Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
Recycled Reads
On Oct. 27 the Austin City Library Commission conducted its monthly meeting at the Austin City Library location of Terrazas Branch.
Mindy Reed, founder of Recycled Reads, spoke to the commission about the “Sprouting Green Weeding Practices in Libraries: Web Based Training Grant.” The grant was made possible due to the 2013 “Sparks! Ignition Grant,” given to the Austin City Library. The Sprouting Green Weeding Grant was submitted for review in July, where it was given the green light just a few weeks later. No pun intended.
Reed wrote this grant to get funding to build electronic training modules on how to create sustainable bookstores like Recycled Reads, with the prerogative of spreading this concept nation wide. Aside from the online modules, which are composed of Reed explaining her concept, Reed has engaged in a nationwide speaking tour, promoting the idea. Reed’s main goal is to have every public library system in the nation implement her idea of a recycled bookstore. Recycled Reads is the first store of this kind, and has been used as a model for the grant’s movement.
Beginning in 2009, Recycled Reads opened its doors as an Austin Public Library bookstore dedicated to reselling donated books and media, as well as books and media taken out of circulation from the 23 Austin public libraries. Recycled Reads resells these books and media back to the community in support of the Austin City Library. The store has kept 900 tons of material out of landfills. Due to this extreme success, it seemed only logical to Reed that this concept should spread throughout the country.
Before the birth of Recycled Reads however, Reed, a prior librarian, noticed that an excess of perfectly good reading material went to waste each year, as well as unnecessarily occupied landfill space. She believed that there needed to be a more sustainable way of dealing with weeded materials from the city library. Weeded materials, according to Reed, are “books that are out of date, not being checked out very frequently, or have one too many battle scars.” So, birthed Reed’s idea of Recycled Reads.
In order to turn Recycled Reads into a reality however, Reed realized that, “if we didn’t have a process for how we were going to handle the books we couldn’t sell, then we wouldn’t be able to sustain the operation.”
Partnering with Goodwill Industries of Central Texas has taken care of that issue, though. Goodwill brings supplies to Recycled Reads once a week. The supplies are used to hold the materials that can be resold. For the materials that can’t be resold, Goodwill picks them up regularly and either uses or recycles them elsewhere.
“Goodwill is a great partner for us because they have a very good mission within central Texas. They share our commitment to the city’s zero-waste initiative,” said Reed.
When Reed realized what a success Recycled Reads had become, she then created the Sprouting Green Weeding Practices in Libraries: Web Based Training Grant. Reed wrote the grant with the intention of creating a platform to spread the Recycled Reads model throughout the country, hoping to ignite a movement of recycling library material in an efficient and useful way.
“No one else in country was doing what we were doing,” said Reed.
“The training modules invite other libraries to do the same type of thing as we do. The grant funded the creation of the modules, as well as a speaking tour to promote the concept of the grant. It’s about raising the consciousness of being a green librarian,” Green said.
Volunteer Coordinator for the Austin Public Library, Debbie Scharven, said that Recycled Reads is the most requested location by library volunteers.
“Recycled Reads is the hidden gem of Austin. It is in high demand by volunteers because of its creative atmosphere and unique opportunity. It is truly doing a huge service for the community between its bits and pieces of green and its extensive library. It is incredible.”
Reed reported to the Austin City Library Commission that the grant has helped Recycled Reads implement numerous initiatives to advertise its concept. Also, despite the grant being in its early stages, it has made an impact on other cities. Reed says that she expects many other library commissions to adopt this process within the coming months, for many cities are beginning the early stages of this program.
Recycled Reads Photos
Click on the title to view images of Recycled Reads.
Mindy Reed, founder of Recycled Reads, spoke to the commission about the “Sprouting Green Weeding Practices in Libraries: Web Based Training Grant.” The grant was made possible due to the 2013 “Sparks! Ignition Grant,” given to the Austin City Library. The Sprouting Green Weeding Grant was submitted for review in July, where it was given the green light just a few weeks later. No pun intended.
