If you are using a Windows machine, please restart your machine to make sure you have a new connection.

If you are using a Mac, you must change the connection to the following AFP type connection – this is very important and will help ensure that we do not have file corruption in the future and that your Mac will be compatible with Middfiles.

How to connect to Middfiles via AFP on a Mac:

1. Open the Finder by clicking on the desktop
2. From the ‘Go’ menu select ‘Connect to Server’
3. In the Server Address field type afp://middfiles.middlebury.edu/middfiles
4. Click ‘Connect’
5. Complete the Authentication dialog box as follows (Connect as Registered User)
   - In the Name field type your Middlebury username
   - In the Password field type your Middlebury password
6. Click ‘Connect’

We anticipate the system will be back up for use around noon on Sunday. We will send a message out to the community letting you know all services have been restored.

If you need to work on something during the weekend, please save a copy of the file to your computer or another drive device before 6pm this evening.

As this relates to power cords with frayed connections, this is an issue that should be taken very seriously.  Regardless of manufacturing quality, the helpdesk frequently sees frayed power cords for laptop computers.  Here are a few recommendations:

1) put a loop in the cord before winding it up
2) be careful to not leave cords where they will be stepped on, or rolled over by chair wheels
3) if you see exposed wire or stressed wire covering (typically near the ends of the cables), do NOT use the power adapter

Apple recommendations – http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1630 (their advice applies well to many makes and models of power adapters – not just MagSafe adapters)

Have questions?  Contact your computer vendor.  Or the helpdesk (especially for college-owned equipment).

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.  In this webinar, representatives from the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Higher Education Information Security Council will discuss international and national cybersecurity strategies, the importance of cybersecurity awareness for both citizens and organizations, and the role that higher education plays in addressing cybersecurity challenges in an increasingly interdependent networked society. We will highlight the “Stop, Think, Connect” campaign that is being spearheaded by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and will also feature the SANS “Securing the Human” awareness materials that are being used by several institutions this fall in an effort to raise awareness among students, staff, and faculty.

January 20, 2011 – MiddFiles file storage servers are being upgraded the weekend of January 28th, 2011. Files will be accessible in read-only mode from 8pm EST on Friday the 28th through sometime on Sunday, January 30th. Watch here (or http://go.middlebury.edu/techalerts) for updates. For frequently asked questions, please see http://go.middlebury.edu/dfs.

Consolidation of repetitive tasks related to student employment.  This provides uniform policies and procedures, and reduces staff hours allocated to these tasks.

Deliverable:

• User services student supervisors work as team to find commonalities in the process
• Document timelines (numbers needed, when, hiring process, training)
• Agree upon common payroll policy, scheduling tools, advertising, hiring, & training
• Identify areas of difference between work groups – and document these as well

Outcome:

• Stress reduction by providing redundancy & supporting one another
• Anticipate consolidation of service points
• Standardize process
• Resource sharing

Delivery:

Complete – Fall 2010

Milestones:

• Ongoing: Continuing customer service training
• February 2010:
  Spring hires – team consulting with one another during job posting, interview, hiring, paperwork process
• Summer 2010:
  Create a secondary training for overlaps in job descriptions

Resources:

1. Who is involved:
   Student supervisors for Library Circulation, branches, reserves, helpdesk, media services.
   Currently – Elin, Todd, Dan, Kellam, Shawn, & Stewart.
2. Time:
   mostly the same as in the past, but allow for initial organizational meetings, and a bit more time when advertising, interviewing & hiring.  Time required determined by team allocation of tasks to members.  Little if any additional money or materials – depending on team choices.
   Team approach will allow sharing of responsibilities with common resources – avoiding current challenges when staff are not available for these tasks.

Viability:

• We have already demonstrated part of this goal with the current shared customer service training.  The rest is an extension of the same concept.
• Challenges: buy-in of supervisors, finding shared time to work together
• Opportunity: use of common tools (e.g. scheduling)