71 Monell Avenue
Islip, NY 11751

T: 631-581-5933

F: 631.277.8429

71 Monell Avenue
Islip, NY 11751
T: 631-581-5933
F: 631-581-8429

71 Monell Avenue
Islip, NY 11751

T: 631-581-5933 

F: 631-581-8429

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Category Archives for Technology

Email Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts to Follow Before You Hit Send

In this constantly changing, fast-paced tech world, we can sometimes forget how important proper email etiquette is. Technology has engaged teens especially, with positive fast-paced interactions. Unfortunately, many negative effects can result from not using proper email etiquette. What is appropriate with friends in emails and on social networking sites may not be appropriate when looking for a job, applying to college, or conversing with someone in authority. Being correct in your email correspondence is key to standing out.

Here are some tips for crafting appropriate email messages:

  • In an email, all caps is the same as shouting at someone. WILL YOU in caps means something different than will you in lowercase letters.
  • Use a clear and interesting subject line.
  • Check and proofread your message for grammar and spelling.
  • Be especially sure to check for correct spelling of personal names.
  • Always remember to say thank you in your emails, especially when asking for something.
  • Be specific in your email, details count.
  • Keep private material confidential.
  • Limit e-mail to one topic.
  • Don’t put anything in an e-mail that you would be uncomfortable sharing with the entire world.
  • Write the most important part of your message in the first sentence. Recipients often do not read the entire e-mail.
  • Limit the use of exclamation points.
  • Be careful when you hit ‘Reply All’ – you may not want to include everyone in the reply.
  • Use acronyms sparingly. Not everybody knows every acronym.
  • Use an e-mail signature and provide the best means of contact; too much contact information can be overwhelming to the recipient.

Check out the links provided below for more information:

Library Resources Can Help Find the Right Job For You

Are you employed but looking, underemployed or unemployed? Be sure to stop by the library on Friday, October 13 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm for our 10th annual job fair presented by the Suffolk County One Stop Employment Center.

Do you know how to apply for jobs online? Sign up here for a workshop on Wednesday, October 4th at 7 pm.

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen potential job candidates, and many résumés never make it through these systems. This workshop, led by career counselor Karen McKenna, will provide specific strategies job seekers can use to strengthen their résumés and make use of networking connections to get that interview.

Take a look below at these job related websites. These websites are great if you are looking for a job, and for writing or revising your resume and cover letter.

The Islip Library also has an online database called “Career Cruising” as well as books, ebooks and audiobooks on job and career information.

Career Info. Websites

Resume/Cover Letter Websites

Library Services

Try Career Cruising for exploring careers.Career Cruising is an interactive career guidance and pathways planning tool designed for people of all ages. The tool can help students to explore different career options, manage course selections online--and plan various pathways to meet the requirements for their desired career path.

Step into the World of Virtual Reality at the Islip Public Library

Thanks to the Suffolk Cooperative Lending Library program, the Islip Public Library will have access to the HTC Vive Virtual Reality system from March 24 through March 28, 2017. Schedule a 30-minute appointment and transport yourself into another world -- the world of Virtual Reality! Swim underwater, travel to a foreign country, jump off a skyscraper -- these are just some of the virtual reality experiences that will be available. While wearing the virtual reality headset, you will be able to look around in the artificial world, move about in it, and interact with features or items that are depicted inside the headset.

What Exactly is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is the term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer generated, interactive environment that you can explore. You become a part of this virtual world and are immersed in its environment - while there, you’re able to manipulate objects or perform a series of actions.

Please note - due to the intensity of the virtual reality experience, you must be at least 13 years old in order to sign up for this program.

Please stop by or call us at 631-581-5933 to find out more and to schedule an appointment.

Got New Devices?

Did you receive a new device this holiday season but you don’t know how to use it? Don’t worry, the Islip Library has you covered! We offer services to help beginners get started, and for experienced users to continue to explore and enjoy their devices. Take a look at what we can provide for you.

