We look forward to seeing you at Tech Day.
Weekly Wrap-Up
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! August 18, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Tech Day+ August 25th, 2023
Tech Day+ is almost here. T-shirt orders are closed but there is still time to register to attend. If you are interested, please RSVP here.
Southwest Kansas Regional Friends Day
Join Hamilton County Library Director Amy Brucker for the Southwest Kansas Regional Friends Day on Friday, 09/15!
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
August 16, 2023 1:00 pm – Niche Academy “Fighting for the First”, Registration Link
August 22, 2023, 1:00 pm – PLA & ACRL Webinar “Project Outcome 101”, Registration Link
August 25, 2023 9:30 am – TechDay+
September 8, 2023, 10:00 am – RNR & Budget Hearing, Full Board Meeting, Registration Link
September 11, 2023, 10:00 am – Solar Eclipse Activities Workshop, Registration Link
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Image provided by pixabay.com contributor Kyra_Starr (A.I. Generated)
CSLP Committee Looking for New Members
Do you enjoy the Summer Library Program? Creating all of the decorations and thinking up all of the programming and crafts that your community enjoys? If so you might want to consider joining the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Committee.
All CSLP committees, except “Artwork Committee” are looking for members. Terms for committees are for generally one calendar year. The committee work meets through a virtual room, email, and/or phone. CSLP does have an Annual Meeting, but volunteers for the committees do not have to attend.
If you are interest visit the CSLP site through this link for more information and the application form can be reached through this link.
The application period is now open and runs through October 3, 2023.
Movie Programming Ideas for the Month of September
Here are some ideas that Swank has sent out that libraries can consider doing for the month of September:
September 1 – American Chess Day/Queen of Katwe;
September 7 – Clean Air Day/An Inconvenient Truth;
September 9 – Emergency Service Day/Ambulance;
September 18 – Cartoon Day/Bad Guys; and
September 21 – Day of Peace/Gandhi.
All of these movies are available through the System’s Movie License. Remember you can also use Swanks site to build promotion material for your event as well.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
Robots Being Used in Book Ban Efforts
Like something out of a sci-fi novel, robots are now being used to help Iowa educators comply with new state law, requiring them to eliminate books containing certain subjects from their library catalogs. ChatGPT, which does not have a spotless reputation when it comes to information accuracy, is being charged with analyzing literature that educators argue they don’t have the time to sift through. Click here for more information.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving censorship, book challenges, and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Georgia School Board Fires Teacher for Reading a Book to Students About Gender Identity
‘Knowledge is Power’ : New App Helps US Teens Read Books Banned in School
The National Debate Over Books Has Come to West Texas. And Librarians Are Stuck in the Middle
Washington Library Could Close Over LGBTQ+ Books
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
ATTENTION: DEI Taskforce Meeting Date Change!
The next meeting of the DEI Taskforce will be held on MONDAY, AUGUST 28th, at 3 PM. We will be preparing for the upcoming Train UP and giving feedback over that as well as discussing challenges, the upcoming ARSL conference, and any issues that have come up over the summer break. As a reminder, the DEI Taskforce is a group based on support, collaboration, and education and we discuss issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as book challenge issues, opportunities to make our collections more accessible, and ways to reach underserved populations in our area. Meetings are virtual and are open to all library staff and administration who would like to attend. We would love to see you there!
For ILLers
Statewide ILL Training
The State Library of Kansas and Auto-Graphics will be hosting a state-wide ILL training event coming up next month, on September 13th and 14th. The first training will be in Great Bend, at Central Kansas Library System and the second will be in Emporia, at Emporia Public Library.
If you are interested in attending and would like to sign up for the training, the State Library would like for you to fill out this sign up sheet and include the kinds of topics you would like to hear about at the training. (If you don’t know, or can’t think of any, you can always just type “No” or “N/A.”
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Nikki Hansen at nicole.hansen@ks.gov or (800) 432-3919.
Resource Sharing Taskforce Meeting Coming Up
The next meeting of the Resource Sharing Taskforce will be held on Thursday, August 31st, at 10 AM. We will be talking about the upcoming statewide training and your needs/ideas for topics as well as FAQs and what’s going on in your little corner of ILL. This meeting is open to all ILL personnel as well as all directors. If you would like to join the meeting, please mark your calendar. I will send out a reminder as well as a Zoom link as the time gets closer. Hope to see you there!
Need Barcodes?
I’m getting ready to place another order for barcodes. If your library would like to order some, please contact me no later than 08/22. If you order barcodes through SWKLS, we will have them shipped to us and we’ll send them to you on the courier, along with the amount your library owes.
The information I would need from you would be:
1. The barcode number that you would like this batch to start with.
2. How many barcodes you would like. I can order in batches of 1,000.
3. Whether you would like barcodesheets or barcoderolls. The difference in price is about $5, with the rolls being more expensive.
4. Your library name as it appears at the top of your barcodes.
5. A picture of 3-4 of your barcodes in order.
If you have any questions or would like more details, please get in touch with me directly! Thanks!
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
Life in Techville
In the vibrant town of Techville, software engineer Alex was renowned for their innovative creations. One day, a malicious virus struck, causing chaos. Alex developed a powerful antivirus but faced resistance in convincing townspeople about updates. They organized a meeting, explaining updates as digital home fortifications.
As townsfolk realized the gravity, they embraced updates. With united efforts, computers were secured, and Techville recovered. This incident taught the community the importance of software updates in maintaining a safe digital environment, ensuring their collective digital wellbeing.
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 8/4/2023
Digital Signage Notice
Hey everyone,
Bernardo here to let everyone know that an app that we’ve been pushing for our member libraries to use for digital signage ‘Posterbooking’ has, without notice, eliminated their free tier. It came as a surprise to everyone in their community as they were still promoting their 10 free screens last month. Anyone still running the app will notice that any playlist still running on a screen will have this pop up at the end of the playlist before it loops again.
We have been vetting alternatives that would meet the requirements of allowing current devices, while maintaining a similar feature set and We’ve landed on a product called Yodeck. The main drawback in comparison to the 10 free screens that Posterbooking had is that Yodeck only has 1 free screen.
I will be creating documentation on how to get started with Yodeck in the following weeks as time permits, but if you’re looking to give a go yourself, you have our number if you hit any snags in your setup!
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! August 11, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Tech Day+ August 25th, 2023
Tech Day+ is almost here. T-shirt orders are closed but there is still time to register to attend. If you are interested, please RSVP here.
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
August 16, 2023 1:00 pm – Niche Academy “Fighting for the First”, Registration Link
August 22, 2023, 1:00 pm – PLA & ACRL Webinar “Project Outcome 101”, Registration Link
August 25, 2023 9:30 am – TechDay+
September 8, 2023, 10:00 am – RNR & Budget Hearing, Full Board Meeting, Registration Link
September 11, 2023, 10:00 am – Solar Eclipse Activities Workshop, Registration Link
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Solar Eclipse Kit Workshop
The State Library of Kansas wants to make sure everyone knows about the upcoming Solar Eclipse Kit Workshop at the Manhattan Public Library. As you can see above it will be September 11, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Andy Schafer, Director of Statewide Services of the State Library, is working with SEAL to get a kit for each Library System. If the kits are obtained they would be available for checkout to our membership for programs.
This is an in-person event so you would need to travel to Manhattan for the workshop. If you are interested in attending you can register through this link. Registration is limited so only one staff member per library can register and once the capacity is reach you will not be able to register.
Image provided by Pixabay.com Contributor Peggy_Marco
Registration Open for RNR & Budget Hearing and System Board Meeting
September 8 will be the Southwest Kansas Library System’s RNR and Budget Hearing. After these two hearings we will have the System’s Board Meeting. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. This is a Hybrid Meeting so you can attend through Zoom or attend in-person. The hearings and meeting will be held in the Dodge City Public Library, in the downstairs meeting room.
Lunch will be a Quizno’s sandwich platter and will provided for the in-person attendees. If you have any dietary needs please contact Tandy.
After lunch, beginning at 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., we will have an in-person training session on Book Challenges: News, Updates, and Discussion points.
