We get a lot of questions on what libraries should do with old, retired computers. If you’re not going to re-use the machine for something else (a children’s computer, OPAC station, quick e-mail station, open source server, etc.) then it might be a good idea to recycle that resource.
I found the following list of businesses that accept computers for recycling. Some of them may charge a small fee to recycle the computer/monitor for you, but it will be worth it to not have all of that plastic, chemicals, and precious metal go into the lanfill.
You are currently browsing the archive for the Politics of Technology category.
“A recent post on the blog Alt Ref has gotten me thinking about information literacy in the 2.0 world. In his post, Brian stats that info lit is “very Un-Library 2.0 (the ‘proper way vs. your way)”. Why is this and how can it be changed?”
A good read, and worth thinking about.
The internet filtering advocates are at it again… this time it’s not porn that’s the target… it’s social websites.
The Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006 (DOPA) seeks to “require recipients of universal service support for schools and libraries to protect minors from commercial social networking websites and chat rooms.” That means that for kids under 18, those customer reviews of products on Amazon you like to read while shopping… gone. Their favorite hometown blog? Gone. Their Flickr photos? Can’t get ‘em in the library. The way filtering works now is that it’s always on until someone eligible (over 18) ASKS to have the filter removed. To me this has always seemed like a punishment for people wanting to look up sensitive information at the library. Imagine if, in order to look at your favorite blogs, you had to ask the librarian to turn off the filter. No one would come to the library to use the computers anymore. This can’t be good, and is clearly against our mission to provide information access to all.
Here’s an interesting article about the bill, and a link to the text of the bill itself.
If you disagree, or even agree, with this bill, be sure to contact your legislator with your opinion.
Looks like some companies have finally realized the benefit of rural America: it’s cheaper to live there, and the people have familiar accents.
“The company charges $35 to $50 per hour for IT expertise, which may cost around $100 in New York City. While this is no match for outsourcing rates in India, clients benefit from local accents and similar time zones — not to mention the absence of stigma sometimes attached to farming jobs out to foreign countries.”
What does this mean for libraries? It means that (if this idea catches on) a lot of smart people are going to be coming to small towns, and depending on their libraries to provide them with resources they find useful, such as fast internet access (as cable might not be available yet) and up-to-date computer books, whether in print form or through something like an O’Reilly Safari subscription. It’s something to think about.
If you’ve been following the Sony DRM rootkit debacle (like I have) the news has been so fast and furious that it’s hard to keep up. Here’s a concise timeline and quick summary of what’s happened so far.
The basich gist is: Revelations relating to Sony’s DRM systems, which show jaw-dropping contempt for their customers, for copyright law, for fair trading and for the public interest.
Sound like a juicy read? It is.
Boing Boing: Sony anti-customer technology roundup and time-line
According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project:
“Sixty-eight percent of American adults, or about 137 million people, use the internet, up from 63% one year ago. Thirty-two percent of American adults, or about 65 million people, do not go online, and it is not always by choice.”
Yay libraries! I can’t help but think that this has something to do with our work!
Check out the full study:
Pew Internet & American Life Project Release: Two-thirds of American adults go online and one-third do not
We’ve had quite a bit of discussion on an article from our earlier days, this discussion of e-messenger.net. It’s turned into quite a fight between the IM loving Millenials and their teachers at school.
From David Warlick’s Two Cents Worth (found in Technology and Learning, October 2005):
[Students] talk, text message, and Google with their mobile phones, IM on their laptops, access the World Wide Web, [play] Net-based video games like Halo [and] MMORPG (did I get that right?) games like EverQuest and Second Life. These gadgets represent intellectual appendages to our children. They are the hands and feet that carry children to new experiences, and cutting these links is like cutting an appendage — and that makes no constructive sense to these children and their world view.”