Book A Librarian

For computer and device help, we encourage you to schedule a ‘Book A Librarian’ appointment. You must have an Islip Library card. These 30-minute one-on-one appointments with a librarian will help you get started with your new device. This service also provides help for learning how to use a particular program or app, creating an email account, attaching files to an email, file management, library apps (see below), transferring photos, social media, uploading files, and more.

Computer Classes

We offer computer classes throughout the year. Listed below are several that we have coming up in January. In-person registration begins on Saturday January 7 at 9 am. Online and telephone registration begins at 12 pm on January 7. Space is limited. Classes are for Islip Library cardholders only.

Google Calendar, Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 pm

Learn how this free time management web application can help keep track of your daily and monthly schedules and sync your calendar to your portable devices.

Tech Care, Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm

A presentation on how to keep your smartphones and tablets running quickly and smoothly. Androids, iPads, and iPhones will be covered in this class.

Windows 10, Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm

A demonstration on the new features of Windows 10 and how to use this new operating system from Microsoft. If you have a Windows 10 laptop, you are welcome to bring it with you for a hands-on experience.

Library Apps

Overdrive: Can’t get to the library? No problem, download an eBook or eAudiobook no matter where you are. All you need is an internet connection and your library card. Book a Librarian appointment if you need help getting started.

Overdrive

Can’t get to the library? No problem, download an eBook or eAudiobook no matter where you are. All you need is an internet connection and your library card. Book a Librarian appointment if you need help getting started.

Libby

The new eBook and eAudiobook app from Overdrive. This app is currently in a beta stage and is not yet a replacement for Overdrive. However, you can use it to access available eBooks and eAudiobooks. Libby was inspired by user feedback and is designed for a better overall experience. Some features such as accessibility, localization, and recommending titles are still under development. During this beta stage you can send feedback to Overdrive for possible enhancements in the future. Book a Librarian appointment if you need help getting started.

Flipster

Not looking for an eBook? How about a eMagazine? Flipster provides popular magazine titles you can download from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection and your library card. Book a Librarian appointment if you need help getting started.

Pronunciator

Want to learn a new language? Sign up to access our online subscription to Pronunciator with your library card and download the app to your device, or use it on your computer. Pronunciator provides online learning to over 80 different languages including English as a Second Language. Book a Librarian appointment if you need help getting started.

Internet of Things

By definition, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.

We are in the beginning stage of a new technological revolution that will change the way we conduct our day-to-day activities, heat our homes, communicate with each other, go to the doctor, drive to work, go on vacation, etc… Everything is going to change - even how we use the public library.

I did some research, and came up with some interesting tidbits on how the Internet and smartphones are going to be an even bigger part of our lives in the coming decade.

It is Going to Keep Happening Fast!

  • In 1990, there were over 300,000 desktop computers connected to the Internet.
  • In 2000, there were over 300 million desktops connected to the Internet.
  • In 2016, there are now over 2 billion mobile phones connected to the Internet

In 2025:

  • There will be 13 billion kettles, fridges, TVs, thermostats, security cameras, lights, smoke detectors and other things in your home connected to the Internet.
  • There will be 3.5 billion navigation systems, in-car entertainment systems, and other devices in vehicles connected to the Internet.
  • There will be 411 million wrist bands, shoes, glasses, watches, sports socks, clothing, and other wearable items connected to the Internet.
  • There will be 646 million heart rate monitors, body implants, pill bottles, blood pressure monitors, skin patches, and other devices in the hospital connected to the Internet.
  • There will be 9.7 buildings, street lights, traffic lights, water pipes, parking meters, pollution monitors, and more in the city connected to the internet

Here Are Some Positive ( IoT) Outlooks:

  • A wearable monitor could check on a baby and send notifications to the parents.
  • Reminders to take medicine could be transmitted from a pill bottle.
  • Activities could be tracked, senior or infirm family members could be monitored.
  • Smart thermostats will allow us to heat our homes more efficiently.
  • Smart outlets could let us check whether an appliance is on or off.
  • Lost items (keys!) could be tracked.
  • Homes could be monitored remotely and checked for broken pipes, intruders, etc.
  • Gardens could be watered.
  • Information sharing over the Internet will be effortlessly interwoven into daily life.
  • Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, wearable devices, and big data will make people more aware of their world and their own behavior, and will especially aid in health care.
  • The spread of the Internet will enhance global connectivity that fosters more planetary relationships and less ignorance.
  • An Internet-enabled revolution in education will spread more opportunities, with less money spent on resources.