To attend in-person you can register through this link.
Project Outcome 101 Webinar
The Public Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries is providing a free webinar on August 22, 2023, at 1:00 pm CT entitled “Project Outcome 101”.
This webinar in to provide an introduction to the Project Outcome toolkit and learn how to measure meaningful outcomes. The webinar will provide participants knowledge on: “Discover how Project Outcome can help libraries measure meaningful learning outcomes; learn how to use the Project Outcome toolkit, from administering surveys to visualizing results; Understand how other libraries have used outcome data for action; and learn how to utilize data to improve library services and better advocate for the library.”
If you are interest in attending this webinar you can register through this link.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Congratulations to Kelli at Fowler Public Library on finishing Very Merry VERSO!
Kelli finished our Very Merry VERSO catalog clean-up project on August 10th and is now enjoying a customized catalog, organized to her specifications. If you would like to be like Kelli, contact our office at 620-225-1231 or email swilson@swkls.org and I will be happy to get you started! 🙂
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
Robots Impersonating Established Authors
Author Jane Friedman recently discovered that someone has been posting books for sale on Amazon under her name, in her writing style – books that she’s never written! And she’s not alone. Other authors are having the same issue, with people contacting them excited about their newest book that they didn’t write. This poses problems not only for authors being impersonated, but for consumers who are unwittingly buying counterfeit books. How did this happen? Is Amazon going to do anything about it? Click here to find out.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving censorship, book challenges, and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
A Georgia Teacher Wants to Overturn Her Firing for Reading a Book to Students About Gender Identity
Proposed Florida Rule Would Favor Only One Side in Book Challenges
‘Heartstopper’ Books Temporarily Removed from Mississippi Public Library
‘Criminal Liability for Librarians’: The Fight Against US Rightwing Book Bans
ALA OIF Blog 08.11.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-08-11-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
DEI Taskforce Meeting Coming Up!
The next meeting of the DEI Taskforce will be held on Thursday, August 24th, at 3 PM. We will be preparing for the upcoming Train UP and giving feedback over that as well as discussing challenges, the upcoming ARSL conference, and any issues that have come up over the summer break. As a reminder, the DEI Taskforce is a group based on support, collaboration, and education and we discuss issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as book challenge issues, opportunities to make our collections more accessible, and ways to reach underserved populations in our area. Meetings are virtual and are open to all library staff and administration who would like to attend. We would love to see you there!
For All VERSO Users
Versed in VERSO Recording Now Available
From VERSO Product Manager Rae Schneider:
The August Versed in VERSO recording and slides have been posted on the support page and customer portal.
Here are the questions/topics we covered:
- The New Reports Module
- Improvements to Search Alerts
- How to set up a carousel for a new material type?
- Is there a way to prevent patrons from changing their PIN, email, and address when they login online?
- How are patron reserves deleted if the item is no longer needed?
To access the recording and slides, go to Support à VERSO. Then scroll down to the Versed in VERSO section.
For ILLers
Statewide ILL Training
The State Library of Kansas and Auto-Graphics will be hosting a state-wide ILL training event coming up next month, on September 13th and 14th. The first training will be in Great Bend, at Central Kansas Library System and the second will be in Emporia, at Emporia Public Library.
If you are interested in attending and would like to sign up for the training, the State Library would like for you to fill out this sign up sheet and include the kinds of topics you would like to hear about at the training. (If you don’t know, or can’t think of any, you can always just type “No” or “N/A.”
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Nikki Hansen at nicole.hansen@ks.gov or (800) 432-3919.
Resource Sharing Taskforce Meeting Coming Up
The next meeting of the Resource Sharing Taskforce will be held on Thursday, August 31st, at 10 AM. We will be talking about the upcoming statewide training and your needs/ideas for topics as well as FAQs and what’s going on in your little corner of ILL. This meeting is open to all ILL personnel as well as all directors. If you would like to join the meeting, please mark your calendar. I will send out a reminder as well as a Zoom link as the time gets closer. Hope to see you there!
We Still Need Your Videos!
Thank you to everyone who has sent videos for our 1-minute video request for Tech Day! 🙂 We have 16 videos out of a desired 30 (and they are so fun, creative, and all-around awesome!) So, 14 to go! I’m extending the due date for this project to August 15th to give you a little more time so we can hopefully meet our goal! 😉
This is a friendly reminder that we need your help! We are hard at work preparing for the 15th annual Tech Day+ coming up this month. I am working on a special project and to make it GREAT, I need to ask you a small favor.
If possible, between now and August 15th, I would like you, directors, or any staff member from your library to record a single, 1-minute video (the time is very important; it needs to be a minute long) where you introduce one programming idea.
We just need a single idea for a library program. It doesn’t have to be fancy, Pinterest-quality, never-seen-this-before creative or even something you’ve attempted, yourself. We just need one programming idea. Whether that’s a program that you’ve done, one that you’ve been to, one that you’ve seen online or somewhere else, or even one that you’ve thought of but haven’t tried, yet. One idea in one minute.
I’m asking you early so that we can get as many videos as possible, with a goal of 30. Do you have more than one staff member who would like to do a video? Send it! What kind of video? One that you record on your phone is fine! 🙂 Also, no one has to appear in the video. Get creative with it! You can add music, you can do an all-text slideshow if you want – however you want to do it is up to you.
Thank you for considering it . . . I look forward to seeing what you come up with! 🙂 Please send all videos to my email address. I will send out reminders between now and 8/15!! Have fun & I can’t wait to hear all of your amazing ideas. 🙂
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
What is MFA?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), also known as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more different types of authentication factors to verify their identity before gaining access to a system or account. These factors fall into three categories:
- Something you know: This is typically a password or a PIN.
- Something you have: This can be a physical device like a smartphone, security token, or a smart card.
- Something you are: This refers to biometric traits like fingerprints, facial recognition, or retinal scans.
By combining these factors, MFA adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password, making it significantly harder for unauthorized individuals to access an account even if they manage to obtain the password. It’s an effective way to protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access.
As we continue our journey through cyber security, and I want to talk about one of many resources I use. CISA.gov is a government funded agency that “to defend against today’s threats and collaborate to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.” “CISA is the operational lead for federal cybersecurity and the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience. We are designed for collaboration and partnership. Learn about our layered mission to reduce risk to the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure.” You can read more about MFA by clicking here. Please call the office if there is a topic that piques your interest that you would like to know more about. I bet many of us would benefit from your suggestions.
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 8/4/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! August 4, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
HOT?
Ashland patrons finding ways to enjoy the heat.
Tech Day+ August 25th, 2023
Tech Day+ is almost here. T-shirt orders are closed but there is still time to register to attend. If you are interested, please RSVP here.
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
August 16, 2023 1:00 pm – Niche Academy “Fighting for the First”, Registration Link
August 25, 2023 9:30 am – TechDay+
September 8, 2023, 10:00 am – RNR & Budget Hearing, Full Board Meeting,
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Costumes through the System
Don’t forget that you can checkout a variety of costumes through the System Office. Visit this link to see what is available. However, there are two that are not up on the site yet, Cat in the Hat and a Red Book costume. The other costumes are Hello Kitty, Cat Costume (looks like SkippyJon Jones), Minion, Beast, Grinch, Santa, and Sponge Bob. The library can use them for programs, parades, and fairs. The person wearing the costume just has to be willing to have fun!
Contact Tandy at tritchhart@swkls.org or Richard at rbrookman@swkls.org. Please include in your email the date you would like to use the costume and the specific character you would like to borrow.
“Fighting for the First” Webinar
Wednesday, August 16, at 1:00 pm CT Niche Academy is having a free webinar entitled “Fighting for the First”. The presenter for this session is John Chrastka, Founder and Executive Director of EveryLibrary, a national political action committee for libraries.
“Censorship and book bans are a singular challenge facing public libraries. Attempts to ban or censor materials come in many shapes and from several different directions. When they originate with concerned parents or community members, it is important to engage in difficult conversations. But when they become politicized or performative, it is necessary to understand that an agenda may drive them. Knowing the differences – and being properly equipped with digital tools, skills, and policy frameworks – is key.”
