Blog Post
Drop-In Facebook on Monday, July 25th @ Malletts Creek
by Stewart
Drop in at the Malletts Creek branch to learn about Facebook. Sign up for Facebook (it's free) and learn the basics: how to update your status, upload a photo, like or comment on a status, chat, and more.
Monday, July 25th, Malletts Creek, 7 - 9 pm
Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Classrooms will open 15 minutes before the class start times. Registration is not required.
Blog Post
Cyber-Safety Series -- Social Network Safety
by MariaK
An ever-increasing number of people use social networks – Facebook for example boasts an impressive 60 million active users and 250,000 new registrations per day. As people integrate the internet and their social lives however, many are finding their personal lives become a little too public. Here are some tips and resources to help you keep your private life private on your favorite social networks.
1. Use a good password – A weak password (like ‘password’ for instance) is an invitation for someone to hack into your profile.
2. Don’t friend people you don’t actually know.
3. Check your privacy settings – Make sure you know exactly who can see what on your profile. You may be exposing more than you want to.
Facebook privacy tutorial.
MySpace safety page.
4. Don’t overexpose, literally or figuratively – Don’t display your full birthday, address, phone number or e-mail on your profile. Don’t say that you will be away from home, especially if you are on an extended vacation. Don’t post photos of yourself that you wouldn’t want to be seen by complete strangers. Don’t post anything that you wouldn’t say in front of a potential employer, because they may be watching.
5. Talk to your children about social network safety!
6. Read all about it.
Guides to the social web:
The Rough Guide to MySpace and Online Communities
MySpace for Dummies
Social Networking Spaces
Background on the issues:
Online Social Networking.
The Future of Reputation
For kids:
The Smart Kid’s Guide to Social Networking Online.
Blog Post
More October's Books to Film
by muffy
The Social Nework, considered by people in-the-know as perhaps, the best film of the year, is based on Ben Mezrich's The Accidental Billionaires : the founding of Facebook, a tale of sex, money, genius and betrayal - a fast-paced, inside look at a story of fortune gained and innocence lost, and how a company that was created to bring people together ultimately tore two friends apart.
In 2003, Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard undergrads and best friends looking for a way to stand out among the university’s elite and competitive student body. Then one lonely night, Zuckerberg hacked into the campus computer system to pull off a prank that crashed Harvard’s network. This stunt almost got him expelled, but it also inspired Zuckerberg to create Facebook, the social networking site, and their small start-up quickly went from college dorm room to Silicon Valley. But different ideas about Facebook’s future tested their relationship that eventually spiraled into out-and-out warfare.
Opening this weekend is Red, a star-studded espionage-thriller, based on the graphic novel by Warren Ellis (writer) and artist Cully Hammer.
Paul Moses ( Bruce Willis) retired -- until the CIA, his former employer decided he was too dangerous to live. When a kill team interrupts his solitude, he changes his status from green to red. As the bodies pile up, the men who set this ruthless killer back into action feel safe in their Langley offices without realizing that Moses has a different plan.
Blog Post
Follow a library on Twitter
by manz
To tweet or not to tweet, it’s a personal choice. Perhaps you’re one of the millions who are following Lady Gaga or Ashton Kutcher. Or perhaps you're more into following local goodness like the Ann Arbor News or the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.
October 1st is Follow a Library Day on Twitter. A day to celebrate libraries and let the Twitterverse know which libraries you love. Do you follow a library on twitter? Your own AADL has a twitter account, if you’re interested in keeping up with us. Or perhaps you’d like to show your love for the Canton Public Library, the Detroit Public Library, the Dexter District Library, or even the New York Public Library. Find your library online and follow it. Nearby libraries often promote their free public events on Twitter, so it’s a quick and easy way to see what’s coming up.
You can follow all the #followalibrary day buzz on their blog. Don’t forget to use #followalibrary as a hash tag! Which libraries do you follow?
Blog Post
Teen Stuff: Feed by M.T. Anderson
by Caser
This weekend at a U of M hockey game I sat behind someone that texted, talked, and googled non-stop on their phone for the entire 2 hour game, not once looking up to follow the live action on the ice. This is not a commentary, merely an observation. But I couldn't stop thinking about M.T. Anderson's novel, Feed, which follows a futuristic group of teenage friends, all of whom have 'The Feed' implanted in their brains from a young age.
The Feed functions like a search engine, complete with instant message capabilities and streaming advertisements catered to (or shaping) their personal interests. The characters live their lives unquestioningly until Violet enters their scene, sans Feed, and illuminates the unsettling cost of information overload. Listening to the book on CD is especially engaging, since part of the narrative is the sound of The Feed, channeled directly to the listener.
Blog Post
The Perils, Pitfalls, Perks and Pleasures of Online Dating With Cheryl Blackwell
by Caser
Thinking of joining the many individuals who have tried online dating? Join us on Tuesday, November 10 at the Pittsfield Branch from 7:00 to 8:30 pm for a lighthearted discussion of The Perils, Pitfalls, Perks and Pleasures of Online Dating.
Ann Arbor resident Cheryl Blackwell will reflect (and expound) on her observations and experiences with online dating. Topics will include the differences in several popular dating sites, online etiquette, and what really happens on first dates. Plan to attend if you are considering joining the world of online dating, are just curious, or want to know if your online experiences were unique (they probably weren’t). For more information on this event, contact the Library at 327-4200. The Pittsfield Branch is located at 2359 Oak Valley Drive in Ann Arbor.
The AADL owns several intriguing non-fiction books on online dating, including I Love You, Let's Meet and Why Mr. Right Can't Find You, or try the fiction book, Love @ First Site.