Here Are Some Negative Outlooks:

  • The realities of this data-drenched world raise substantial concerns about privacy and the ability of people to control their own lives. The level of profiling and targeting will grow and amplify social, economic, and political struggles.
  • Dangerous divides between haves and have-nots may expand, resulting in resentment and possible violence.
  • Abuses and abusers will ‘evolve and scale.’ Human nature isn’t changing; there’s laziness, bullying, stalking, stupidity, dirty tricks, crime, and those who practice them will have a new capacity to make life miserable for others.
  • Pressured by these changes, governments and corporations will try to assert power as they invoke security and cultural norms.
  • Humans and their organizations may not respond quickly enough to challenges presented by complex networks.
  • There will be complicated, unintended consequences: We will live in a world where many things won’t work and nobody will know how to fix them.

Sources:

upgrade to windows 10 for free

Time Is Running Out to Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

Microsoft offered its newest operating system to Windows 7/8.1 users at no cost for an entire year. If you’re still running windows 7/8.1, your time is just about up to get the free upgrade to Windows 10. Once the free upgrade expires on July 29, 2016, Windows users will have to pay to get Windows 10.

How to Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

Click the button below to get started with your upgrade:

Click the button below for how-to information on scheduling and notifications, and other upgrade information:

4 Benefits of Upgrading to Windows 10 for Free

1. New Features

Brand new for Windows 10 comes virtual assistant Cortana, the new web browser Microsoft Edge (the long overdue replacement for Internet Explorer), better security, significantly increases boot up times (especially from Windows 7) and more. Although Microsoft Edge gets excellent speed ratings on reviews, I find it can freeze up a little bit upon loadingbusy/heavy webpage. However, with a few tweaks down the road, this web browser should be on top of the competition and the browser itself offers new features currently not available on the top two web browsers, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

2. Longevity

You might get a couple of chuckles seeing the title longevity when talking about technology. It sure feels like you’re totally cool, hip, and rad the day you buy a new piece of technology . . . until you wake up the next morning feeling like it’s out of date already! That feeling is mutual and the technology industry is to blame because they come out with new hardware or software every year. However, there is some longevity support for Windows, and Windows 10 will guarantee you the longest amount of support to date.

Microsoft has offered mainstream support for 5 years after an operating system is released and then an extended support for an addition 5 years. Mainstream support provides substantial updates, new features and of course security patches. The extended support provides security patches for the operating system.

The mainstream and extended service support is expected to expire in the following years for Windows operating systems:

  • Windows 10: Mainstream – 2020?/ Extended – October 2025
  • Windows 8: Mainstream – January 2018 / Extended – January 2023
  • Windows 7: Mainstream – Expired / Extended – January 2020

There has been no official word on Windows 10 mainstream support end date but the operating system was released in 2015. Windows 8/8.1 users only have another year and a half of mainstream support remaining.

3. The Start Menu Returns!

For Windows 8/8.1 users this was a warm welcome. Working with the Windows 8 start tile screen was a mess. Users found it difficult to navigate and the power button was hidden from the screen. Windows 8.1 updated this screen a little bit to make it a bit more manageable but, users still had some trouble using it. With Windows 10, users of Windows 8/8.1 can say watch out for the door on the way out! The new start menu does incorporate Windows 8 tiles. Live tiles were fairly popular by displaying current news for a given topic. Windows 7 users can experience this for the first time on Windows 10 however, if you don’t like it, don’t worry. All tiles can be removed from the start menu to appear as a menu you’re used to seeing in Windows 7 and previous versions.