If you are interested in attending this webinar you can register through this link.
Image provided by pixabay.com contributor JillWellington
More Continuing Education You can Share
As librarians we try to keep up with issues related to the library world. Don’t forget that the State Library has avenues to obtain continuing education. One way is through the portal to WebJunction that each staff member can sign up for a free account. Once your account is established you can start viewing CE sessions. They have an archived link to past webinars and a calendar of events link for upcoming webinars.
Be sure to check the links out and see if there is anything that interests you. Some upcoming sessions are: Climate Action Planning Pt 1; Libraries helping Refugees and Immigrants learn the US Financial System; Building Community Relationships for better Library Services; and others.
If you attend a webinar or watch an archived webinar remember to send me an email of the webinar’s title and time of session (most are 1 hour in length). This way I can get it recorded in your personal CE file and I can add it to your library’s Accreditation Count for yearly CE hours.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
Dolly Parton & Her Imagination Library Come to Kansas
Have you heard? Dolly’s coming to Kansas! Iconic country music star and actress Dolly Parton will be in our great state of Kansas on August 14th to celebrate the success of the expansion of her Imagination Library program in Kansas. The Imagination Library is a program that offers free books to children ages 0-5. To read more about Dolly’s visit and about the Imagination Library program, click here.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving censorship, book challenges, and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Book Banners, 1st Amendment Advocates Clash at Meeting
Urbandale [IA] Pauses Removing Banned Books Referencing Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation
An Arkansas Judge Has Blocked a Law Targeting Librarians Over ‘Harmful’ Books
Beaufort County [SC] Schools Ban Fourth Book in Book Review Process
ALA OIF Blog 07.21.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-07-21-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
For All VERSO Users
Register For Versed in VERSO Coming Up 08/08
From VERSO Product Manager Rae Schneider:
Dear VERSO Users,
The next Versed in VERSO will take place on August 8, 2023, at 11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific.
Please register via this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3281654514090628190
If you have a question or topic you’d like covered, submit it via this form: https://forms.office.com/r/C8amFqJRiq
As we get closer to the date, we will send out a tentative agenda of topics we will cover.
We Still Need Your Videos!
Thank you to everyone who has sent videos for our 1-minute video request for Tech Day! 🙂 We have 7 videos out of a desired 30 (and they are so fun, creative, and all-around awesome!) So, 23 to go! I’m extending the due date for this project to August 15th to give you a little more time so we can hopefully meet our goal! 😉
This is a friendly reminder that we need your help! We are hard at work preparing for the 15th annual Tech Day+ coming up this month. I am working on a special project and to make it GREAT, I need to ask you a small favor.
If possible, between now and August 15th, I would like you, directors, or any staff member from your library to record a single, 1-minute video (the time is very important; it needs to be a minute long) where you introduce one programming idea.
We just need a single idea for a library program. It doesn’t have to be fancy, Pinterest-quality, never-seen-this-before creative or even something you’ve attempted, yourself. We just need one programming idea. Whether that’s a program that you’ve done, one that you’ve been to, one that you’ve seen online or somewhere else, or even one that you’ve thought of but haven’t tried, yet. One idea in one minute.
I’m asking you early so that we can get as many videos as possible, with a goal of 30. Do you have more than one staff member who would like to do a video? Send it! What kind of video? One that you record on your phone is fine! 🙂 Also, no one has to appear in the video. Get creative with it! You can add music, you can do an all-text slideshow if you want – however you want to do it is up to you.
Thank you for considering it . . . I look forward to seeing what you come up with! 🙂 Please send all videos to my email address. I will send out reminders between now and 8/15!! Have fun & I can’t wait to hear all of your amazing ideas. 🙂
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
Password Managers!
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 8/4/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! July 28, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Duck, Duck…. Duck!
We purchased 500 little yellow ducks and 500 books. We attached a note to the ducks and threw them from our float during the County Fair Parade. Anyone getting a duck could bring it back to the library and get a children’s Scholastic book. We had two options of books.
By Millie Dearden
Tech Day+ August 25th, 2023
Tech Day+ is almost here. If you are interested in attending this event, please RSVP here.
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
August 2, 2023 10:00 am – Niche Academy “Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship”, Registration Link
September 8, 2023, 10:00 am – RNR & Budget Hearing, Full Board Meeting,
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Image provided by Pixabay.com Contributor Peggy_Marco
Next Meeting September 8
The next SWKLS Board Meeting will be on September 8, 2023. It will be held at the Dodge City Public Library. We will start the day at 10:00 am CT with the RNR Hearing, then move into the Budget Hearing, and finally the regular System Meeting.
The RNR Hearing does take a bit of time since we have to do a roll call vote. We will send out registration the first of August.
Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship through Niche Academy
Here in the System we have had a few other libraries become involved in the book banning discussion. So this topic might hit your library eventually. Niche Academy is providing a webinar entitled “Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship” will be held on August 2, 2023 at 10:00 pm CT.
“Join Emily Knox for this webinar on intellectual freedom and censorship. Emily will provide an overview of one of the core values of librarianship, intellectual freedom, including the history of the right to access information, the right to freedom of expression, and how censorship intersects with these values.”
If you are interested in this webinar you can register through this link.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
New Resources for You!
New Professional Collection Title:
Lead with Collaboration by Allyson Apsey & Jessica Gomez
In the age of time-strapped teachers, shifting standards, and distance learning, how can educational leaders ensure that every staff meeting absolutely could not have been an email? Jessica Gomez and Allyson Apsey set the agenda for planning—and leading—meetings that are purposeful, impactful, and inspiring.
Lead with Collaboration serves as a meeting guidebook for educators who understand that leadership is a collective endeavor. Staff centered and outcome oriented, these carefully curated strategies are designed to serve the needs of any team in any situation. So, whether you’re helping new hires to build confidence, or you’re navigating a crisis with a group of veteran teachers, Lead with Collaboration can offer you the tools you need to make every meeting an opportunity for connection.
- This book was requested to be added to our Professional Collection and is currently checked out. If you have suggestions that you would like to add to our Professional Collection, please call the office or email me at swilson@swkls.org.
In Literary News
Matthew McConaughey Debuts Children’s Book
Actor Matthew McConaughey has written a children’s book, entitled Just Because. According to the author, it’s a book about life lessons meant to empower children and teach them about human interaction. The book will be released on September 9th and is available for pre-order. To learn more about this upcoming title and to access a pre-order link, click here.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving censorship, book challenges, and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
‘Arthur’ Children’s Book Faces Potential Florida Ban Over Claim it ‘Damaged Souls’
Library Board, Director at Odds Over Book Weeding Policy; Special Meeting Friday Afternoon
Some Library Books Banned for Those Under 18 in Montgomery County [Texas]
Book Bans Across the Nation Prompt Nahant [MA] Library Policy Update
Austin’s BookPeople Sues Texas Over New Law Restricting School Library Books
ALA OIF Blog 07.21.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-07-21-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
For All VERSO Users
VERSO Update Today at 9 PM CST/8:00 PM MT
From VERSO Product Manager Julie Cavender:
Hello VERSO Users,
We will be doing a VERSO release on Thursday, July 27, 2023, beginning a little after 7:00pm Pacific (10:00pm Eastern). Downtime is usually about 15 minutes but may be longer if issues come up.
IMPROVED
Improvement to the “Search Alert” process for users to save searches for notification of new material added to the library.
A-G enhanced how users can create, save, and schedule search alerts in VERSO. From the Search Results screen, the “Create Alert” button will display.
Logged-in users with an email address in their Patron Account will be able to create and save a search alert.
Users will briefly see a notification that their search alert was added as well as a link to “Manage” their alerts.
Search Alerts are accessible in Your Account > Search Alerts.
On the Search Alerts page, users can view their saved search alerts. Additionally, users can:
- Select which day of the week to receive email updates for new material matching their saved search.
- Add new Alert. This will bring the user to the Advanced Search screen.
- Re-run the saved search.
- Delete the saved search and discontinue email alerts for that search.
