About A Browser …

You know, I have to admit, I’ve had a (comparatively) busy couple of weeks.

What with scanning in the family photos.

Which, to be frank, is my slightly sneaky way of telling you that I meant to get this post done a couple of weeks ago.

But have only just now got round to starting it.

I would say Cie La Vie.

But that usually gives me too many mental images of Irish girl bands for my comfort, frankly … 

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, you’ve probably figured I like following the tech news: frankly, I can’t afford as much new bits as I’d like, but that doesn’t stop me watching the BBC show, Click, to give you an example.

So, when I noticed this piece on the BBC’s site, about an Australian company charging customer’s extra for using the almost antique — in IT terms — Internet Explorer 7, I paid attention.

Especially as I’d also seen this article, about how Google were phasing out support for older browsers.

Which got me thinking.

The Work Programme I have to attend uses older PCs running Windoze XP and IE7.

As does my local job centre.

As far as I can tell, so does Brentwood Council.

As — keep following me, here — does Essex County Council: and their library services.

You can imagine what I did, can’t you … ?

I fired up Mail.app and sent an email off to the relevant person.   (The Interim Head of Libraries and Culture, Martin Palmer.)

Here’s what I said …

Dear Sir, 

My name is Paul, and I’m a blogger has taken something of an interest in technology.

And am a keen user of my local library, here in Brentwood.

Indeed, I’ve occasionally written about it: both favourably and otherwise.
And I have to admit, there’s something  I’d like to know.

As you may or may not know, Google has recently announced it will be dropping support for older web-browsers: including, but not limited to, Internet Explorer 7, Safari 3, and Firefox 3.5.

Mostly on the grounds it finds those — and earlier — to be both slow, and insecure, compared to more modern browsers.

Additionally, Microsoft has marked the fact Internet Explorer 6 is used by less than 1% of the world’s population.

What you may not ALSO be aware of, is the fact that Australian retailers, Kogan.com, have recently introduced a surcharge of 6.8%: specifically on users of Internet Explorer 7.

The company has similar security issues with the aging browser: but has introduced the charge in order to encourage users to switch to more modern browsers, as it found redesigning its site for IE7 took up more work than designing it for Firefox, Safari and Chrome.

Now, I have to admit, I’m raising this with you, as I cant help notice Brentwood Library is still using IE7.

Now, I’m sure you’ll remind me that the library’s copy of Internet Explorer 7 usually makes use of Bing as it’s default search engine: and that — as we are in the UK — not everyone will be using the Australian equivalent to Amazon.

However … ?

I’m very aware that accessing my Facebook account at Brentwood Library is becoming tricky.   What’s more, accessing my blog — hosted by Google’s Blogger service — is well-nigh impossible: something I’d expect to apply to other Google services, like YouTube or Googlemail, although they’re not something I’ve used from the library.

I also believe that other search engines — Yahoo, Jeeves and Microsoft’s own Bing service — will soon join Google in stopping support for IE7 and other aging browsers.
I also feel that I can’t be the only person to have been affected, this way.

So I have to ask a question, at this stage.

When will Essex Libraries be replacing Internet Explorer 7 with a more modern browser … ?

Now, I realise that many use mobile devices to access the web at their local library: and that upgrading Essex Libraries service will cost.

But I’m also aware that there’s equally as many — if not more — who rely on the computers at their local library.

And while I realise there’s a manpower cost involved, and that this needs to be done across Essex County Council services as a whole … ?

I also think not upgrading — at least to Internet Explorer 8 — will affect services for the people of Essex: AND for the councillors and council workers that serve them.

Yours,

And THAT’S possible one of the longest letters I’ve sent.

As soon as I get an answer to that … ?

I’ll pass it on.

That’s assuming I don’t get distracted … 

The New Bus Stop

Hmmm …

You know, it HAS been a while since I’ve mentioned planning issues, it REALLY has.

But something I thought I’d quickly highlight … ?

Is the simple fact that Saint James Road — around the corner from my place — got re-surfaced, this Sunday gone.

And, along with that … ?

Had the various traffic lines repainted.

Including that oh-so-new bus stop.

Now, I KNOW where the buses stop, around here.

There’s one right next to Brentwood Station, where most of the buses head towards Warley.

There’s another over the road from that. That second one, along with one just a little further up Warley Hill, service the routes heading in the opposite direction, Brentwood High Street.

THIS one, on the other hand … ?

Seems to be part of NONE of the routes, in either direction … !

Bizarre … !

Saving Our Libraries: The DVDs …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve got the news on, at the moment.

What with one thing and another … ?

I’m not so much surprised by Colonel Gaddafi putting his foot in his mouth — if his people all love him that much, they’d not be revolting — but what does worry me … ?

Is the simple fact that Hilary Clinton has said words to the effect of “We’re taking no option off the table”.

OK, granted the US Secretary of State was seemingly talking about the various discussions about trying to set up a No Fly Zone over Libya to try and stop Gaddafi and company to stop bombing his own country.

But when somebody who’s that senior in the US administration uses words like that — ones I believe I last heard someone in her shoes use in relation to Iraq — well …

I’m frankly eyeballing a thesaurus.

