All classes will be moving online after November 25 at the University of Cincinnati Clermont. Clermont College Library will be transitioning its support to online and changing its visiting hours to by appointment only. To better support online learning, Clermont student can expect the following changes: Continue reading
Tag Archives: technology
Blockchain and Ohio law
Blockchain by Frühstück from the Noun Project
In my capacity as the University’s Records Manager, I’m on a statewide group called the Ohio Electronic Records Committee (Ohio ERC). Ohio ERC consist of professionals from Ohio’s public entities (including archivists, record managers, IT professionals, lawyers) who have an interest in electronic records. We meet quarterly, and produce resources of interest to other public employees, such as best practices tip sheets based on Ohio-specific concerns and annual workshops. It’s a great way to stay up to date with what’s happening within state government, since what is decided in Columbus can impact records management at UC.
At our last meeting, the topic of blockchain in state government came up. It turns out that there was legislation in the last General Assembly concerning blockchain. You can see information about the bill here. Blockchain is a distributed digital ledger system that is protected through cryptographic measures, and which records all changes, transactions, and modifications to the file or object in question. Blockchain’s most famous implementation is the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. While there is a lot of tech futurist excitement about blockchain, many others caution blockchain suffers from a lack of uniform standards, and others criticize the technology’s voracious energy usage. The reason blockchain is associated with high levels of energy use is because significant computing resources are used to generate its cryptographic verification. As a result, “bitcoin mining” tends to take place in areas with the cheapest electricity. For some time, this included places with extremely cheap coal-generated electricity like China, but this may be changing as renewable sources of cheap power come online.
During the meeting, we took a look at the full text of the bill (SB 300). Something that jumped out to many of us in the room was the definition of blockchain. The bill defined it in the following manner:
“Blockchain technology” means distributed ledger technology that uses a distributed, decentralized, shared, and replicated ledger, which may be public or private, permissioned or permissionless, or driven by tokenized crypto economics or tokenless. The data on the ledger is protected with cryptography, is immutable and auditable, and provides an uncensored truth.”
As I read this, something seemed a little off – the language seemed a little too bombastic to be written by state legislators, which made me think it was likely a form of model legislation. So I did some searching, and found that indeed, the phrase “uncensored truth” was part of similar legislation introduced in at least two other states, including Arizona and Tennessee. In other words, SB300 was model legislation, though it still isn’t clear who is shopping this around to state legislators. In 2018, eighteen states had some kind of legislative activity related to blockchain.
As it turns out, SB 300 was not passed, however language pertaining to blockchain (minus some of the colorful descriptions like “uncensored truth”) was part of another bill and is now part of the Ohio Revised Code (i.e. state law). It is in the section pertaining to commercial code and electronic transactions:
“(G) “Electronic record” means a record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means. A record or contract that is secured through blockchain technology is considered to be in an electronic form and to be an electronic record.(H) “Electronic signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record . A signature that is secured through blockchain technology is considered to be in an electronic form and to be an electronic signature.”
Incidentally, earlier this month, a top aide of Governor Kasich (who recently left office due to term-limits) reportedly left state government “to work for a Cleveland tech company that’s developing ways to use blockchain to store and record government records.” It seems likely that we’re going to start hearing a lot more about blockchain in Ohio soon.
Need a Charge? Charging Cables Available for Checkout
The Clermont College Library now checks out charging cables to our students for both Android and Apple devices (both Lightning and 30-pin styles). All you need to do is present your Bearcat Card student ID at the information desk and let us know which one you need.
Available on a first-come, first-served basis, you can use our charging cables inside the library at any of our 150+ electrical outlets on the 1st and 2nd floors. We’re excited to provide this convenience for our students to help you stay connected.
Best,
Katie Foran-Mulcahy
Library Director
Laptops Available for Checkout
The Clermont College Library has an exciting new offering this year especially for students — laptops!
To check out a laptop, simply present your Bearcat Card student ID at the information desk. Laptops check out for 4 hours and are for in-library use only. Our laptops provide the same great software access as the PCs in our computer lab, while also offering the flexibility of choosing your study space inside the library. And with our 150+ electrical outlets, you can choose from a variety of spaces on our 1st and 2nd floors — some quiet, some collaborative.
If you’d like to check out a laptop or have a question, please stop by and ask your friendly library staff.
Best,
Katie Foran-Mulcahy
Library Director
CRCnetBASE: a Science, Technology, and Medicine eBook Platform
CRCnetBASE provides a comprehensive e-book collection in over 350 subject areas and more than 40 collections. Browse or search across the collection for your science, technology, or medical topic. Check out the collections below.
CRCnetBASE Biomedical Science Collection
CRCnetBASE Environmental Engineering Collection
CRCnetBASE Environmental Science Collection
CRCnetBASE Ergonomics & Human Factors Collection
CRCnetBASE Life Science Collection
CRCnetBASE Medicine Collection
CRCnetBASE Nutrition Collection
CRCnetBASE Occupational Health & Safety
CRCnetBASE Pharmaceutical Science & Regulation Collection
CRCnetBASE Statistics Collection
Find CRCnetBASE collections via the online catalog or via the HSL eBook page.
Scan @ the UCBA Library
by Julie Robinson
New scanner available for student use.
The UCBA Library now has a scanner available for patron use. The scanner workstation is located adjacent to the copiers. Directions for use are posted on the table, in front of the scanner. If you would like a demo or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to stop by the Information Desk!
UC Libraries Participates in IT@UC Showcase
Today, UC Libraries participated in the first-ever IT@UC Showcase, a free event open to the UC community and beyond. IT@UC Showcase is being held in TUC’s Great Hall from 10am – 2pm. More details, a full schedule, and the list of booths at http://www.uc.edu/ucit/about/itatuc.html.