July’s Versed in VERSO Recording Now Available
From VERSO Product Manager Rae Schneider:
Greetings VERSO Users,
The recording and PowerPoint from the July 2023 Versed in VERSO session have been posted.
We covered the following questions/topics in the July webinar.
- What reports can I use for “weeding”?
- How to delete items in a batch for weeding.
- Is there are way to block specific patron groups from placing an item on reserve?
They are available both in VERSO (Support > VERSO) and in the Auto-Graphics Portal.
Register For Versed in VERSO Coming Up 08/08
From VERSO Product Manager Rae Schneider:
Dear VERSO Users,
The next Versed in VERSO will take place on August 8, 2023, at 11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific.
Please register via this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3281654514090628190
If you have a question or topic you’d like covered, submit it via this form: https://forms.office.com/r/C8amFqJRiq
As we get closer to the date, we will send out a tentative agenda of topics we will cover.
For ILLers
Sharing About SHAREit Recording Delayed
From SHAREit Product Manager Deborah Hensler:
The recording and slides from “Sharing about SHAREit #17/#17.2 – ILL Basic Training” will not be posted until the week of August 7.
We Still Need Your Videos!
Thank you to everyone who has sent videos for our 1-minute video request for Tech Day! 🙂 We have 4 videos out of a desired 30 (and they are so fun, creative, and all-around awesome!) So, 26 to go! I’m extending the due date for this project to August 15th to give you a little more time so we can hopefully meet our goal! 😉
This is a friendly reminder that we need your help! We are hard at work preparing for the 15th annual Tech Day+ coming up in August. I am working on a special project and to make it GREAT, I need to ask you a small favor.
If possible, between now and August 15th, I would like you, directors, or any staff member from your library to record a single, 1-minute video (the time is very important; it needs to be a minute long) where you introduce one programming idea.
We just need a single idea for a library program. It doesn’t have to be fancy, Pinterest-quality, never-seen-this-before creative or even something you’ve attempted, yourself. We just need one programming idea. Whether that’s a program that you’ve done, one that you’ve been to, one that you’ve seen online or somewhere else, or even one that you’ve thought of but haven’t tried, yet. One idea in one minute.
I’m asking you early so that we can get as many videos as possible, with a goal of 30. Do you have more than one staff member who would like to do a video? Send it! What kind of video? One that you record on your phone is fine! 🙂 Also, no one has to appear in the video. Get creative with it! You can add music, you can do an all-text slideshow if you want – however you want to do it is up to you.
Thank you for considering it . . . I look forward to seeing what you come up with! 🙂 Please send all videos to my email address. I will send out reminders between now and 8/15!! Have fun & I can’t wait to hear all of your amazing ideas. 🙂
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
Being Security Conscious!
The last article in my Cyber-Threat series help you become more aware of the cyberthreats in the “inter-web wilderness”, it’s time to start thinking about how to protect ourselves from becoming a victim of cybercrime. It’s time to arm yourselves with the knowledge of some “weapons” of protection against those cyber-threats.
We want to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and safe, so some of the tools mentioned here might not be suitable for everyone’s specific network environment. Some of these tools are specifically designed for system administrators or network engineers. So, if you would like more details about a specific tool please reach out to us at the office.
Our main goal is to raise awareness about data security and equip you with knowledge, rather than overwhelming you with exhaustive details. We simply want to inform you about the existence of these tools. If any of these piques your interest or you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to reach out to our office. We’re more than happy to assist you!
Here is a list of “weapons” that I will be speaking about over the next few weeks.
- Password Habit – Strength, Algorithms, best practices, Complexity
- Password Managers – KeePass
- Multifactor Authentication
- Updates – Not just for the OS
- Click awareness
- Cyber Hygiene
- Access Control
- PC Maintenance
- Incident response – Data Breach
- Disaster Recover – Data recovery, Backups
- Un/Authorized Software – Crypto-Mining, Packet sniffers, More…
- More…
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 7/28/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! July 21, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Tech Day+ August 25th, 2023
Tech Day+ is almost here. If you are interested in attending this event, please RSVP here.
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
August 2, 2023 10:00 am – Niche Academy “Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship”, Registration Link
September 8, 2023, 10:00 am – RNR & Budget Hearing, Full Board Meeting,
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Image provided by Pixabay.com Contributor Peggy_Marco
Next Meeting September 8
The next SWKLS Board Meeting will be on September 8, 2023. It will be held at the Dodge City Public Library. We will start the day at 10:00 am CT with the RNR Hearing, then move into the Budget Hearing, and finally the regular System Meeting.
The RNR Hearing does take a bit of time since we have to do a roll call vote. We will send out registration the first of August.
Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship through Niche Academy
Here in the System we have had a few other libraries become involved in the book banning discussion. So this topic might hit your library eventually. Niche Academy is providing a webinar entitled “Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship” will be held on August 2, 2023 at 10:00 pm CT.
“Join Emily Knox for this webinar on intellectual freedom and censorship. Emily will provide an overview of one of the core values of librarianship, intellectual freedom, including the history of the right to access information, the right to freedom of expression, and how censorship intersects with these values.”
If you are interested in this webinar you can register through this link.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
AI Used by Fan to ‘Finish’ Game of Thrones Book Series
Fans of George RR Martin and the Game of Thrones book series have long lamented the author’s struggle with writer’s block. Tired of waiting, one fan took matters into his own hands by soliciting the help of a robot. How did ChatGPT do? Find out here.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving censorship, book challenges, and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Barack Obama Releases Summer Reading List in Support of Anti-Book Ban Effort
Children’s Author Becomes a ‘Loudmouth’ for Banned Books
How Book Banning Campaigns Have Changed the Lives and Education of Librarians
ALA OIF Blog 07.21.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-07-21-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malicious software that is designed to covertly gather information from a computer or device without the user’s knowledge or consent. It can infiltrate your system through various means, such as infected email attachments, malicious websites, or bundled with other software downloads. Once installed, spyware can monitor your activities, collect sensitive data, and transmit it to third parties, often for malicious purposes like identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized surveillance.
To protect yourself from spyware, it’s important to follow these preventive measures:
- Use reliable security software: Install a reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on your devices. Keep it updated to ensure it can detect and remove the latest spyware threats.
- Update your operating system and software: Regularly update your operating system, web browsers, and other software applications to patch security vulnerabilities that spyware may exploit.
- Exercise caution with downloads and email attachments: Be cautious when downloading files or opening email attachments from unknown sources. Verify the authenticity and safety of the source before proceeding.
- Be mindful of suspicious links and websites: Avoid clicking on suspicious links, especially in emails, pop-up ads, or social media posts. Be cautious while visiting unfamiliar websites, as they may contain hidden spyware.
- Enable a reliable firewall: Activate and configure a firewall on your computer or router to monitor incoming and outgoing network traffic. This can help block unauthorized access and prevent spyware from connecting to its command-and-control servers.
- Practice safe browsing habits: Be cautious when visiting websites and avoid clicking on suspicious ads or banners. Stick to reputable and trusted websites, and consider using a browser extension that blocks known malicious sites.
- Be selective with software installations: Carefully read and review the permissions and privacy policies before installing any software. Avoid installing software from untrusted sources or those that require excessive access to your personal information.
- Regularly backup your data: Maintain regular backups of your important files and data. In the event of a spyware infection or other cyber threats, having backups ensures that you can restore your data without succumbing to extortion or data loss.
- Educate yourself about phishing scams: Be aware of phishing attempts that try to trick you into divulging personal information. Learn to identify signs of phishing emails, such as suspicious links, grammatical errors, and requests for sensitive information.
- Monitor your devices and network: Regularly monitor your devices for any unusual behavior, such as sudden slowdowns, unexpected pop-ups, or unfamiliar processes running in the background. Keep an eye on your network activity to detect any suspicious connections.
By following these precautions and maintaining a security-conscious mindset, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to spyware and protect your personal information and privacy.
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 7/17/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! July 14, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
ITS ABOUT CONFERENCE TIME!