Mostly in order to polish up some seriously cynical comments.

Just in case the other shoe drops.

No, wait, hang on.

The coalition government’s already admitted there’s going to be redundancies in the RAF.

And David Cameron’s already said there’s going to be a No-Fly-Zone.

Exactly which of his own feet is Mr Cameron putting his shotgun at?

Or is he leaving that to Ashley Cole … ?

Lets move on, shall we … ?

»»•««

Because, of course, that’s not what I started this post, intending to write …

Not really …

You see, I’ve been emailing the library, again …

Or rather, I’ve been emailing Susan Carragher, the head of Essex County Council’s Library Service.

You see, on Sunday, I managed to borrow one of the wide selection of DVD’s they’ve got available.

It was unplayable.

Or , rather, it froze, and wouldn’t play, beyond a certain point.

Now the staff were fantastic.

And made sure I got a free DVD loan.

Which I took them up on.

Turn’s out the replacement — a copy of the William Hartnell Keys of Marinus Dr Who story — was a clunker, as well.

Bless ’em, the staff let me take out another freebie: which has worked out, ok.

But did prompt me to send this off.

Dear Ms Carragher

I’ve got to admit, I borrowed a DVD from Brentwood Library, this past Sunday.

And also have to admit, it was in an unplayable state: my DVD machine refused to play it, beyond a certain point.

Happily, the staff at Brentwood Library were pretty good about letting me have a free loan of another DVD.

Which turned out to be even more unplayable.

It wasn’t until I thought to actually check the disc itself, that I found it was in a terrible state: even worse, if possible, than the first I’d booked out.

Brentwood Library staff were, once again, fantastic about giving me a free DVD loan.

That third film was jumpy …

But just about watchable.

What I’d like to ask at this point is relatively simple.

Will Essex Libraries be either investing in industrial grade DVD cleaning/polishing kit, or outsourcing the maintenance of their stock of optical discs.

I know that Essex County Council is cutting the library services’ budget. And reducing the stock of films it keeps on DVD for its users.

But it strikes me that that makes maintaining the current stock even more important.

After all, I feel that we — the average Essex Library user — are owed quality, even if the service can’t quite manage quantity.

As soon as I get the reply … ?

I’ll let you know.

Saving Our Libraries: The Email … !

This is literally going to be just a quick post.

I have got dinner on the go, after all.

But I thought I’d let you know I’ve just emailed a version of Councillor Chuilvers’ template letter to Susan Carragher, Essex County Council’s Director of Libraries.

It looks like that email address isn’t as out of date as I’d thought.

Or, at least, I’ve not had a “Your Message Has Not Been Sent” notification, anyway.

Here’s what I sent her:

Dear Ms Carragher

Thank you for asking the people of Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone to take part in the consultation about the future opening hours of each library.

I can’t help but be disappointed that there’s no options to keep Brentwood Library open on a Sunday as this is a time many frequently use the library.

I would ask that the consultation includes an option to open on a Sunday: preferably retaining the 1pm – 4pm Sunday opening.

Indeed, I’ve even suggested a possible timetable, here.

I hope this options can be explored, before a final decision is taken.

Yours sincerely

Now, whether that’ll have any effect, I don’t know.

I can’t even swear that it’ll get an answer.

Or comment, here …

As soon as something happens … ?

I’ll let you know.

Saving Out Library: Following On …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve got the telly on at the moment.

BBC 3, to be frank.

They’re re-showing the penultimate episode of Matt Smith’s first season as Dr Who. Complete with a scene I’m convinced Stephen Moffat only threw in to make Mary Whitehouse — where-ever she may be buried — rotate at a very rapid speed!

Not that I’m complaining.

The older I get, the more concerned I feel about things on TV.

But, my word, she weren’t half an annoyance to a young fan … !

I liked those scares, thank you very much … !

But lets move on, shall we … ?

Yes … … … … …

»»•««

I wrote, yesterday, about the library, and how local Lib-Dem Councillor, Karen Chilvers had organised something of a protest, as Essex County Council had made no provision for Sunday opening in the Consultation they’re holding.

Something she’s posted about on her site..

In last night’s post about the protest — Protest, Day Of Action or Demo, Councillor … ? Just so I know — she also included the template letter she suggests we modify and send to Susan Carragher*, the Director of Libraries and Culture at Essex County Council.

Here …

Your address here

Brentwood

Essex

Postcode

Today’s Date

Susan Carragher

Director of Libraries and Culture

Room 11, Library Headquarters

Goldlay Gardens

Chelmsford,

Essex CM2 0EW

Dear Ms Carragher

BRENTWOOD LIBRARY

Thank you for asking us to take part in the consultation about the future opening hours of the library.

We are disappointed that there are no options to keep our library in New Road open on a Sunday as this is a time we frequently use the library.

We would ask that the consultation includes an option to open on a Sunday and please take notice that we would like to retain the 1pm – 4pm Sunday opening.

Additional comments here

We hope that more options would be explored before a final decision is taken.

