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<p>When we couldn't connect to our OPLIN email account last Friday, it
made for a quiet day in the office. Then OPLIN announced that <a
href="http://www.oplin.org/node/620">its email database had gotten
corrupted during an upgrade</a> and that <a
href="http://www.oplin.org/node/625">they would no longer provide email
to Ohio public libraries</a>. That day, as we jumped to a new email
provider (we chose <a href="https://www.fastmail.com/">Fastmail</a>, was
a little louder.</p>
<p>We've talked to libraries whose staff lost all the email they had
received and sent over years of work (though <a
href="http://oplin.org/node/627">there may be hope</a>). They had only
used the webmail interface to get to email. It was all stored on OPLIN's
server, and now it's all gone. Data security is hard. These systems
keep getting bigger and more sophisticated, and so do spammers and other
trouble-makers. To keep services like email up and running, all your
staff need to be involved. Make this into an opportunity to improve the
way everyone operates.</p>
<h3 id="createstrongerpasswords">Create stronger passwords</h3>
<p>Help people create better passwords by learning about <a
href="http://world.std.com/%7Ereinhold/diceware.html">diceware</a>. The
diceware website has a long list of words and five-digit numbers. Roll
five dice, and look up the matching word. Roll five or six words this
way and you have a strong password that's memorable <em>because</em>
it's strange. Explain this at your next staff meeting, or create a
password station for staff, and help them through the steps. </p>
<h3 id="rememberthosestrongerpasswords">Remember those stronger
passwords</h3>
<p>Give your memory a break by using a password keeper like <a
href="https://agilebits.com/onepassword">1Password</a> or <a
href="https://lastpass.com">Lastpass</a>. These store your passwords and
are protected by a strong password that you set.</p>
<h3 id="useadesktopemailprogramsometimes">Use a desktop email program <em>sometimes</em></h3>
<p>When you use a desktop program like <a
href="http://postbox-inc.com">Postbox</a> or <a
href="https://www.fastmail.com/help/clients/thunderbird.html">Thunderbird</a>
(which is free) and connect with <a
href="https://help.aol.com/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-pop3-and-imap">IMAP,
not POP3</a>. When you use IMAP, it syncs the online emails to your
local computer. If you read emails or move them into folder, those
changes are also synced. So whether you connect through webmail,
Thunderbird or your smartphone, your changes are always up to date.</p>
<p>If you opened Thunderbird once a week—even if you didn't use it to
read or send emails—it would sync your emails. If your email provider
disappeared in a puff, you would still have that local copy. At SWON, we
use Postbox, and that kept us from losing all our emails.</p>
<p>For added safety, <a
href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/">export
emails from Thunderbird</a> and save them to external hard drives. </p>
<h3 id="yesitsalotofwork">Yes, it's a lot of work</h3>
<p>Time is money, some of the software mentioned above costs money,
and email addresses have their own costs. But losing your data is costly
too, in ways that can be hard to calculate. A lost email account can
cut off access to other accounts (especially if you need to reset your
password), and email address changes are frustrating for staff and
customers.</p>
<p>We're glad to help. Invite Nathan to your library and he can lead a
hands-on session on passwords and Diceware, and introduce Thunderbird
and email management, for staff or patrons. He'll gladly field questions
too. Email <a href="mailto:nathan@swonlibraries.org">nathan@swonlibraries.org</a>
or call him at (513) 751-4422x11.</p>
<hr>
<h3 id="mappinghumanitariancrisesaroundtheworld">Mapping humanitarian
crises around the world</h3>
<p>Humanitarian workers across the world need accurate maps to do
their jobs. What towns did these refugees come from? What buildings were
here before the storm hit? How can we get truck-loads of aid to the
people that need it?</p>
<p><strong>You can help! <a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599097&group=">Come
to SWON's Level-Up Lab: Teaching Patrons Humanitarian Mapping on May
6th</a></strong> and Nathan will teach you how to contribute. We'll
provide the laptops, they'll provide the satellite images. You provide
the willingness to learn, and together we'll assist a high-priority
mapping project.</p>
<h3 id="summerreadingprogram:lastcall">Summer Reading Program: Last
call!</h3>
<p><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=512929&group=">SWON's
Summer Reading Program Workshop is next Wednesday, March 18</a></strong>.
We'll have engaging speakers, technology to try out, predatory birds
(you won't have to share your lunch with them), and lots of ideas to
take back to your library with you. Be the Summer Reading programming
hero at your library with this flurry of ideas.</p>
<hr>
<h2 id="upcomingonthecalendar">Upcoming on the Calendar</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>KPLA Conference</strong><br>March 16-18, 2015 - Lexington,
KY</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=512929&group=">SWON
Summer Reading Program Workshop</a></strong><br>March 18, 2015 -
Washington-Centerville Public Library</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=533998&group=">Closing
Time: Customer Service at the End of the Day</a></strong><br>March 19,
2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=593513&group=">Microsoft
Publisher 2013</a></strong><br>March 24, 2015 - Boone County Public
Library, Main Branch</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=596687&group=">Level-Up
Lab: LibGuides 2.0</a></strong><br>March 24, 2015 - SWON Meeting Room</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=517111&group=">ROYAL
Literature Review (Special Interest Group) Meeting</a></strong><br>March
26, 2015 - Kenton County Public Library, Covington Branch</li>
</ul>
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