Reed wrote this grant to get funding to build electronic training modules on how to create sustainable bookstores like Recycled Reads, with the prerogative of spreading this concept nation wide. Aside from the online modules, which are composed of Reed explaining her concept, Reed has engaged in a nationwide speaking tour, promoting the idea. Reed’s main goal is to have every public library system in the nation implement her idea of a recycled bookstore. Recycled Reads is the first store of this kind, and has been used as a model for the grant’s movement.
Beginning in 2009, Recycled Reads opened its doors as an Austin Public Library bookstore dedicated to reselling donated books and media, as well as books and media taken out of circulation from the 23 Austin public libraries. Recycled Reads resells these books and media back to the community in support of the Austin City Library. The store has kept 900 tons of material out of landfills. Due to this extreme success, it seemed only logical to Reed that this concept should spread throughout the country.
Before the birth of Recycled Reads however, Reed, a prior librarian, noticed that an excess of perfectly good reading material went to waste each year, as well as unnecessarily occupied landfill space. She believed that there needed to be a more sustainable way of dealing with weeded materials from the city library. Weeded materials, according to Reed, are “books that are out of date, not being checked out very frequently, or have one too many battle scars.” So, birthed Reed’s idea of Recycled Reads.
In order to turn Recycled Reads into a reality however, Reed realized that, “if we didn’t have a process for how we were going to handle the books we couldn’t sell, then we wouldn’t be able to sustain the operation.”
Partnering with Goodwill Industries of Central Texas has taken care of that issue, though. Goodwill brings supplies to Recycled Reads once a week. The supplies are used to hold the materials that can be resold. For the materials that can’t be resold, Goodwill picks them up regularly and either uses or recycles them elsewhere.
“Goodwill is a great partner for us because they have a very good mission within central Texas. They share our commitment to the city’s zero-waste initiative,” said Reed.
When Reed realized what a success Recycled Reads had become, she then created the Sprouting Green Weeding Practices in Libraries: Web Based Training Grant. Reed wrote the grant with the intention of creating a platform to spread the Recycled Reads model throughout the country, hoping to ignite a movement of recycling library material in an efficient and useful way.
“No one else in country was doing what we were doing,” said Reed.
“The training modules invite other libraries to do the same type of thing as we do. The grant funded the creation of the modules, as well as a speaking tour to promote the concept of the grant. It’s about raising the consciousness of being a green librarian,” Green said.
Volunteer Coordinator for the Austin Public Library, Debbie Scharven, said that Recycled Reads is the most requested location by library volunteers.
“Recycled Reads is the hidden gem of Austin. It is in high demand by volunteers because of its creative atmosphere and unique opportunity. It is truly doing a huge service for the community between its bits and pieces of green and its extensive library. It is incredible.”
Reed reported to the Austin City Library Commission that the grant has helped Recycled Reads implement numerous initiatives to advertise its concept. Also, despite the grant being in its early stages, it has made an impact on other cities. Reed says that she expects many other library commissions to adopt this process within the coming months, for many cities are beginning the early stages of this program.
Recycled Reads Photos
Click on the title to view images of Recycled Reads.
Texas Book Festival
Check out my instagram, @reporteract, for info on The Texas Book Festival as well as my twitter, @reporteract!
UTPD and APD face challenges in Austin
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department and the Austin Police Department are both understaffed with a limited budget. These two issues affect the way in which both forces are able to patrol West Campus, leaving UTPD and APD in a bind.
Ofc. Layne Brewster, member of the crime prevention unit of APD, said that APD has jurisdiction over West Campus, including Guadalupe Street. Brewster explained that West Campus falls within the Central West Region of APD’s Austin zoning, which is split into a total of five parts. UTPD is allowed to intervene if they witness a crisis firsthand. Also, UTPD has various properties beyond West Campus, which require UTPD officers to pass through the area in order to access them. This gives UTPD the opportunity to patrol the area frequently. Despite this double patrol, however, crime still seems to be an issue, said APD Central West District Representative Sgt. Alfred Trejo.
APD Lt. Tyson McGowan acknowledged a possible explanation for this circumstance. He said that “manpower is an issue in West Campus.”
McGowan explained that APD’s budget is not what it once was, and that the department as whole is understaffed. When assigning officers to various regions throughout Austin, there isn’t enough to go around. West Campus is assigned officer patrol, however, there aren’t enough officers patrolling the area that are actually needed. APD doesn’t have the luxury or mobility of having enough to fill each region of Austin in the way that it is needed.