Yours sincerely

Your name

As I’ve said in a footnote, I’m none too sure if that email address is currant.

But feel free to try …

»»•««

* Be warned, I’m not sure if the email address included in that link is current: but feel free to try.

Saving Our Library: The Photo Call, completed …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I can really get distracted by some of Facebook’s sillier games, I really can.

I had intended to get started with this post, about an hour ago.

’Til one went right to my head.

Ahem … !

Needless Beachboyism, there, I think …

At any rate, I meant — before I got distracted — to tell you about where I was, earlier, this afternoon.

I was at Brentwood Library.

With a trio of Lib-Dem councillors, and a lot of people complaining about it.

Well …

Allow me to be accurate, here, complaining about the consultation Essex County Council have put in place, regarding the new hours for Brentwood Library.

In case you’ve not been following it, Essex County Council aren’t closing any of the county’s libraries.

Instead, they’re reducing the amount of hours each one is open.

In Brentwood Library’s case … ?

The hours are being reduced from sixty-one hours a week, to forty-eight.

With no provision for Sunday opening.

Now, can I be honest, here … ?

I work part-time.

So, for me, personally, the fact that Brentwood Library’s shut on a Sunday makes very little difference.

But I can remember working more hours than I now do.

Especially in the early days of the Old Peculiar pub quizzes, having access to the internet, via Brentwood Library, was vital: both for research, writing the quizzes, and checking on questions.

Like you wouldn’t believe … !

So while I may not have need the library open on Sunday’s at the moment — what with having my own ’Net connection and computer, indoors — the fact it’s been and currently still is open on a Sunday … ?

Has been bloody useful, over the years.

|»»•««|

Actually, just as one final point, here.

You remember me mentioning the proposed new opening hours … ?

Yes … ?

Option’s A, B and C … ?

Now, I don’t know how Essex County Council pays its staff for working Sundays: double-time, day off in lieu, what-have-you.

But I’m willing to bet that that’s the main stumbling block to having one or two libraries in a given catchment area open on Sunday.

I can also remember that, when it first opened on Sunday’s, Brentwood Library also only ever opened half-days on Wednesdays: Brentwood used to have Half-Day closing on Wednesday, lord knows why.

So I’m willing to bet the staff costs are the main reason why Essex County Council didn’t suggest an Option D that looked something like this …

Monday 9am to 5pm

Tuesday 9am to 5pm

Wednesday 9am to 1pm

Thursday 9am to 5pm

Friday 9am to 5pm

Saturday 9am to 5pm

Sunday 1pm to4pm

Just a thought for you.

|‹‹•››|

Saving Our Libraries: The Consultation …

You know, I’ve got to confess, I was in town, earlier, today.

Seriously … !

Well, maybe not so seriously.

But, at any rate, I was there.

And, while I was … ?

I had something to take back to the library …

And a little bit of form filling in to do, as well.

In point of fact, I was thrown at it by a librarian.

Now, as you probably know, the government cuts have meant many local councils have had to cut their services as well, as a result of the loss of funding.

The government have already had to u-turn on the prospect of selling of lots of forests.

But one that hasn’t been stopped … ?

Is various local councils cuts to local library services: I think I’ve mentioned it before.

In fact I know I have.

Thankfully — possibly — library closures haven’t happened in Essex.

But Essex County Council is planning to restrict hours for Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone Libraries.

It’s started a consultation, about new opening hours: which are, I should add, worked out by head of population each library serves:

Over 100, 000 people 59 hours per week

30, 000 — 100, 000 people 48 hours per week

20, 000 — 29, 999 people 42 hours per week

10, 000 — 19, 999 people 4 hours per week

7, 000 — 9, 999 people 24 hours per week

Under 7, 000 people 16 hours per week

Effectively, Brentwood Library’s hours are cut from the current 61 hours per week, to 48 hours per week: here’s the current opening hours …

Monday 9am till 7pm

Tuesday 9am till 7pm

Wednesday 9am till 7pm

Thursday 9am till 7pm

Friday 9am till 7pm

Saturday 9am till 5pm

Sunday 1pm till 4pm

Here’s the three options that the Council wants to cut them too …

Option A

Monday 9am till 7pm

Tuesday 9am till 7pm

Wednesday Closed

Thursday 9am till 7pm

Friday 9am till 7pm

Saturday 9am till 5pm

Sunday Closed

Option B

Monday 9am till 5pm

Tuesday 9am till 5pm

Wednesday 9am till 5pm

Thursday 9am till 5pm

Friday 9am till 5pm

Saturday 9am till 5pm

Sunday Closed

Oh, and there’s always Option C: “No Preference”, to quote the rather terse words of the leaflet done by Essex County Council.

Now I went for Option B.

But looking back … ?

I maybe should’ve gone for Option C, the ‘No Preference’ one.

Because, to be frank … ?

None of them look too stunning …

|»»•««|

Just before I sign off, I should remind you: you can either cast your vote on the hours either at you library — which starts today and ends on the 27th of February, this year — or you can contact Essex County Council’s Library service, here.

Have fun with that … … …