4. It’s Free But, Not for Long

Windows 10 is free but, the offer ends on July 29, 2016.

After July 29, users upgrading to Windows 10 will have to pay $119 for the home edition and $199 for the pro edition. Of course, Microsoft could offer some sort of discount as well but, free sounds better to me.

Google Flights: Discover the Best Time & Price for Your Next Vacation

Google Flights is a fantastic tool that allows you to see a multitude of destinations, dates, prices and airlines all at the same time. This tool will allow you to quickly compare and discover the best time and price for your next vacation.

For the adventurous person who is fairly flexible on their destination, try the Explore Map feature, found in the menu bar. Here you can type in a region, such as the Caribbean or choose a more specific destination such as St. Lucia.

Google Flights will navigate you to a map of the region with prices for all of the major airports in the vicinity.

St. Lucia might be more expensive than you thought but would you consider Antigua if it was significantly cheaper to fly there? It is also a useful tool for those travelling to an area with multiple airports within driving distance, such as Southeast Florida.

A menu above the map will give you the option to limit the search based on the amount of stops, total price, particular airlines, departure times, duration time, and interests.

The options for interests allows you to discover great destinations based on your likes such as beaches, food, culture, shopping, and more. I chose Adventure Travel because I enjoy swimming with sharks and jumping off cliffs…OK, I chose beaches because I really just want to read about people who do those crazy things while sitting on a beach drinking anything out of a coconut.

If you want to fly to a specific airport choose the Flights feature from the menu. After entering in your desired information, Google Flights will produce a list of flight options you can choose from. On their menu, you can limit the amount of stops, price range, airlines, travel times and more. If you are flexible on your dates of travel you can also discover a great bargain with Google Flights, click on one of the dates you entered for departing or arriving and Google will provide a calendar with the cheapest flight prices for your selected options. If you are flexible on the amount of days you are travelling, choose the Flexible Date button to display a chart of the prices broken down by various degrees of travel days.

For a more general search, the Price Graph feature will give you a broader view of how prices change. The Price Graph feature is beneficial for planners who want to discover the cheapest times of year to fly to a particular destination.

The cost of the flight can often make or break a vacation budget, especially when travelling with a family. Google Flights is a great tool to discover cheaper flights for your next destination so that you can splurge on other parts of your vacation. To discover more about the destination itself I would recommend that you come into the library so that we can find you some great travel books and movies that will help you fine tune your next vacation – this way you won’t be stuck hanging off a cliff someplace instead of relaxing on a beach with the most delicious drink imaginable.

Play Libraryopoly and Discover the Invisible Library!

By walking into the Library and exploring our collections, you might think you have a good idea of what the library has to offer. That’s partially true, however what you see is only a portion of the Library’s resources. How much do you know about the invisible Library collections?

The digital age is nothing new. Since the turn of the century, technology has rapidly evolved. Our digital resources do not occupy any physical space inside the Library, they are invisible.

Take a moment and think about how much you know about our digital resources. What digital services can you think of? An easy answer is eBooks. You may have also thought about online databases. If so, great! Now for the follow up question, what kind of databases do we offer? Maybe you can think of a few and maybe not. You may have thought, “if I need to find something, I’ll just Google it.” Google is a great tool, however the information you find there is not always credible information. Our online databases provide credible information on various topics.

Libraryopoly

Digital resources can sometimes be forgotten about. So, as part of this year’s Adult Summer Reading Club, we’re offering an optional activity called Libraryopoly. Included in your reading club folder, you will find a Libraryopoly board, instructions, and an online database information sheet. The board is filled with online database and social media activities to be completed. These are short and simple. By completing the activities you’ll earn raffle tickets and gain knowledge of various digital resources provided by the Library. If you take the time to go through these short activities, you will be surprised and hopefully impressed by our digital resources.

Feel free to leave a comment about your experiences using our online databases. We would love to hear from you.

Oh, right! I mentioned something about raffle tickets. Well, if discovering excellent resources and information you were previously unaware of isn’t enough motivation, we’ve added an additional incentive.