Conference Time is almost here. Please take a minute to fill out this attendance form so we can plan a meet-up. https://forms.gle/SQHpefoP6cS4Dy8t8
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
July 12, 2023, 1:00 pm CT – Niche Academy “Managing Difficult Conversations”, Registration Link
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Congratulations to Sara and Casandra
Join me in congratulating Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Library, and Casandra Norin, Director of Seward County Community College Library for being part of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries 2023 Conference. Sara is part of a panel on Thursday entitled, “United Against Book Bans: Ignite Support for First Amendment Rights in Rural Communities” on Thursday from 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm. Casandra is part of a two person panel entitled: “MARC 101 to 210: Your Key to Circulation” on Saturday from 8:30 am – 9:30 am.
We encourage members that are attending the ARSL conference this year to support our two Member Director’s on this National Stage. If you haven’t registered for ARSL yet you can do so at this link. To view the whole schedule for the conference you can do so at this link.
Kansas State Librarian Question
You will have received an email from Ray Walling, State Librarian, concerning State Aid. This question was on last year’s State Library Survey Report, however not many librarians answered the question. This is a second attempt by the State Librarian to gather this information.
The question is asking how much your library truly needs in State Aid to be of a better assistance in augmenting your yearly budget. This is part of Ray working on getting a number to utilize to visit with the State Legislatures on possibly raising the State Aid for public libraries. Please take the time to thoughtfully consider this question and respond back to Ray.
Ray, through the System office wants to thank everyone for doing this for him.
Possible CE opportunity in Cimarron City Library
Cimarron City Library is holding a two part training on “Uncommon Customer Service Process”, presented by Joe Coles Consulting Services.
Candi thought this could be of interest to your patrons or even your library staff.
The first part will be on Thursday July 20, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, and the second part will be on September 14, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, at the Cimarron City Library.
“Uncommon Customer Service builds “Trust!” Trust builds “Relationships!” Relationships is the key to it all! This is not being better than your competition; it is being the best you can be with your internal and external customers because it is the right thing. Controlling what you can control!
When you attend this training, you will walk away a better person in both your business and personal life. Your excitement will be contagious with your teammates and your family. Common sense strategies will be taught in an uncommon way from over 20 years of working with businesses and schools in leadership!“
The deadline to register for both classes is July 18, 2023. If you are interested in attending these classes please contact me at the System office and I will forward you the registration form to enroll. Cost is $50.00 per person ($40.00 per person per organization with 5 or more).
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
New Resources for You
The Yak Sisters Thelma and Louise Save the Day StoryWalk
Written by Western Kansas native Brenda Dinges, the Yak Sisters Thelma and Louise Save the Day is a cute story about two yaks – Thelma and Louise – who save the day by calling 911 in an emergency.
Thank you, Haskell Township Library, for this generous donation to our StoryWalk collection! An eagle-eyed librarian has already scooped it up, but it should be back and ready to go out again mid-August. 🙂 If you would like to request this StoryWalk (or any StoryWalk) in the future, you may do so through SHAREit, calling the office, or emailing me at swilson@swkls.org.
In Literary News
The Beach Boys Pen a Beach Read
Surf music legends The Beach Boys have written an autobiography about their lives, aptly named The Beach Boys. The book will include copies of sheet music, photos, excerpts from friends and business associates, and more! The hardcover tome is set to be released in 2024. If you think this news will give your patrons “Good Vibrations,” click here to read more.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving censorship, book challenges, and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Kent [WA] School Librarian Rallies Against Rising Book Censorship Based on Race, Sexuality
Hearing to be Held in New Hanover County [N.C.] on Potential Ban of the Book ‘Stamped’
Prattville [AL] Library Challengers Recruiting People to Negatively Review Books
Nixa [MO] School Board to Revisit Removal of ‘Unpregnant’ Book
ALA OIF Blog 07.07.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-07-07-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
In Case You Missed It
For All VERSO Users: Versed in VERSO Coming Up
From VERSO Product Manager Julie Cavender:
Greetings VERSO Users!
July’s Versed in VERSO is less than a week away. Have you registered yet?
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4751915964693721175
We already have some fun questions to address (weeding and carousels!), but always welcome more questions. Please submit them here: https://forms.office.com/r/CzUGSK4pbZ
We look forward to “seeing” you next week!
Baker & Taylor Potential Shipping Delays
If you use Baker & Taylor, please see the following message regarding possible future shipping delays:
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
PC Disease
As we near the end of my Cyber threat’s series, we explore why it is so necessary to install antivirus software on our computers. One of those reasons is to stop Trojans, worms, and viruses. These threats can wreak havoc on not just your computer, but can also affect other computers across your network. Let’s narrow do to just Trojans this week and I will write about the others in the coming weeks.
First, what is a Trojan? Just like the Trojan horse of Greek history, it is a type of malware that disguises itself as a normal file (or disguised as familiar file) to trick a user into downloading it in order to gain unauthorized access to a computer. These can look like the familiar Word document file to a software installer.
Secondly, why should you be careful not to download a Trojan. Getting one could grant unauthorize use of data on your computer. This include patron data, credit card information, usernames and passwords to websites, and bank account information. They could use this data to steal or falsify your identity to commit fraud, spam other users, or spread malware to other computers.
Thirdly, how are you protecting yourself from being a victim of a Trojan? Antivirus programs (like ESet Endpoint Antivirus), careful click practices (when opening emails or downloading programs), and using strong passwords that are changed on at regular interval. Using these tools and practices are essential in keeping you and your patrons’ information secure. One other thing that can help keep you more secure is using MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication). The final best practice for protecting the data important to you is to make sure your computer is being backed up regularly.
Lastly, if your computer seems to be misbehaving or behaving oddly from before, please do not hesitate to call the System office. It is better to catch these issues sooner rather than later. The longer the infection stays on your computer, the more difficult the recovery.
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 7/7/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! July 7, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Kearny Co. Library
Wood Burning Art
Teens and adults did wood burning on charcuterie boards. These are some pictures of our class. Cesilia then showed them how to set the food out on the boards and they had a great class and snack!
Dodge City Public Library
Adult Crafting @ DCPL
DCPL had a great turn out for their crafting program which was held Friday 7/7/23.
Pickleball Courts @ Stevens Co.
The Stevens County Library is so excited that the Hugoton Recreation Commission installed outdoor pickleball courts! As part of the Summer Literacy Program, we arranged for the rec center to teach pickleball to 6-11 year olds on Tuesday afternoon. Nearly 40 kids and caregivers attended the event! There were so many kids present, they had to fill time by choosing between tennis, basketball, card games, and birdwatching stations while other kids played pickleball. It was a great outdoor activity that encouraged lots of library patrons to hurry to the library to check out birding backpacks, board games, and pickleball sets! Due to popular demand, we already plan to hold an adult pickleball lesson in the future.
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
July 12, 2023, 1:00 pm CT – Niche Academy “Managing Difficult Conversations”, Registration Link
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Congratulations to Sara and Casandra
Join me in congratulating Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Library, and Casandra Norin, Director of Seward County Community College Library for being part of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries 2023 Conference. Sara is part of a panel on Thursday entitled, “United Against Book Bans: Ignite Support for First Amendment Rights in Rural Communities” on Thursday from 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm. Casandra is part of a two person panel entitled: “MARC 101 to 210: Your Key to Circulation” on Saturday from 8:30 am – 9:30 am.
We encourage members that are attending the ARSL conference this year to support our two Member Director’s on this National Stage. If you haven’t registered for ARSL yet you can do so at this link. To view the whole schedule for the conference you can do so at this link.
Kansas State Librarian Question
You will have received an email from Ray Walling, State Librarian, concerning State Aid. This question was on last year’s State Library Survey Report, however not many librarians answered the question. This is a second attempt by the State Librarian to gather this information.
The question is asking how much your library truly needs in State Aid to be of a better assistance in augmenting your yearly budget. This is part of Ray working on getting a number to utilize to visit with the State Legislatures on possibly raising the State Aid for public libraries. Please take the time to thoughtfully consider this question and respond back to Ray.
Ray, through the System office wants to thank everyone for doing this for him.
Possible CE opportunity in Cimarron City Library
Cimarron City Library is holding a two part training on “Uncommon Customer Service Process”, presented by Joe Coles Consulting Services.
