Library boasts new Drive Shield software

Any pornography and instant message service downloaded by a student user will be cleaned off the computers in the library whenever a new student logs in.

A program called Drive Shield cleans the computers’ “C” drives every time the computers reboot. The computers then revert to the programs and files that were initially installed. The Drive Shield program was installed during semester break due to the need to keep the computers open for research.

“A lot of the game playing and instant messaging is something we discourage,” said Wendy McGrane, interim library director.

Steve Earney, assistant vice president for information services, agrees.

“When a student goes to the library and instant messages for four or five hours, students come in needing to do research or homework, well now you don’t have the machines taken up by people in chat mode,” Earney said.

Students will have to download a new messaging program each time they get on the computers if the students wish to use such programs.

Earney said the computers are like a restaurant in which people come in and leave as quickly as possible so that the seats are not taken up.

Another problem solved by the program is that students would sometimes change the settings so another student would not be able to operate the computer

“You never sit down and have say, Word or Excel, not work,” Earney said.

Also, if a student downloads a new program, the computer’s free space will not be taken up if another student needs to use the space.

“Only the stuff that is supposed to be active is active, like Internet Explorer,” Earney said.

Cookies, which are placed on computers through some Internet sites as a means to keep track of the computers and trigger ads, are also cleaned off the computers with each reboot. Excess cookies and programs can slow a computer’s resources down.

“It also helped alleviate computers losing their network connections,” McGrane said. “When you go to print, the computer would get confused.”

Drive Shield will also save the librarians and computer workers time fixing computer problems created by students modifying the computer settings. Repair time is usually between two and three minutes per computer to fix the modifications.

Students can save files on the computers to use throughout the week on the “U” drive. The drive has the letters “StuServ” to the side.

Every Friday the drive is cleaned out, but students may save their files through the drive during the week without worrying if it will be deleted by the Drive Shield program.

If students do not want to save a file on the computers, they may bring a disc to save data. Another option is for students to e-mail the files to themselves.

Students may go downstairs to the first floor library computers to chat or play games, but the main floor computers are intended for research and homework purposes.

“It makes sense to me that people can still access it (instant messaging) if they go downstairs,” said April Stanley, senior international studies major.

Jocelyn DeAnda, sophomore psychology major, saw little need for the program.

“I only use the programs that are on here,” she said.

McGrane believes the program was a worthwhile investment.

“I appreciate the computer center providing it for us,” McGrane said.

McGrane also added the library has new hours. The library is open from 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and from 1-11p.m on Sunday.