Cuyahoga Falls Library
www.CuyahogaFallsLibrary.org
2015 Third Street   Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
Phone: (330)928-2117
E-mail: mail@CuyahogaFallsLibrary.org

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The Library's Computers

Here is some information about the library's new computers.

Contents

General Information

Monitors

The new monitors have a viewable area of 19 inches (measured diagonally), which is 2-3 inches bigger than the old monitors. They are all flat-panel LCD monitors, which use much less energy than the old CRTs.

Computers

The new computers are small form factor Dell Optiplex 960s. They're very energy efficient, certified with EPEAT Gold status. They also have fast processors and plenty of RAM for modern computing needs.

More Consistent and Reliable Computers; Privacy Ensured

When you log off of a computer it reboots, and the reboot process restores the computer to its original state. If any traces of your Internet activity remained, or if you accidentally left a document on the computer, all of this would be erased before the next person logs in. This also protects from the little things that happen over time which decrease the computer's performance.

Logging On and Off

New Login Software

The new computers use the CASSIE software. This allows us to offer a few new features now, and even more in the future.

Locking a Computer

In addition to logging onto and off of a computer, CASSIE also allows you to lock the computer you're using. If you need to step away for a few minutes, just click "lock" at the bottom of the screen. Anything you have open on the screen will be hidden, and nobody but you will be able to access the computer. When you get back, unlock the computer using your library card number and PIN. Keep an eye on the time, though: If a computer is locked for 10 minutes, it will close all your windows and log you off without saving your work.

Inactivity Timeout

If you're logged into a computer and you don't type anything or move the mouse for 5 minutes, the computer will lock itself. You can unlock it easily by typing in your library card number and PIN. If the computer remains locked for 10 minutes, it will close all your windows and log you off.

Time limits

Most computers can be used for 2 hours at a time. The only exceptions are the four "Express" computers near the Reference Desk, which have 20-minute time limits, and the two "No Internet" computers in Children's, which can be used for four hours at a time. There is a daily maximum of four hours on the computers.

Software

Internet

The new computers offer you a variety of ways to browse the Web. Many web sites look better with Firefox, but many others require Internet Explorer (IE), and we also provide a simplified web browser with IE as its core.

Choosing "Internet (Simple)" on the Start menu will open the same software that you're familiar with from the old computers. This offers menus and buttons that are specifically designed to make things easy for you. This software is actually a special interface for Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer (IE) is available in case you would prefer to use the regular version of this without the "simple" menus and buttons. Many web sites were designed specifically for IE and don't work properly in any other browser. The new computers have IE 7, a newer version than the old computers had. (We have found that IE 8, which came out March 19, still has a number of problems. Like many other organizations, we'll wait a while before installing it.)

Firefox is also available. This is the most popular alternative to Internet Explorer. It is much more compliant with web standards than IE, and many sites look better in it. We have version 3, which is the newest.

Microsoft Office 2007

The new computers have the latest version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Access. (The old computers had Office XP, a.k.a. Office 2002.) There are a number of online tutorials and cheat sheets for Office 2007.

Microsoft Student with Encarta

This software is a comprehensive, subject-specific resource designed to help middle- and high-school students complete homework assignments and projects in less time. Student is a suite of learning tools including Microsoft Math, Learning Essentials, Encarta Premium 2009, foreign language tools, and more than 1,000 book summaries. Encarta is a digital multimedia encyclopedia consisting of more than 62,000 articles, numerous photos and illustrations, music clips, videos, interactivities, timelines, maps and atlas, and homework tools.

Software for Viewing, Editing, and Printing Pictures

When you insert the memory card from a camera, or when you insert a CD with photos on it and then double click on "My Computer," you will see several options, including these:

View a slideshow of the images using Windows Picture and Fax Viewer In addition to viewing photos, this is a gateway to editing: While viewing photos, you can right click on a photo, choose "open with" (don't click on "edit" - that takes you to something that's not really intended for editing photos), and choose Microsoft Office Picture Manager. This will give you some basic photo editing options and will also allow you to print using the Photo Printing Wizard.

Print the pictures using Photo Printing Wizard This gives you some nice printing options.

Removable Media: Flash Drives, Memory Cards, Discs

The new computers provide for a variety of media:

USB Flash Memory Drives

Also called Jump Drives, Thumb Drives, etc., these can be plugged into the front of the computer or the left-hand side of the monitor. Flash drives are compact, fast, and hold a lot of data. We sell flash memory drives at the Circulation Desk for $7.

Memory Cards

The computers have four slots for a variety of memory cards used in cameras and other devices.

Upper left:

Lower left:

Upper right:

Lower right:

CDs and DVDs

The computers can read CDs and DVDs. Currently there is a problem with saving to these discs but we are working on it. Sorry, we don't allow watching DVDs on the computers.

Floppy Disks

The floppy disk has been on the endangered species list for many years. The new computers do not have built-in floppy disk drives, but a small number of portable floppy drives will be available at the Reference and Children's desks - these can be plugged into the USB ports on the computers. We recommend using flash memory drives instead of floppies. Floppy disks are highly sensitive to dust, condensation temperature extremes, static electricity, and magnetic fields. Floppy disk drives are also very error-prone and have no built-in fault tolerance. We sell flash drives at the Circulation Desk for $5.50.

Sound

Headphones

The new computers do not have speakers, but we will be putting out headphones on all the computers. You're also welcome to use your own headphones - there's a headphone jack in the front of the computer.

Volume

To adjust the volume for your headphones, double-click on the "Volume" icon on the desktop (near the top left corner).

Things to Come

Below are some of the features coming in the future.

Find a Computer

If you're looking for a computer to use, you'll be able to go to a central station that will tell you which computers are available.

Waiting List

If all the computers are in use, you'll be able to sign up in a waiting list.

Time Extensions

If you are working on something that cannot be interrupted (such as an online test), library staff will be able to extend your time (this will be done only if absolutely necessary, at the discretion of staff). Also, if nobody is signed up in the waiting list, your session will be automatically extended for your convenience.

Self-Service Printing

You'll go to a central computer, pay for your printouts, and then they will print. This will make printing easier for you, cut down on printouts that are unwanted (and not paid for), and make more efficient use of library staff. This system will also ensure your privacy, as your documents will print only when you go to the printer and release them.

Possible Problems

No Internet

Situation: When you try to get on the Internet, all you see is a blank page. No matter which software you use - Internet (Simple), Internet Explorer, or Firefox, the page is completely white. Resolution: If your Internet privileges are suspended, you can log onto the computers but you can't get on the Internet. Go to the circulation desk to check on your Internet privileges.

CD Burning

There are problems with this; we're working on it.

Watching DVDs

Sorry, we don't allow watching DVDs on the computers.

If Something Doesn't Work

We want the computers to work as well as possible for you. If you find something that doesn't work, please let us know.