Basha now has both federal and state forms

Everyone but Hamilton now has both state and federal. Hamilton only has state forms.

Web-based chat

I keep forgetting the name of this, so I figured I'd better post it so I can remind myself. Meebo is a website that allows you to sign in to your chat accounts without downloading the chat software. It supports several different chat clients, such as AOL and Yahoo messenger, and it will help those people who absolutely have to contact someone through chat and how come they can't download Yahoo messenger? It's also been suggested for libraries that do chat reference. However, it's blocked by the city, so you'll only be able to access it on public machines.

Scary study about filthy keyboards

Ugh!
Bacterial contamination of keyboards: efficacy and functional impact of disinfectants.
Source Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 27(4):372-7, 2006 Apr.
Abstract BACKGROUND: Computers are ubiquitous in the healthcare setting and have been shown to be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This study was performed to determine the degree of microbial contamination, the efficacy of different disinfectants, and the cosmetic and functional effects of the disinfectants on the computer keyboards. METHODS: We assessed the effectiveness of 6 different disinfectants (1 each containing chlorine, alcohol, or phenol and 3 containing quaternary ammonium) against 3 test organisms (oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [ORSA], Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species) inoculated onto study computer keyboards. We also assessed the computer keyboards for functional and cosmetic damage after disinfectant use. RESULTS: Potential pathogens cultured from more than 50% of the computers included coagulase-negative staphylococci (100% of keyboards), diphtheroids (80%), Micrococcus species (72%), and Bacil!
lus species (64%). Other pathogens cultured included ORSA (4% of keyboards), OSSA (4%), vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus species (12%), and nonfermentative gram-negative rods (36%). All disinfectants, as well as the sterile water control, were effective at removing or inactivating more than 95% of the test bacteria. No functional or cosmetic damage to the computer keyboards was observed after 300 disinfection cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that microbial contamination of keyboards is prevalent and that keyboards may be successfully decontaminated with disinfectants. Keyboards should be disinfected daily or when visibly soiled or if they become contaminated with blood. Authors Rutala WA. White MS. Gergen MF. Weber DJ. Authors Full Name Rutala, William A. White, Matthew S. Gergen, Maria F. Weber, David J. Institution Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, 130 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. brutala@unch.unc.edu

Talk Time - for the record

So we have this available for future reference:
Kae and Kitty will be bringing some signs for us to post next Tuesday, Feb. 6, regarding Talk Time. It will be held in the 1st study room in the hall near the Learning Lab. The room number is 226, and the session will be held from 6:30-8 p.m.

Just to complicate things, the location for Talk Time will change after that to the 2nd floor conference room. Kae will ask Youth Staff to take care of putting signs on the second floor and locking the hallway, but we will still need to post 1st floor signs and be prepared to show people how to get to the appropriate room. Talk Time will continue through March 6. Thanks!