Candi thought this could be of interest to your patrons or even your library staff.
The first part will be on Thursday July 20, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, and the second part will be on September 14, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, at the Cimarron City Library.
“Uncommon Customer Service builds “Trust!” Trust builds “Relationships!” Relationships is the key to it all! This is not being better than your competition; it is being the best you can be with your internal and external customers because it is the right thing. Controlling what you can control!
When you attend this training, you will walk away a better person in both your business and personal life. Your excitement will be contagious with your teammates and your family. Common sense strategies will be taught in an uncommon way from over 20 years of working with businesses and schools in leadership!“
The deadline to register for both classes is July 18, 2023. If you are interested in attending these classes please contact me at the System office and I will forward you the registration form to enroll. Cost is $50.00 per person ($40.00 per person per organization with 5 or more).
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
Authors vs. Robots: A Lawsuit
The makers of OpenAI, the company behind AI chatbot ChatGPT, are being sued. Two authors claim that ChatGPT was trained on their copyrighted material without their express permission. The forthcoming lawsuit brings into question the legal and ethical use of intellectual property to train robots. To read more about the lawsuit – and the identity of the authors bringing it – click here.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving book challenges and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Former Sterling Library Director Claims Board Fired Her to Censor Decisions on Books, Displays
N.J. Town Proposes Book Banning Rules, But Some Parents Say They Don’t Go Far Enough
Target Blasted for Refusing to Sell Anti-Democratic Party Book: ‘Pathetic’
After Heated Testimony, California Democrats Proceed With Bill to Block Book Bans
ALA OIF Blog 06.30.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-06-30–2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
Methods to Weeding Madness
Is your collection in need of weeding? Don’t know where to start? What if I told you that there’s a method to the weeding madness? Many of you may be familiar with the MUSTIE method, in the CREW Manual (the definitive source on weeding, created by the Texas State Library & Archives Commission), but to those who are new to this document, it’s a wonderful, detailed guideline to help you decide what stays and what goes.
MUSTIE is an acronym for 6 negative features that make books good candidates for weeding. It stands for: M – Misleading, U – Ugly, S – Superseded, T – Trivial, I – Irrelevant, and E – Elsewhere (as in, the information can be easily accessed in another way, such as a different format, ILL, etc.). For more information, elaboration on the MUSTIE guidelines, and a deep dive into the hows and whys of weeding, please see the link referenced above! As always, if you have questions or need help with weeding, give me a call or email me at swilson@swkls.org. I’m always happy to help!
In Case You Missed It
For All VERSO Users: Versed in VERSO Postponed This Month
From VERSO Product Manager Rae Schneider:
This month’s Versed in VERSO will be postponed a week and will take place on Tuesday, July 18 at 11:00AM Eastern/8:00AM Pacific.
We welcome your questions or topics. If there is something you’d like us to cover, please fill out the form: https://forms.office.com/r/CzUGSK4pbZ
To register for the next Versed in VERSO, please do so here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4751915964693721175
We look forward to your questions/topics.
For ILLers
Sharing About SHAREit Reminder
*Auto-Graphics will be having a repeat of last Wednesday’s Sharing About SHAREit Basic ILL Training, due to popular demand. The training will be 90 minutes, as opposed to the usual 60 minutes.
Please register for Sharing about SHAREit #17.2 – ILL Basic Training – Repeat of June 28 session on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT at:
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
What is DDoS?
A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic.
DDoS attacks achieve effectiveness by utilizing multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic. Exploited machines can include computers and other networked resources such as IoT devices.
From a high level, a DDoS attack is like an unexpected traffic jam clogging up the highway, preventing regular traffic from arriving at its destination.
DDoS attacks are carried out with networks of Internet-connected machines.
These networks consist of computers and other devices (such as IoT devices)which have been infected with malware, allowing them to be controlled remotely by an attacker. These individual devices are referred to as bots (or zombies), and a group of bots is called a botnet.
Once a botnet has been established, the attacker is able to direct an attack by sending remote instructions to each bot.
When a victim’s server or network is targeted by the botnet, each bot sends requests to the target’s IP address, potentially causing the server or network to become overwhelmed, resulting in a denial-of-service to normal traffic.
Because each bot is a legitimate Internet device, separating the attack traffic from normal traffic can be difficult.
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 7/7/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! June 30, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Lane County Library
Congratulations to Savanah Moomaw!
She wrapped up her Summer Reading with the sweet addition of Oliva Grace. Born on June 21st, 5 lbs 9oz. Baby and mom are both doing good. Savanah said, “She may be small, but she sure is mighty and full of spunk!”
(Thank you, Plains Community Library Director Sara Munn, for sharing the wonderful news with us!)
Pickleball Courts @ Stevens Co.
The Stevens County Library is so excited that the Hugoton Recreation Commission installed outdoor pickleball courts! As part of the Summer Literacy Program, we arranged for the rec center to teach pickleball to 6-11 year olds on Tuesday afternoon. Nearly 40 kids and caregivers attended the event! There were so many kids present, they had to fill time by choosing between tennis, basketball, card games, and birdwatching stations while other kids played pickleball. It was a great outdoor activity that encouraged lots of library patrons to hurry to the library to check out birding backpacks, board games, and pickleball sets! Due to popular demand, we already plan to hold an adult pickleball lesson in the future.
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
July 12, 2023, 1:00 pm CT – Niche Academy “Managing Difficult Conversations”, Registration Link
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
Image provided by Pixabay.com contributor Mohamed_hassan
Membership Accreditation Yearly Standards & New 2 Year Application ChecklistMembership Accreditation Yearly Standards & New 2 Year Application Checklist
The end of June is upon us. Half the year gone already. Remember that the Yearly Accreditation requirements are due December 31. I have been keeping track of CE that has been turned in and several members have accomplished other requirements on their checklist.
2023 also marks the year that accreditation for membership is applied for again for 2024 & 2025. The application page on the System’s website is here through this link. No changes have been made for this application term. The commitment to following the requirements, for accreditation, are the same as the last application period.
Remember that your library’s Technology Plan is part of the Accreditation Application now. Please send your updated Technology Plan to Steve (sandrews@swkls.org) so the Tech Team can review your plan and make any adjustments they need to make and then you can present the whole packet (Accreditation Application & Technology Plan) to your library board for approval and to sign off on both documents.
Both documents need to be turned in by October 31. This allows the Accreditation Committee to review the applications and technology plans for approval. If there happens to be a question on a library’s application and/or technology plan then it can be relayed back to the library for explanation before the end of the year. This allows the committee to reevaluate and approve before the start of 2024.
Image provided by Pixabay.com contributor jsks
Managing Difficult Conversations Webinar
As supervisors at one time or another you have had to have a difficult conversation with a patron, employee, or board member. Even in our daily life outside of the library world we have difficult conversations. Niche Academy is trying to help us out with these types of conversations with their “Managing Difficult Conversations” webinar. This webinar will be on July 12 at 1:00 pm Central Time.
When difficult conversations happen, “sometimes you can anticipate them. More frequently, one erupts without warning. Your leadership and the relationships necessary for the success of the library program depend on how well you handle these stressful occurrences.
In every such situation, power is in play on both sides. Join Hilda Weisburg to learn what these powers are, which ones you have, and the best ones to use when dealing with difficult conversations.”
If you are interested in attending this webinar you can register through this link.
Ryan Dowdy De-Escalation and Conflict Training
The State Library Kansas has added the Ryan Dowdy training sessions to their website for librarians across the state to view. The training feature homelessness issues, however there are session specifically titled for librarians. Also de-escalation and conflict training is transferable to any situation that a library might face. These webinars are provided through the Niche Academy webpage. The sessions will be available for the current State Library year (July 1 – June 30) for anyone who is interested in viewing them.
