Hostas - No Longer the Green and White Plant that Grandma Had Around the Tree

On Tuesday April 16 at 7 PM  the Northfield Public Library welcomes Gregg Peterson of the Minnesota Hosta Society.  Mr. Peterson, President of the Minnesota Hosta Society will present a program entitled "Hostas - no longer the green and white plant that grandma had around the tree".  Hostas are one of the most favorite shade perennials and are definitely a favorite for Minnesota gardeners.  Come and discover what's new in the hosta world.  This program is free and open to the public.  For more information or to make disability arrangements please call the library at 507-645-6606.                                           

Local Employers in Northfield and Dundas

Attention Job Seekers!
A list of local employers in Northfield and Dundas has been updated and posted on our website at
www.northfieldmn.info. Click on "Services" and then "Business and Employment Resources".
The list is extensive and includes phone numbers and in many cases electronic links to website application forms.

Check out the other links on that page to other local and statewide job resources.

The Minnesota Workforce Center Newsletter is also linked on that page.

For more information call the reference desk at 645-1802.

Backyard and Small -Scale Poultry Workshop

 Just a heads up for those of you who attended our workshop last May (or anyone else interested in this topic)  on raising chickens in your backyard.  This workshop will be held at the Community Resource Center on March 26 at 6 PM.

U of MN Extension Offering Backyard and Small-Scale Poultry Workshop

 

ST. PAUL. (February 20, 2013)—The University of Minnesota Extension’s Small Farms Team is inviting those interested backyard and small-scale poultry to attend their new educational program packed with production and marketing information. The 3-hour workshop will be held on March 7 in Slayton, March 11 in Hutchinson and March 26 in Northfield. The program will start at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. at each location. The cost is $20.00 for adults (spouses and business partners $10.00) and $10.00 for students. A light meal will be provided and attendees will receive a copy of the workshop’s proceedings.

 

The program’s agenda is filled with multiple topics geared towards the needs of the beginning farmer, hobbyist or backyard producer and those who would like to raise birds on a small commercial enterprise. Presenters will discuss specifics related to local laws and ordinances, breed and species selection and management techniques. Additionally, marketing direct to consumers or supplying local coops, grocery stores, and restaurants will be covered. Whether for fun, profit or both, this workshop is for you! A complete agenda is outlined here:

·       Best Breeds to Fit Your Needs, and Where to Purchase

·       Proper Housing, Nutrition, and Predator Control

·       Processing Regulations/Food Safety and Handling

·       Economics and Marketing

·       Zoning ordinances for Urban and Rural Settings

 

Northfield – Tuesday, March 26 – 6:00 p.m.

Community Resource Center

1651 Jefferson Parkway

Northfield, MN 55057

Contact: Mike Donnelly, Extension Educator – donne099@umn.edu or 507-332-6165

 

Those who are interested in attending are encouraged to pre-register to assist with meal count and handouts; however walk-ins will be welcomed. To pre-register, please contact the Rice County Extension office at 507-332-6109 or email Mike Donnelly at donne099@umn.edu. For more information and to view the full view the full brochure, please visit http://z.umn.edu/2013smallfarmspoultry.

 

A full brochure for this program can be viewed at: http://z.umn.edu/2013smallfarmspoultry.

 

Visit Greece!

Jim May, Professor of Classics at St. Olaf College, will present a travelogue on Greece on Monday, March 18 at 7 PM at the Northfield Public Library. Jim is an author and scholar and has traveled to Greece over 30 times (including a stint as a rower on a replica of an ancient Greek warship around the Aegean Sea) and has led over 20 study travel programs there. Come explore this interesting country through a seasoned traveler’s eyes. This program is free and open to the public. Call 507-645-6606 for questions or to make disability arrangements.

The Northfield Public Library has Zinio!

 

The Northfield Public Library, in partnership with Buckham Memorial Library in Faribault and the Lonsdale Public Library, is pleased to announce the availability of Zinio, an online resource for digital magazines.  Download new popular magazines, page for page, including full color pictures and some with interactive elements such as audio and video.  It’s easy to do and free with your Northfield Library card. The collection includes over 200 magazines and includes

 titles such as:

 

·       Art News

·       Bird Watching

·       Cabin Life

·       Container Gardening

·       Consumer Reports

·       Food Network Magazine

·       Gluten-Free Living

·       Mother Jones

·       Nation

·       O, the Oprah Magazine

·       Poets and Writers

·       Runner’s World

·       Weight Watchers

·       Whole Living

 

The collection has many “special” issue magazines and many not included in the Northfield Library’s print collection.  Zinio was introduced in November 2012 and already hundreds of users have checked out magazines.

To get started go to www.northfieldmn.info and click on “E-Library”. Look for “Downloads” and then Zinio. You will need to create an account.  Once you do that you will need to go into your email to activate the account.  That’s it! You’re ready to start browsing your favorite magazines on your computer, tablet or mobile device. 

Funds for this resource were generously donated by the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library.

Questions? Call the library at 645-6606.

