. I believed it.
But the moon walk happened. The shape-shifting liquid metal android from the future did not. (I think.)
Part of me longs to believe those great photographs on the covers of tabloids: the "alien talks to Clinton" photos, or the half- alligator child, born to a seven-year old.
But even National Enquirer has admitted -- when it ran the photo of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding skating side by side, almost hand in hand -- that a cover photo can be faked. These days it doesn't really take all that much technical expertise to splice two photos together. When such products are created with care, even the pros can't swear that the picture is real.
The day has almost arrived when videotapes and photographs cannot be accepted as evidence in court. Connie Willis, a science fiction writer and a friend of mine, maintains that this highlights a new and heretofore unrealized purpose of the library: to maintain the evidence. When an unscrupulous publisher comes out with a book showing that Hitler and F.D.R. had lunch together in Munich just before the invasion of Poland, the only way more ethical researchers can disprove it is to go back and examine the sources. That's assuming that the original photographs can still be found.
The same point can be made about historical documents. I spend a lot of time on the Internet -- my wife would say, too much time. I've watched a sort of electronic credulity come into being: a lot of people seem to believe that if you find something on the World Wide Web, then it must be true.
You can see how this might be dangerous. Suppose in our haste to digitize our documents, we scan in the United States Constitution, then destroy the original paper. If somebody then goes in and changes the Constitution on-line -- removes those pesky Amendments, for instance, or even just changes a phrase or two -- how would you know?
The answer: only by comparing it to text that pre-dates the on- line version. In this age of instant information, just who is going to take the time to do that? The danger is greater with less well-known materials -- local laws and policy statements, for instance. Why? Because they haven't been as widely disseminated. The electronic version may be the only version.
For a long time, I have held the philosophy that the public library must keep its inventory current. A well-used library gets "weeded" regularly; unused materials get pulled and placed into book sales. Mostly, I still believe that. Public libraries are not museums; they are cultural retail outlets.
But lately I'm beginning to look up a few basic historical documents, just to make sure that the library still has a copy. Like I always say, reading is believing.
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