If you are interested the State Library of Kansas invites you to visit their page to begin the sessions.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
New Manuscript for Capote’s Kansas True Crime Classic, In Cold Blood
Truman Capote’s classic true crime novel, “In Cold Blood,” based on the mass murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, KS is now being released in manuscript form, including Capote’s original notes, corrospondances, doodles, first draft prose, and more. Capote hand-wrote all of his notes and worked on the book for five years, amassing a large collection that has been housed at the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library. This collection has been condensed into the manuscript now for sale through SP Books. For more information, click here.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving book challenges and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Librarians Train to Defend Intellectual Freedom and Fight Book Bans at Chicago Conference
Parents, Religious Groups to Protest Montgomery Co. [Maryland] Schools’ Use of Some Books
Former Portales [New Mexico] Teacher Sues District, Says Book ‘The Hate U Give’ Led to Firing
Georgia Teacher Fired for Reading Children’s Book About Acceptance in Class
San Francisco LGBTQ Comic Artist Fights Back Against Book Bans
Pinellas [Florida] Schools Under Fire for Book Review List
ALA OIF Blog 06.16.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-06-16-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
SWKLS Has StoryWalk®s
StoryWalk®s promote literacy, exercise, spending time outdoors, and the library! Best of all, having a StoryWalk® presents opportunities to partner with local businesses for a little cross-promotion.
How can you do that? Make your StoryWalk® a city activity by asking local businesses to display a page or two in their window or even on their wall for a select period of time. Readers of the StoryWalk® will venture over to (and maybe even inside) the businesses to read the pages. New businesses get noticed, old businesses get remembered, and the library provides yet another programming event that engages and enriches the community.
If you have StoryWalk® display cases installed in your community, you can count on us to help you keep your stories fresh and your community engaged all year with new materials to read.
Where can you get StoryWalk®s? SWKLS StoryWalk®s are available on SHAREit for ILL. To see what SWKLS has available, visit our VERSO page, search “SWKLS StoryWalk Collection” in the search bar at the top, then request the one you want in SHAREit. SWKLS will send the StoryWalk® to you on the courier and you can keep it for a loan period of 30 days. Summer time is a great time to engage your community outdoors in a fun StoryWalk® adventure.
In Case You Missed It
For VERSO Catalogers: Versed in VERSO Demos AGEdit
If you are curious about the new cataloging interface that Auto-Graphics will be replacing AGCat with (AGEdit), you have a chance to take a look at the beta version in the latest Versed in VERSO video. (Recorded 6/13). To access the video at any time, go to Staff Dashboard > Support > VERSO and it will be in the “Versed in VERSO” grey box.
Features that I’m excited about include:
- No more need to download new/latest versions of cataloging software.
- Ability to search within the record for specific fields and/or field information (i.e. author name, publisher, etc.). This is a BIG one and will be so useful for copy cataloging accuracy! 🙂
- Descriptions of the purpose of each MARC field.
- Spell check within the record.
I encourage you to check out the video for yourself! It looks like it’s going to be a really great addition, once it’s complete. They are still beta testing it as of now and they plan to release it in stages. The release isn’t expected to happen until the end of this year (2023), so we have some time, yet, before this becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any cataloging questions/issues/concerns OR if you have need of cataloging training or a refresher, please don’t hesitate to reach out & I will be more than happy to help!
For All VERSO Users
Auto-Graphics updated VERSO yesterday. These are the issues that the update addressed:
| AG-98 CS-71192 | Help URL link in User Admin > Self-Registration Management displayed wrong help page The Help URL link in User Admin > Self Registration Management opened the Circ Admin help page. The link now opens the help page for Setting Self Registration Options. |
| AG-2199 CS-75899 CS-76799 | VERSO CILL Users Only Automatically accepted renewals were incorrectly updated to overdue When a VERSO CILL lender automatically accepted a SHAREit borrower’s request for renewal, the deadline date in the database was not updated to reflect the new date causing items to become overdue. This issue has been resolved, and automatic renewals are now updated with the correct status “Accepted Renewal”. |
| AG-2436 CS-76944 | Back Arrow didn’t return user to previously selected title When in List View, clicking the back arrow in a full record returned to top of page results instead of the selected title. This has been fixed so that the back arrow returns the user to the previously selected title in the list view. |
| AG-2485 CS-76965 CS-76971 CS-76976 CS-76966 | OverDrive API Users Only OverDrive cover art not displaying in brief record view A condition existed where OverDrive cover art would not display on the brief record view. Cover art will now be displayed in both brief and full record views. |
For ILLers
Resource Sharing Taskforce Meeting Held Thursday
Yesterday, we had a Resource Sharing Taskforce Meeting. We talked about the recent issue with cover art in SHAREit, statistics record-keeping and transaction logs, changing the participant record to reflect library availability, the recent Basic ILL training offered through AG, the state of Kansas’ Book Discussion Group Sets, and a suggestion received to enhance SHAREit. Please add this date/time to your calendar and plan to join us next month: Thursday, August 31st, at 10 AM. The Zoom link has been emailed out. If you didn’t get it, get in touch with me and I’ll make sure that you do. I’ll send out reminders before the date, as well. We hope to see you then!
Reminders!
*The courier will not be running on the 4th of July holiday. If your library is going to be closed additional days surrounding the holiday, please remember to change your SHAREit Participant Record to reflect that and contact Caroline at NEKLS to advise the courier.
*Auto-Graphics will be having a repeat of Wednesday’s Sharing About SHAREit Basic ILL Training, due to popular demand. The training will be 90 minutes, as opposed to the usual 60 minutes.
Please register for Sharing about SHAREit #17.2 – ILL Basic Training – Repeat of June 28 session on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT at:
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
What is a Botnet?
A botnet is a network of compromised computers or devices that are under the control of a single operator, known as the botmaster. These compromised machines, often referred to as “bots” or “zombies,” are typically infected with malicious software, such as malware or a virus. The botmaster gains control over these infected machines without the knowledge or consent of their owners.
Once a device is infected and becomes part of a botnet, it can be remotely controlled by the botmaster. The botmaster can issue commands to the compromised devices, instructing them to perform various activities. This can include sending spam emails, launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, stealing sensitive information, distributing malware to other computers, or engaging in other malicious activities.
Botnets are often created by spreading malware through various means, such as phishing emails, malicious downloads, or exploiting software vulnerabilities. The compromised devices are then used collectively to carry out large-scale attacks or perform tasks that would be difficult for a single machine to accomplish.
Botnets are a significant concern in cybersecurity because they can be used to orchestrate coordinated attacks, cause widespread damage, and facilitate criminal activities. Detecting and mitigating botnets is a complex task that requires a combination of security measures, including antivirus software, firewalls, network monitoring, and user education to prevent devices from being compromised in the first place.
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 6/21/2023
Weekly Wrap-U.P.! June 23, 2023
System Spotlight
By Christopher Dressler
Pickleball Courts @ Stevens Co.
The Stevens County Library is so excited that the Hugoton Recreation Commission installed outdoor pickleball courts! As part of the Summer Literacy Program, we arranged for the rec center to teach pickleball to 6-11 year olds on Tuesday afternoon. Nearly 40 kids and caregivers attended the event! There were so many kids present, they had to fill time by choosing between tennis, basketball, card games, and birdwatching stations while other kids played pickleball. It was a great outdoor activity that encouraged lots of library patrons to hurry to the library to check out birding backpacks, board games, and pickleball sets! Due to popular demand, we already plan to hold an adult pickleball lesson in the future.
Morton County Library Staff Wins Award for Window Decorations
From Director Toni Jones-Bressler: Morton County Library Ladies, Hailey Carrillo & Kobie Ellis, decorated the windows for BAK. Lots of friendly people came in to use our Wi-FI. The Library actually won a $20.00 gift certificate for “The Neatest Presentation”. Great job Ladies!
Future Dates & Training Opportunities
Sept 20 – 23, 2023 – ARSL Conference/Wichita, Hotel Booking/Conference Registration
Nov 1 – 3, 2023 – KLA Conference/Wichita
Consulting
By Richard Brookman
2023 ARSL Conference Registration Open
The 2023 Association of Small and Rural Library Conference is September 20 – 23. For those that haven’t been before, it will be in Wichita this year. The theme for the conference is
Early Bird Registration is now open at the following link. Hotel Registration can be done know and can be booked through this link.