Trejo said that APD is 40 to 50 officers short, and it takes a full year to prepare a new police officer to go into the field by themselves. That time requirement in conjunction with the steady retirement rate of current APD officers results in the said difficulty of keeping the police department at capacity.
APD Operations Lt. Mason James, said, “We are understaffed citywide and always need more officers. West Campus just like all other parts of the city is policed by uniform officers.” (He said uniform- meaning they try to evenly disperse them.)
Luckily, APD has gained some recent help from UTPD.
James continued, “Since this summer, we have been working with UTPD to welcome their bike unit that patrols West Campus. We have a good working relationship with UTPD.”
Trejo said that throughout the summer, APD advised UTPD on how to create the bike unit, and how to turn UTPD’s idea into a reality. The bike unit patrols West Campus five days a week during daytime hours. This extra manpower helps APD’s understaffing issue become not as problematic. UTPD’s backup strengthens their police presence, and allows West Campus to be patrolled more thoroughly.
Despite the obstacles that APD faces, they do have 86 officers stationed to the Central West Region. These officers are split into shifts; 22 officers patrol during the daytime, 44 patrol in the evening, and 20 patrol at night. The Central West Region is broken up in four parts, or “slivers of pie” as described by Trejo, with each “slice” containing a varying number of officers. West Campus specifically makes up one piece of the Central West pie.
“There are always extra officers added and assigned to varying shifts if possible,” Trejo said. He added that within West Campus, transient disturbances and property theft are the most common crimes.
Brewster said that it is important that all individuals within West Campus remain aware at all times.
“Each person in West Campus needs to have a cell phone at the ready and only wear one earbud.,” Brewster said. “If walking alone at night, carry pepper spray and don’t walk by bushes. Someone could be hiding in them, waiting for you to pass by.”
“Our main goal is keeping students safe. We offer safety training to all staff and students,” Joshua Cook, assistant director of the university Office of Student Affairs, said.
The university also offers alternative safety measures, for circumstances in which APD or UTPD might not be able to cover. Sure Walk, a nighttime escort service, hires university students to walk home their fellow students in groups, in order to make sure their peers arrive home safely. University students are encouraged by UTPD to call the Sure Walk phone number (512-232-9255) for assistance at any time during the night.
Strut Your Mutt
Dogs in costume, booths promoting feline friendly cupcakes, and a plethora of individuals walking for a cause consumed Saturday, September 14 at Strut Your Mutt. Best Friends Animal Society hosts this annual, dog walk, fun run and festival in cities all over the nation, in hopes of raising funds for local animal organizations. This year was Strut Your Mutt’s third time in Austin, where its $125,000 fundraising goal was exceeded immensely. With a massive turn out of 950 volunteers and participants, Strut Your Mutt raised $170,000, confirming Austin’s passion towards keeping the city no-kill.
It’s been nearly four years since Austin city council passed its No Kill Ordinance, but feels like it has been decades due to the way in which the city’s citizens have embraced the new regulation. Within this short time span, Austinites have managed to attract national attention for their animal friendly efforts. According to Kasey Spain, marketing manager of Austin Animal Services, the community’s works have pushed Austin into becoming one of the largest no kill cities in the nation.
Best Friends Animal Society realized Austin’s potential early on, which is why they have supported the city throughout its no kill growth period. Best Friends, according to their website, is a nonprofit organization that works nationally to support the country in its mission to “Save Them All,” regarding their effort to keep all domestic animals alive. Usually, no-kill communities take time to attract an event of this stature, however, Strut Your Mutt has been with Austin for three out of its four no kill years.
Austin Strut Your Mutt Race Coordinator Meredith Oakes said, “Before the race even started, Austin had already surpassed its fundraising goal. I am amazed at the community’s dedication to this cause.” Oakes continued, “We are so honored to have the Best Friends Animal Society’s support this early on in our no-kill journey.”
Best Friends Animal Society’s new media coordinator Melissa Lipani detailed how Strut Your Mutt rose to fame so quickly in Austin. “It’s taken a lot of teamwork, a lot of volunteers, sponsors, donors, and participation; people really caring about our mission to save them all.”