 

New Year Resolution: Improve Password Security

The number of passwords we need to keep track of these days seems to be proliferating.  As we become increasingly enmeshed in the web it is important to take some steps to prevent your privacy and security by managing your passwords.  Like many things that are important (think flossing), it takes an ongoing effort to manage your passwords, but it is well worth it.  Below are some password related do’s and don’ts to consider:

DO

1. Avoid opening suspicious links – even from friends.

2. Ignore security questions to which there are a limited number of answers.  This includes questions such as “What is your favorite color?”

3. Ignore security questions that can be answered using personal information you may have posted on the Internet.  For example, if you have populated your Facebook with a lot of personal information, it is easy to answer the security question “What middle school did you attend?”  Hackers can use the answers to your security questions to reset your passwords and take control of your accounts.

4. Give bogus answers to security questions.  For example in response to the security question “What is the name of your pet?”  You could respond with an answer that is totally unrelated such as “Snowballs melt in Tucson”.

5. Answer a security question with a password hint that has nothing to do with the security question.  For example, you can respond to a question with a question.  “What is the name of your cat?” Could be responded to with the question “Can you see Mars at night?”

6. Use catchphrases.  The longer your password, the longer it will take to crack.  A password should ideally be 14 characters or longer in length. For example you can string together movie quotes, song lyrics or poems. 

7. For very sensitive passwords, consider jamming your keyboard to create a secure password, intermittently hitting the shift and alt keys while doing so.  Copy the result into a text file and store it on a password protected (encrypted) USB.

8. Store passwords securely, NOT in your in-box or desktop.  If you do store your passwords consider doing so on a protected (encrypted) USB that will allow you can copy and paste in passwords so that a hacker is unable to use keystroke logging software to break your password.

9. Consider other options such as keeping information off the Internet completely.  You could store password hints, not the passwords, on a scrap of paper and keep them in your wallet or use a unique or secure email address for password recoveries.  This entails creating a special account you never use for communications and choosing a username that isn’t the same as your name.  In other words, a faux account.

10. Use two password authentications when offered.  This method adds a secondary layer of security to your account.  In order to employ this method you need to tweak your account and have a mobile device that receives text messages.  When you login a text message is sent to your device and you will be required to type it in.

11. Use password-protection software that permits you to store all usernames and passwords in one place. Some programs also have the ability to create strong passwords and automatically log you into sites if you provide one master password.  LastPass, SplashData, and AgileBits are three of the better known software programs that offer password protection for Windows, Macs, and mobile devices.

12. Use different Web browsers for different activities i.e. “Leisure” browsing versus online banking.  By using different browsers, you can prevent inadvertently spreading an infection to all your accounts.  A study published in 2011 by Accuvant Labs, of web browsers that included Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox determined that Google Chrome was less susceptible to attacks.

13. Consider using “throwaway” e-mail addresses, like those offered by 10 minute mail (http://10minutemail.com/10MinuteMail/index.html).  The program allows users to register and confirm an online account which self-destructs 10 minutes later. 

14. Scrub your online presence.  One of the easiest ways to hack your account is through your email and bill address information.  If possible, do not retain this information on file or inquire about using the opt-out mechanisms on the database. 

15. REMEMBER THAT ANYTHING YOU HAVE TYPED OR SHARED ONLINE IS A PUBLIC RECORD!

DON’T

1. Reuse passwords.

2. Use the same password for different accounts.   Hackers regularly exploit the fact that people tend to use the same password across multiple sites. 

3. Use a dictionary word as your password.  If your password is in a dictionary, you might as well not have one.  Hackers will often test passwords from a dictionary.  If you want to use dictionary words string several words together in a phrase.

4. Use standard number substitutions.  For example words like H@ck3r or S3cur3.  Hacker cracking tools can easily break these passwords.  If you want to continue to use standard number substitutions, string several together as suggested above.

5. Use a short password even if it is weird.  Your best defense is the longest possible password.

The Northfield Public Library has computers that are free and open for use with a library card.  We also have a collection of books and periodicals about all aspects of personal computing including SmartComputing in Plain English and Wired.  Books and periodicals are located on the second floor of the library.

Sources: “Hacked” by Mat Honan Wired Magazine.  December 2012, pp., 180-186, 220-224

Downton Abbey @ the Library

If you can't get your fix on a weekly basis watching Downton Abbey on Sunday evenings, come to the library to get some books on the hit show or DVDs to catch up on previous seasons.

World of Downton Abbey - 791.45 FE

Chronicles of Downton Abbey - 791.4572 FE

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey - 942.2 CA

Secrets of the Manor House: Inside British Country Homes in the Early 1900s - DVD 941.082 SE

Treasure Houses of Britain - DVD - on order

Upstairs, Downstairs (the new version) 2011- DVD

Upstairs, Downstairs - John Hawkesworth - FIC (Based on the original television series)

and of course we have Seasons 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey on DVD- call us or place a request on our catalog

Here are some interesting links on the web to the PBS site on Downton Abbey and some good articles from the New York Times on why it has become so popular.


http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/arts/television/downton-abbey-audience-swells-for-seasons-first-episode.html?_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/downton-abbey.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.vulture.com/2012/12/downton-abridged-an-episode-by-episode-recap.html (this one will give you an overview of the previous seasons)