Image provided by Pixabay.com contributor 200degree
Notable Books Grant
The 2023 Kansas Notable Books Grant is now open. This is a non-competitive grant for libraries to purchase books from the 2023 Kansas Notable Books list.
“2023 KS Notable Book list- Each participating Kansas library will be reimbursed for the purchase of a single copy, in any format, of any or all books on the 2023 Kansas Notable Books list. Only the actual cost of the book, minus any discounts, will be reimbursed with grant funds. Any shipping costs, sales tax and/or protective book covers are the responsibility of individual recipient libraries. Grant information for 2023, including the application and checklist, is available at https://kslib.info/1521/2023-Kansas-Notable-Books . All Kansas Notable Book lists can be found at http://kslib.info/notablebooks .”
Image provided by Pixabay.com contributor ulleo
CE Through the State Library
The State Library of Kansas has a wealth of Continuing Education sessions that you can watch to continue your journey in library science. On the State Library’s website you just need to follow the “Librarians” Tab to the “Continuing Education” link. On the dropdown of “Continuing Education” go to “Librarian Events & Archives” to find different sessions that are upcoming or recorded. Here is the direct link to the “Librarian Events & Archives” page.
Remember to email Richard to let him know when you have done any of these CE Events. The System office doesn’t get notified on your completion of any session you watch.
Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL
By Sara Wilson
Collection Development Inspiration
Adult Fiction
Children’s & YA Fiction
In Literary News
RIP Two Beloved Authors
It’s been a sad couple of weeks for the literary world, with the loss of two authors who had a strong impact on modern literature.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Cormac McCarthy, who penned such beloved novels as The Road and No Country for Old Men, has died. He was 89. Here is a personal tribute written about him in The New Yorker.
Mystery writer, Carol Higgins Clark (and daughter of Mary Higgins Clark), actress and author of such novels as the popular Reagan Reilly Series, has died. She was 66. Here is a tribute written about her in The Hollywood Reporter.
Recent Book Challenge Issues Making the News
Libraries are feeling the impact of book challenges across the country. Here are some recent news reports involving book challenges and bans across the United States. (Special thanks to Sara Koehn, Director of Haskell Township Public Library and Sean Bird, Interim Dean of University Libraries at Washburn University for their contributions to this list!)
Utah Book Challenges by the Numbers: A KSL Investigation
Students and Authors Sue Florida School District That Banned a Book About Two Male Penguins
Utah District Returns Bible to School Libraries After Reversal of Parent-Led Ban
Nixa [Missouri] School Board Bans Four Books After Special Meeting
Orange County Official Concerned About ‘Obscene’ Children’s Books
Proposed Bill Targets ‘Obscene’ Materials at School, Some Fear State-Wide Book Bans
What Illinois’ New Ban on Book Bans Really Means for Libraries
Williamson County [Tennessee] School Board Votes to Keep 5 Books in School Library
Banned Books to Return to Central York [Pennsylvania] With Passage of New Library Policy
ALA OIF Blog 06.16.23: https://www.oif.ala.org/intellectual-freedom-news-06-16-2023/
First Amendment Coalition: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news-opinion/first-amendment-news/
Empowered by Reading (Unitedagainstbookbans): https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Empowered-by-Reading-final.pdf
EBSCO Magazines is Going Out of Business
After 43 years, EBSCO is discontinuing their magazine subscription service. If you have magazines through EBSCO, according to this announcement on their website, they will continue to deliver your magazines until they expire, but following that, you will need to order from a new vendor. Please see link for details.
In Case You Missed It
Your 1-Minute Videos Needed!
As you know, we are hard at work preparing for the 15th annual Tech Day+ coming up in August. I am working on a special project and to make it GREAT, I need to ask you a small favor.
If possible, between now and August 1st, I would like you, directors, or any staff member from your library to record a single, 1-minute video (the time is very important; it needs to be a minute long) where you introduce one programming idea.
We just need a single idea for a library program. It doesn’t have to be fancy, Pinterest-quality, never-seen-this-before creative or even something you’ve attempted, yourself. We just need one programming idea. Whether that’s a program that you’ve done, one that you’ve been to, one that you’ve seen online or somewhere else, or even one that you’ve thought of but haven’t tried, yet. One idea in one minute.
I’m asking you early so that we can get as many videos as possible, with a goal of 30. Do you have more than one staff member who would like to do a video? Send it! What kind of video? One that you record on your phone is fine! 🙂 Also, no one has to appear in the video. Get creative with it! You can add music, you can do an all-text slideshow if you want – however you want to do it is up to you.
Thank you for considering it . . . I look forward to seeing what you come up with! 🙂 Please send all videos to swilson@swkls.org. I will send out reminders between now and 8/1!! Have fun & I can’t wait to hear all of your amazing ideas. 🙂
For All VERSO Users
This week, Auto-Graphics disabled a feature that pulled book jacket art from Amazon, using the ISBN in the record. They did this because Amazon had started using numbers that were already in use as ISBNs as product numbers. This caused some confusion in some people’s catalogs and item pictures were showing up in place of book jackets.
The feature is back on, so if you were missing jacket art that had been pulled from Amazon, those items will now have jacket art once again.
For ILLers
Resource Sharing Taskforce Meeting
The SWKLS Resource Sharing Taskforce meeting was rescheduled. The new date for the meeting is next Thursday, June 29th, at 10 AM. If you cannot find the original email I sent out with the Zoom link, please get in touch with me and I’ll get that to you. I’ll also be sending out a reminder at the beginning of next week that will include the link, as well. This meeting is open to all directors and ILL personnel. This is an informal, fireside chat to discuss your issues/concerns/tips & tricks, etc. as relates to ILL service. The more ILLers we have attend, the better I can represent our region at KILT. I look forward to seeing you there!
Technology
by Christopher Dressler
Email Spoofster: Tales of Deception in Cyberspace
Once upon a time in the magical land of Cyberspace, where emails flew through the digital skies like carrier pigeons on a caffeine high, there lived a mischievous creature known as the Email Spoofster. Armed with wit and a penchant for confusion, this sly trickster roamed the virtual realm, causing chaos and leaving unsuspecting victims scratching their heads.
Email spoofing, my dear readers, is a clever technique where the Email Spoofster disguises the origin of an email to make it appear as if it came from someone else. Like a master of disguise, the Spoofster can pretend to be your best friend, your boss, or even your favorite celebrity. Oh, the possibilities!
But why, you may wonder, would someone engage in such a digital deception? Well, dear friends, the Email Spoofster has many tricks up their sleeve. They may want to trick you into revealing your personal information, like passwords or credit card details. They might aim to spread malware or phishing scams, eager to lure you into their treacherous traps. Or perhaps they simply revel in the chaos and confusion they create, like a digital court jester.
Now, how can we defend ourselves against this mischievous manipulator? Fear not, for I shall impart some wisdom upon you. First and foremost, my friends, always be vigilant and skeptical when receiving emails. If something seems fishier than a talking salmon, trust your instincts and proceed with caution.
Secondly, be sure to double-check the email address of the sender. The Spoofster may attempt to mimic a legitimate email address, but upon closer inspection, you may discover subtle differences or misspelled words that give away their true identity. Remember, even the most skillful of deceivers can slip up!
Thirdly, do not be tempted by the email’s content alone. The Email Spoofster is a master of manipulation, using urgency, fear, or enticing offers to coax you into their web of deceit. Take a moment to consider the request or offer carefully. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Last but not least, my friends, keep your software up to date and your antivirus programs at the ready. The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and our valiant defenders against cyber threats work tirelessly to stay one step ahead. By keeping your defenses strong, you can fortify your digital castle against the Email Spoofster’s sneaky tricks.
Remember, my dear readers, while the Email Spoofster may be a cunning adversary, knowledge is your shield, and vigilance your sword. Stay alert, stay informed, and may your emails always be true and trustworthy. Happy emailing, and may the cyberspace be forever in your favor!
Always feel free to contact me for training requests, library cards, or technology issues at cdressler@swkls.org or (620)225-1231. – Christopher Dressler – 6/21/2023