This year, 23 Austin organizations partnered with Strut Your Mutt, becoming the largest Austin partnership turnout yet. Top fundraising organization Shadow Cats basked in relief knowing that Strut Your Mutt helped them raise enough funds to continue their vital work with cats within the city.
Director of Sanctuary Operations David Murphy said, “We raised 23 percent of all Austin Strut Your Mutt funds. We have a base of people who are here with us in spirit today and who have helped support us to make Shadow Cats the number one fundraising organization at Strut your Mutt Austin, the third year in a row!”
Shadow Cats relies heavily on this event to keep its facility running. Due to their specific expertise in felines, they tend to the most cats within the city of Austin. Thanks to Strut Your Mutt, Shadow Cats is able to aid the city, as well as Best Friends Animal Society, in “saving them all.”
2014 Commercialization Series sponsors panel: “Cyber Security and Protecting Intellectual Property: Risks and Threats”
On Thursday, UT faculty and FBI special agents met to discuss one of the most prevalent issues of today’s society: cyber security. From witnessing breaches within the university system, to dealing with Austin businesses loosing millions, the FBI shared stories of manipulation and scam. Based off of their experience combating these dilemmas, the FBI partnered with UT faculty to provide Austin businessmen and university affiliates prevention tips regarding these cyber security breaches.
Juan Sanchez, vice president for research at UT, told to a crowd at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center that “even when doing the most mundane activities on the computer, you are at risk.”
The seminar gave examples of ways in which cybercrime has been committed, in order to teach the public various ways to prevent such crime. It also encouraged the audience to trust the government despite recent scandals, naturally, as well as encouraged the audience work with the government to prevent cyber misconduct. Special Agent Bradly Benman stressed the neglect of cyber crime awareness, stating that nearly 90% goes unreported.
Last spring, the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority at UT was a victim of cyber crime. Alpha Chi Omega chapter president Erin Jahn revealed the scandal in detail, exemplifying one of the ways in which this crime affects students close to home. For 10 years, the Alpha Chi Omega sorority used online t-shirt company, Explosion Sportswear, under the impression that none of the chapters’ credit card or personal information was kept on file. However, last April, numerous girls within Alpha Chi Omega began experiencing credit card fraud. After realizing their common link was Explosion Sportswear, the sorority terminated their contract with the company, and researched its legitimacy. For 10 years, the company had been siphoning money from Alpha Chi Omega credit cards, exemplifying an unreported and unnoticed cyber crime. When questioned multiple times, Explosion Sportswear refused to comment upon the issue.
Regarding this issue of online establishments pretending to be something they’re not, special agent Scott Kibby stressed to the crowd, “if I could teach you one thing, it is to understand spear phishing.”
Spear phishing was the activity used against Alpha Chi Omega. It a technique used by many individuals to hack others. Kibbey described spear phishing, as an email that appears to be from an individual or business that one believes they know. However, it is actually from criminal hackers trying to falsify their identity. The hackers’ goal is to impersonate the recipients’ trusted confidants with hopes of gaining access to the recipients’ credit card and bank account numbers, passwords, and financial information.
Spear phishing is also used to steal the university’s research. UT is noted as one of the best research universities in the nation, a discernment that is both a blessing and curse. Over the past few years, UT has experienced spear phishing attacks, as well ill-intentioned international student applications. These potential international students apply to UT not to obtain a degree, but to uncover the university’s technological research, wanting to bring that knowledge back to their home country. Once these intentions were uncovered, UT has increased inspection of the intention of foreign students, as well as amplified the monitoring of all emails, through increased fact checking for reliability. Who does this fact checking? Benman answered this question like one would expect: the government.
“The government doesn’t want to control technology in business and in universities,” Benman said, “because that is where most technological discovery comes from. However, the government does control technology in the US that will be exported out of the country or introduced to foreigners. We want to make sure our discoveries aren’t being plagiarized.”
Aside from foreign affairs, Kibbey rounded out the panel relaying to the audience that their personal safety is of the upmost importance. “ You need to know how to protect yourself from every threat hitting you on a daily basis. If you are a student, businessmen, or simply an individual who owns a computer, it is imperative you know how to protect yourself from cyber crime.”
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