Hacking eBooks

image Someone at last week’s spring meeting about eBooks asked a question regarding the hackability of these devices. The context was from within the world of circulating such devices to the public and concerns about the devices being returned in a hacked state. Last week I answered by stating that none of them have been hacked that I was aware of.

This week I’d have to answer differently as it seems that the Alex E-Reader has been rooted. I’m sorry to say that this might be a reason for a library not to circulate Android-based devices.

EBooks: Readers Wanted

Are you attending the TSRT/ITART Spring Meeting? Need directions?

Here is an area map with directions to our main campus.

In addition, here’s a campus map. The conference meeting will be in building 6, Hitchcock Humanities Center. Park in the lot to the south of campus.

Have you signed up for the streaming audio portion only? Please send an email to Casey Kralik (casey.kralik@bellevue.edu) to confirm so that we can send the mediasite link.

Register now for the ITART & TSRT Spring Conference

Registration is now open for the ITART & TSRT Spring Conference. Ebooks: Readers Wanted, to be held at Bellevue University on April 23, 2010. Cost is $20 for ITART or TSRT members and $25 for others.

We also have a virtual conference option – the morning sessions will be accessible by Internet – free to ITART or TSRT members, $5.00 for others. The afternoon session will follow an unconference model with topics for breakout sessions to be decided onsite.

Registration closes April 2nd so sign up today!

https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=nlia&formId=75653

Preliminary Program:

8:30 Registration & welcome
9:00 NLA Presidential address by Scott Childers
9:15 eBooks overview by Michael Sauers, ITART chair
10:00 break
10:15 Circulating e-book readers at UNO: What we know…for now by Joyce Neujahr
11:15 Vendor presentations
Noon lunch
1:15 1st breakout session
2:00 break
2:15 2nd breakout session
3:00 ITART & TSRT business meetings

Deirdre Routt, TSRT Chair
Michael Sauers, ITART Chair

E-Book Buyer's Guide to Privacy

images“A few weeks ago, EFF published its first draft of a Buyer’s Guide to E-Book Privacy, which summarized and commented on the privacy-related policies and behaviors of several e-readers. In that first draft we incorporated the actual language of the privacy policies as much as possible, which unfortunately created some confusion since companies generally use different language to address similar issues. We also did a few other things clumsily.

“Since then, thanks to the feedback and corrections we’ve received, we’ve made some updates and corrections to the guide which we hope will make it more useful. First, we’ve re-written many of the questions and answers to provide more clarity about the behavior of each e-reader. Second, we’ve tried point out where companies’ privacy policies themselves are unclear on particular issues. And finally, we’ve made the whole thing easier to read by changing its visual layout.

“This guide continues to be a work in progress. So, please continue to let us know whether it’s helpful and what additions you’d like to see.”