A lot of libraries and schools block the usage of IM for students and patrons, and for varying reasons. We’ve heard a lot from the kids, and their responses directly point to the truth of the above statement. We’ve heard only a little from the teachers. Any school technology folks out there that would like to present the “opposing viewpoint?” Please submit your responses to me, lrea@nekls.org, I plan to post (with your permission of course) the best rationale I receive for blocking IM at school.
WebJunction has this most interesting technology watch list for libraries, which enumerates technologies that libraries should, at the very least, watch and see if they can work in the library.
Notable inclusions: Digital Preservation, Blogs and RSS (duh) and Wireless access.
Read the article:
Webjunction — Technology Watch List
Starting in 2007, Daylight Saving Time will be extended a month on each end to run from March to November. Computers, cell phones, VCRs, and other electronic devices are currently set up to respond only to traditional (April-Oct) Daylight Saving Time adjustments. Resetting these devices to reflect the new DST scheme will be a nuisance for techies everywhere. Read the whole story at:
Authors are beginning to realize, much like some musicians, that releasing digital copies of their works for free will get people interested in your work, and probably, if they are interested enough to download the digital version, they’ll be interested in buying a physical copy. An interesting development in the ongoing war between big publishing and the “information wants to be free” contingent.
Slashdot | Doctorow and Stross Release Latest Novels for Free
The Supreme Court ruled this week that Peer-to-peer technology developers (such as those folks behind Kazaa, Morpheus, Napster, and a zillion other P2P apps) are legally responsible for the illegal acts of users. Read all about it at the following link:
The question is, can this ruling be applied in any way to libraries, where the content is initally purchased, but the license, according to the big media company, is probably being violated. Are libraries liable for distributing copyrighted content that could potentially be copied?
This came in through the MPLA IFACTION (Intellectual Freedom Action) e-mail list. I thought it was interesting enough to share. As a former university employee who was present when such a system went into place, I can definitely vouch for the reduction in access for users and intense user education on how to use the system that occured with the introduction of an authentication system.
To Use that Library Computer, Identify Yourself
By SCOTT CARLSON
A few years ago, just about anyone could turn up at a college library, sit down at a bank of public-access computers, and cruise the Internet with no password, little trouble, and only the slimmest chance of being identified.
But academic librarians, wary of increasing instances of Internet-related crime and hacking, are now having second thoughts about that unfettered, unsupervised access. At some college libraries, students must now log in to use computers, and visitors must show an ID to get computer access.
Well done librarians! Congress voted to disallow the Secret Service and FBI to use the USA PATRIOT Act to subpoena library records!
An excellent job of lobbying there, and many congratulations are in order.
CNN.com - House limits Patriot Act rules on library records - Jun 15, 2005
Top 10 assaults on digital liberties
“After interviewing experts in the intellectual property wars over the past three years, I’ve come up with this list of Top 10 infringements on U.S. citizens’ digital liberties. (Those living abroad are seeing their digital freedoms eroded as well, thanks to WIPO agreements signed under U.S. pressure.) Feel free to make your own list, or comment below.”
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers announced today that a new Top Level Domain (like .com, .net, or .org) has been created, .xxx (for “triple-x”) that hopefully will be adopted by purveyors of adult content and simplify the use of all types of filtering software. I’ve been waiting for this for years, it makes so much sense. This way, people who want the content know exactly where to get it, and the people who don’t want it know exactly how to block it. I think this is a step forward in protecting everyone’s right to view (or not view) any particular type of content.
Hooray for ICANN!
Here’s a worksheet and helpful guide to finding a technical volunteer for your library, whether that be to do your web page, set up your computers, or administer your network.
A good reference!
ALA | California Bill Would Bar RFID Chips from Library Cards
Is RFID a tool with great potential or is it a privacy nightmare?
In case you haven’t seen it, here’s ALA’s Top Technology Trends.
“One representative indicated that he heard very little from schools and libraries. Certainly not enough to outweigh the opinions of telcos and major companies ” Oi!
Get out there and talk to your legislators people.