Libraryopoly raffle tickets will be entered into a separate summer reading club prize drawing for one lucky winner to win a basket of gifts. The drawing will be held at the Adult Summer Reading Club Party!

Benefits of Gaming for ALL Ages

10 Benefits of Gaming for All Ages That You Didn’t Know About

Did you ever think you could benefit from playing video games? Video games have been a highly debatable topic over the last decade or so. Concerns arose over violent video games and the idea that they might encourage negative behaviors and make players more aggressive. There is much still to debate, but some research has shown that those claims are not true. Research has also shown that video games can have a variety of positive effects on gamers of all ages.

Playing video games requires high level thinking and hand-eye coordination skills. Playing games exercises these skills and gives your brain a workout. Some of these skills are not taught in school. Let’s take a look at how you can benefit:

  1. Reading skills are improved by reading and following instructions, game information, and clues to complete tasks and follow storylines.
  2. Math skills are developed by using quantitative analysis to manage resources. In games like Clash of Clans and SimCity, gamers need to manage limited resources and make decisions about how to spend those resources most efficiently. These skills can be applied to management of personal finance.
  3. Although shooting games are violent, they can be very efficient in teaching hand-eye coordination, motor, and spatial skills. In a shooter game (like Call of Duty and Halo), the gamer may be running and shooting at the same time. The gamer has to keep track of the enemy, (where they’re going and how fast they’re moving), focus the crosshairs on the enemy, and make sure gunfire is hitting the target. While interpreting all of this information the gamer has to coordinate proper reactions with their hands and fingers to move and shoot with certain buttons on the controller. Hand-eye coordination and spatial skills are required to be successful.
  4. Video games that simulate stressful situations found in action & adventure games (like Tomb Raider and Uncharted) and can be training tools for real-world situations. Action video games require gamers to think and analyze quickly, and make decisions based on the situation. These games can increase skill and speed for critical thinking and situational awareness.
  5. If you fall down, get back up! Games like Candy Crush provide what seem like an endless number of levels with each level getting a little more difficult as you progress. When a gamer starts to get out of the basic and intermediate levels, it is very common to lose on the first try at a harder level. Gamers continue trying to beat the level to be successful and move on. This teaches a valuable lesson in perseverance - if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, again!
  6. In many games, strategy and multitasking come into play. Whether the game is action/adventure (Batman Arkham Series), fighting (Mortal Kombat), platform (Super Mario), puzzle (Tetris), racing (Forza Motorsport), real-time strategy (StarCraft), role-playing (Dragon Age), shooter (Titanfall), turn base (Final Fantasy), or something else, there is always a strategy involved. Gamers need to plan for a long term goal, but also need multitasking skills when unexpected surprises (like new enemies arriving) take place. Gamers will need to alter their strategy to address the immediate problem while keeping their long term goal in reach. This helps gamers develop an ability to adapt and to prepare for unexpected challenges and changes in games, and in real life.
  7. Online gaming affords opportunities for socialization. Early in the history of gaming, there were concerns about gamers becoming socially isolated because they were playing games by themselves. However, online games are quite socially active. Communication with other players is available by vocal and/or text communication. In a lot of online game modes, gamers need to work together to achieve their goal. This develops teamwork skills and helps gamers become better collaborators when working in a group.
  8. Gaming can promote family bonding. Some games have multiplayer game modes for a night of fun with the whole family. I can remember game night “back in my day”, playing Mario Kart 64 and Mario Party with my parents and brother. Those nights were a ton of fun!
  9. You might be thinking you’re too old to play video games. Believe it or not doctors are telling patients of all ages to play video games. Studies show that playing games can improve attention, focus, memory, problem solving skills, and spatial recall. The Islip Library is offering a Brain Fitness Computer Games Course - Friday June 17, 2016 - 10:00 am → Register now to reserve your seat!
  10. Video games can help you lose weight! . . . What? Nintendo Wii U, Playstation 4 and Xbox One have the ability to monitor your motions for certain games. Additional accessories may be required. In a bowling game, you simulate the motion of throwing a bowling ball. Based on your mechanics, the ball will go down the lane or in a gutter. This also applies to exercising games, you can do a workout program on your console and the better your form is the more points you get in the game. Although this is a fun way to exercise, you should still get outside as well!

