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I'm reprising a post of Cindy's from Sept 2009; a timely post as we work our way into the next cold and flu season. Plus my keyboard needs a good cleaning. Heidi O.
Keyboard Ickyness Did you know that a study from the University of Arizona found more germs per inch on a keyboard or a mouse than on a toilet seat? And not just a few more but many times more. Yuck! Unfortunately most keyboards just don’t react well to a bath. Nor do they really react well to bleaching. And washing your hands after each and every time you touch your keyboard or mouse just isn’t practical. So what can you do? One recommendation is to wipe down your keyboard and mouse with commercial anti-bacterial computer spray or wipes. Instead of a commercial cleaner, you could even use something as simple as isopropyl alcohol or a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. (That’s a major part of what’s in a lot of the commercial cleaners anyway and it’s cheaper.) Tips for wiping down your keyboard or mouse:
So how often should you wipe down your keyboard and mouse? I looked online and opinions on that differ. Most recommendations were for around once a week, though some recommended daily if there was a nasty illness going around the office. Just make sure you're not doing this so often you wipe the letters off of your keyboard. *Personally, I inherited a canister of Lysol Disinfecting Wipes when I started at NFLS and use them regularly on my keyboard, mouse, and telephone. They are quick, easy, and not too wet. -John K Careers with Code is a free e-magazine highlighting up-and-coming opportunities where computer science overlaps with the Arts, Sports, Engineering, and other industries through 35 career pathway profiles. Check out the free e-magazine and educator resources.
How do librarians use Careers with Code? Gina Bravo, Program Development and Coordination Librarian, San Diego Public Library Q. What are the sorts of STEM programs running at your library and why did you decide to implement their programs? In 2017, we launched an annual “Spring into STEAM” program for kids ages 9-12, in which each of our 36 locations participate. This program was implemented to address geographical inequity in our city, and provide a unified distribution model for hands-on educational resources to our network of communities. We’re very proud of the success we achieved early-on; through a partnership with the International Barcode of Life, our Citizen Science component of Spring into STEAM gained world-wide acclaim as the largest DNA Sequencing citizen science project in the world. The rationale for providing these programs is based on the need to develop interest in STEM careers, and connect our resource of talented local youth with our Innovation economy. Q. What is the role of libraries in connecting communities with STEM? I see our role as building confidence. STEM is at its core about experimentation. Children understand how to imagine and create through play, but the seriousness of scientific concepts has been a barrier to some. Our goal is to provide encounters with new concepts and technology in a laboratory like space within the library. Since we’re known by kids and families as a safe place to learn and grow, it’s a natural fit for our communities to explore and discover new ideas and potentially be inspired to follow a concept introduced at one of our workshops all the way into a career. Q. What do you think of Careers with Code magazines? Content is high quality, thank you for sharing the awesome things going on around the world! |
AuthorJohn's collection of tech tips, trends, and training for NFLS librarians Click to set custom HTML
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