February newsletter available!

We've distributed the February newsletter to all student mailboxes late last night.

If, for some reason, someone has snagged your copy, feel free to check out our electronic edition posted at http://www.asl.edu/library/publications.php.

WV's New Mining Law

We felt a sense of kinship with the families of the coal miners who lost their lives in recent tragedies. Coal is still a major business here in Buchanan County (a 1989 USGS survey suggested we still have an estimated 600 million short tons of coal available to be mined).

So we all hope that West Virginia's recent passage of a rapid response system for mine and industrial accidents will be an important first step in minimizing the number of injuries in this hazardous profession.

Weather Updates

Grundy got its first snowfall of the new year on Saturday. Enough of it stayed on the ground to delay the opening of the public schools on Monday (ASL was already closed for MLK Day).

As a reminder, here is a link to ASL's official inclement weather policy:
http://www.asl.edu/general/inclementWeatherPolicy.php

If you have children in the public school systems, they follow a different system. Watch Channels 5 and 11 for up-to-date listings, or check these web sites:
http://www.wcyb.tv/school/default.asp
http://stormteam11.com/Weather/Closings.cfm

Riverview Elementary/Middle also offers an e-mail service for alerting you to changes (including weather-related ones):
http://teacherweb.com/VA/RiverviewElementary-MiddleSchool/SchoolHomePage/NewsFlash.stm

MLK Day Hours (Jan 16)

The Library will have limited staffed hours on Monday, January 16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day). The Circulation and Reserve Desk will be open only from 2 pm to 6 pm. Students will have access to the building from 2 pm to midnight with a valid ID card.

Computer Updates

On the second Tuesday of every month, Microsoft publishes security updates for Windows 2000 and XP computers. Many of you will have seen the little yellow triangle near your clock either yesterday or today. Follow the directions to download and install these important updates (you might have to restart your computer after everything finishes).

If you don't see the triangle and want to be alerted each time there is a security update, click on Start | Control Panel | Security Center. Click on "Automatic Updates," and then choose "Automatic (recommended)."

If you would rather be more in control of when to install updates (especially if you have a laptop computer, and dial-up access from home), make sure you bookmark
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
and check regularly for updates!

January Newsletter available!

The January 2006 ASL Library News is now available in your mailbox. If someone has taken your copy -- have no fear: we also have copies posted on our web site at
http://www.asl.edu/library/publications.php

Winter Break hours (Dec 17, 2005 - Jan 9, 2006)

During Winter Break (December 17, 2005 through January 9, 2006), the Library will have limited service hours.

Our general schedule will be:

Monday - Thursday	9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday	Closed

We will also be closed on the following days:
Thursday, December 22
Friday, December 23
Monday, December 26
Friday, December 30
Monday, January 2

There will NOT be any student "after-hours" ID card access during Winter Break.

Have a safe holiday season! See you in January!