Concerned parents should monitor game play just like they would television viewing. Decide what games are acceptable for your child by considering your child’s maturity, and by the game rating located on the cover of the case. Explain to your child the reason if a game might not be appropriate for them.

Come on in and get a game! The Library offers video games available to check out for the following systems: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

For more information on the pros and cons of video games and brain fitness, search our online magazine, newspaper, & journal databases for scholarly articles. A good place to start is MasterFile Elite which is accessible from our website; you will need your Library card to access the resources.

Beware Ransomware

Are you aware of malicious software known as ransomware? Since the beginning of this year ransomware attacks have been on the rise and they’re nasty. Ransomware will encrypt all of the files on your computer. You won’t be able to access any of them and you will be prompted to pay a ransom to unlock all of your data. The ransom varies but, it’s commonly in the range of $200 - $400. To top it off, if you pay these crooks, there is no guarantee they will unlock your computer. Paying them is not advised in any situation. Once your computer is infected, there is nothing you can do to unlock it. The only real choice you have is to wipe your hard drive clean and start over from scratch. Yes, in the process you will lose everything on your computer.

Recent attacks have been so nasty, that the United States and Canada issued a joint cyber alert on Thursday March 31, 2016. A link to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security cyber alert can be found at the end of this post for more information. For now, let’s take a look at some of the highlights:

How does Ransomware happen?

Ransomware is often spread through phishing emails that contain malicious attachments or through drive-by downloading. Drive-by downloading occurs when a user unknowingly visits an infected website and then malware is downloaded and installed without the user’s knowledge.”

  • Department of Homeland Security

Ransomware may lock up your entire screen prompting you with a message to make you panic and give in to their demands. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided these few examples:

  • “Your computer has been infected with a virus. Click here to resolve the issue.”

  • “Your computer was used to visit websites with illegal content. To unlock your computer, you must pay a $100 fine.”

  • “All files on your computer have been encrypted. You must pay this ransom within 72 hours to regain access to your data.”

Please remember, paying the ransom is not advised. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “paying the ransom does not guarantee the encrypted files will be released; it only guarantees that the malicious actors receive the victim’s money, and in some cases, their banking information. In addition, decrypting files does not mean the malware infection itself has been removed.”

How can I protect myself against Ransomware?

  • Backup all of your files onto an external hard drive. Once your backup has completed, safely disconnect the external hard drive from your computer. If the external hard drive is still connected to the computer, ransomware can infect and lock up the external hard drive as well.

  • Use application whitelisting to help prevent malicious software and unapproved programs from running. Interested in application whitelisting? Check out this article from howtogeek.com. The article explains the Family Safety feature in Windows 8. Instructions will be similar for Windows 10 and they note how to get this feature for Windows 7.

  • Update your operating system and software to the newest version. Staying current reduces your risk of an attack.

  • Have anti-virus software installed on your computer and make sure it is up to date. When downloading files from the Internet, scan the downloaded files before you open them to check for malware. In addition to anti-virus software, get anti-malware software such as Malwarebytes.

  • Restrict user permissions from installing and running unwanted software, and apply the principle of “Least Privilege” to all systems and services. This may prevent malware from running or limit its ability to spread through the network.

  • Avoid enabling macros from email attachments. Enabling macros will activate the malware installation coding to run.

  • Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails. Be careful when clicking on any links in an email, even from people and organizations you know. Crooks have gotten very good at making their email scams look very professional.

Take precautions to protect yourself from ransomware. Back up your files as soon as possible. Losing all of your data will be devastating. I highly recommend you look over the official cyber alert from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for more information by clicking the link below:

Click here to read the cyber alert
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