Best Practices for Protecting your Devices

As you may have heard, a WI-FI security vulnerability was announced last weekend. It is called KRACK, and there are simple steps you can take to protect your devices.

These steps are also general best practices for the security of your devices and personal information.

• Update your device, operating system, and browser to the latest versions
• Try not to interact with personal information while on open Wi-Fi networks, such as online banking or shopping.
• Most websites that ask for personal information, such as banking sites, use HTTPS. HTTPS can protect you from this vulnerability. Most browsers will tell you the site is using HTTPS with a little padlock. 
  
• You might also consider installing an HTTPS Everywhere extension on your browser.

The WCCLS website and library catalog both use HTTPS to keep your personal information secure.

More information about KRACK can be found on PCWorld, CNET, and TechCrunch.

Help us organize the research section of the WCCLS website!

Do you have a spare 5-10 minutes to help with the WCCLS website? 

Participate in an online card sort

The purpose of a card sort is to help us organize content on our website in a meaningful way, so that people can navigate it quickly and easily.  We want to improve the use of the Research section of our website, and the information you provide will help create the structure of the improved section.

During the card sort, you will be given a set of online cards to organize in a way that seems logical to you. There are no “right answers” in a card sort, but as a group we can see trends that will inform the navigation of our website.  The survey will close October 27.  Your participation is greatly appreciated!

Sherwood Public Library wins national grant for $5000

Getting advice on good books is going to get a lot easier in Sherwood. Thanks to a grant from LibraryAware and NoveList, Sherwood Public Library is launching a new service called Book Match @ Sherwood Public Library to help match readers to books they will love.

Library staff have always specialized in recommending books. This national grant for $5000 will allow Sherwood Public Library to take that basic service to the next level to meet the local demand in our community of readers. Readers will be able to submit requests for book recommendations via online and paper forms in English and Spanish, in addition to in person and over the phone. Librarians will deliver customized list of recommendations designed to suit individual interests and preferences, reading levels and desired formats.

More than 50 libraries submitted proposals for the Engaging Readers at Your Public Library Grant. The two other winners are Chatham-Kent Public Library (Ontario) and Dallas Public Library (Texas). Part of what made the Sherwood grant request so competitive was the growing success and high participation rates in the local Adult Summer Reading program and book clubs, and how the proposal fit into the library’s new Strategic Plan. Through a process that began in Fall 2016 with Library staff, community forum members and Library Advisory Board members, three key strategic directions emerged as service priorities for the next three years. The top goal relates directly to reading: The library inspires and facilitates reading, viewing and listening for pleasure.

A design firm, ZOnion Creative Group, which specializes in working with non-profits and libraries, has created the Book Match logo and will design more marketing materials, including a comprehensive recommendations booklet that will be ready in time for Summer Reading. Book Match @ Sherwood Public Library will soft-launch this Winter and have the full range of services implemented by Spring.

Interactive Workshop and Discussion at Tualatin Library

How can we prepare ourselves so that we are not caught off guard when we see public harassment or hear racist or insensitive comments? Building a more supportive community by interrupting everyday incidents, often takes skills that many of us don’t feel we have. This interactive workshop can provide you with tools that help prepare you to interrupt or de-escalate such situations when they are happening.

Wednesday, October 11
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Tualatin Public Library
Free

You will be trained to recognize harassment directed at yourself or others, and be given choices as to how to respond. Scenarios will be discussed including helping others who are being victimized as well as ideas on self-protection. Discussion and role-plays will be utilized.

This workshop is presented by the Human Rights Council of Washington County (HRC). Facilitators will be Rob Solomon, retired mental health clinician and past president of HRC, and Peg Pfab, Secretary of HRC.

Garden Home Community Sustainability & Repair Fair

Garden Home Community Library is hosting its 7th annual Sustainability Fair.

Friday, October 13, 5:00-7:30PM
THPRD Garden Home Community Rec Center Gym
FREE and open to the public

The event is family-friendly, with topics of interest for everyone: parents or retired, apartment dwellers or homeowners.

• Repair Fair: Sign up ahead of time and bring up to two broken items for volunteers to fix 
• Test drive a Nissan Leaf: valid driver’s license required
• Hosiery recycling station: Bring in your old stockings (any condition) to donate to Recycled Crafts
• Learn from nineteen green living exhibitors, including new ones for this year: ecoShuttle, H2O at Home, Portland Urban Beekeepers, Reduce Your Waste Project, Umpqua Bank, and Victory Seed Company

New Cornelius Library Groundbreaking

Librarians, local officials, and the public enjoyed a fun circus-themed ceremonial groundbreaking for Cornelius Place on Saturday, September 23.

Cornelius Place is a multi-use development that will house the expanded Cornelius Public Library, as well as a community convening space, a YMCA center, and 45 affordable apartments for adults age 55 and older. The new library will provide a variety of services to support children, families, and seniors, including pre-reading and early education programs, student success programs, and adult education. Learn more at hud.gov.

The Groundbreaking program included remarks from:

Cornelius Mayor Jef Dalin and his wife, Janel

• The Honorable Jef Dalin, Mayor, City of Cornelius
• The Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, Congresswoman, 1st District, U.S. House of Representatives
• The Honorable Susan McLain, Representative, 29th District, Oregon House of Representatives
• Kathryn Harrington, Representative, District 4, Oregon Metro
• Alison Lorig, Senior Vice President, BRIDGE Housing Corporation
• Nathan Teske, Executive Director, Bienestar
• Emily Leach, SVP & Commercial Team Leader, Heritage Bank
• Karen Hill, Director, Cornelius Public Library

Performers included Aztec
Dancers, Huehca Omeyocan

"There have been many years of effort by many people, which has made this happen," said Washington County Cooperative Library Services Director Eva Calcagno. "I hope the event reinvigorates community support for its library and fosters community."

Learn more about supporting this project.