Julie's Journal : A Slightly Morbid Tech Tip

One of the many services that Franklin County Library offers is tech help.  We work with patrons to print documents, learn to use new devices and apps, recover lost passwords, keep devices up to date, and anything else patrons need.  Offering this is something I really enjoy and I feel like it is a small way to really help people.  Being somewhat tech savvy is a necessity now, and if we can make that a little easier for patrons, then we have succeeded.

There are limits to what we can help with though, and I've run up against one of those limits a few times over the past year, which is what led me to make this post.  More and more, when you go to sign in to a website or account, the website requires two-factor authentication.  This means that after you put in your password, the website will send a code to your phone and you will have to enter the code to verify that it's really you trying to log in.  

So, what I've seen happen lately is that when someone dies and their estate is being settled, their phone gets turned off.  Then, weeks or months later, their spouse needs to get into an account that is verified through the phone of the deceased.  Since that phone is no longer active, the code cannot be sent and the account cannot be verified.  Many times we can't figure out another way to verify the account. There is very little I can do to help at that point. 

I have seen a widow lose access to the Facebook account that was set up on her husband's phone.  She lost contacts and memories that will be hard to replace.  Another couple had shared an Apple ID and both phones were set up using the same email and password, but his phone was the main contact.  When she couldn't verify the login she lost the ability to download new apps on her phone.  More important accounts also use two-factor authentication - email, banking, and healthcare accounts come to mind.  

If at all possible, please, please, PLEASE don't disconnect someone's phone for as long as possible after they have passed away.  As long as you can afford to pay for it, even for as much as a couple of years, it will benefit you to not lose access to their number.  Be very sure that you have full access to all the accounts you need and that the main phone number associated with them has been changed to your number before you cancel a phone.  It is one small way to make a very difficult time in your life a little easier.

As always, we are glad to help you with your tech needs.  You can ask quick questions at any time or make an appointment for a longer session.  Call the library at 903-537-4916 for more information.

Julie's Journal : An Author I Love - T. Kingfisher

It's always fun when I find a new author I love and discover a backlist of their books to enjoy.  Over the past year I have devoured several books by T. Kingfisher, and I have more to read.  T. Kingfisher is the pen name of Ursula Vernon.  As Ursula Vernon, she is the author of many popular children's books such as the Dragonbreath series and the Hamster Princess series.  T. Kingfisher is the name she uses when she writes for adults.  

I think I've mentioned on the blog several times that I love A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking.  This wasn't the first Kingfisher book that I read, but it is the one that sent me looking for more and I found a treasure trove.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is very loosely based on the Goose Girl fairytale.  Cordelia's mother is an evil sorceress.  She doesn't allow her daughter to have any friends, except her beautiful white horse Falada.  She also has the ability to make her daughter "obedient".  While she is obedient, Cordelia loses all control over her behaviors and speech, behaving exactly as her mother wishes.  Cordelia knows her mother has done bad things, but is somewhat naive as to the depths of her evil.  When her mother begins to worm her way into a noble household, and tricks the squire into marrying her, Cordelia realizes she must act to protect the innocent.  Kingfisher is hard to pin down as to how to classify her books.  This one is definitely fantasy, but also leans slightly into the horror genre.  It is a satisfying read.     

Swordheart is the most recent one I've read.  Halla has been a housekeeper for her late husband's elderly uncle.  When he dies, he leaves his estate to Halla which really ticks off the rest of his family.  They try to force Halla to marry a cousin in order to keep control of the property.  Halla, of course, is not excited about that idea and while looking for a way out, finds a sword that has been used as decoration for years.  When she draws the sword out of its sheath, a man appears.  Essentially, he is the sword, sworn to protect whoever wields it.  His name is Sarkis, and with his help, Halla sets out to free herself of her in-laws and claim her inheritance.  An eclectic cast of characters join them on their quest and many adventures are had.  I enjoy Kingfisher's dry humor, which is especially on display in the character of the priest who joins their party.    

Another of her works, Thornhedge, is a shorter book, closer to a novella.  It's based on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, but isn't really about Sleeping Beauty.  Toadling is one of the fairies who give a gift to the young princess, but the gift goes awry.  Years later, when the prince comes to rescue Sleeping Beauty, Toadling is determined that he should fail.  Why?  Because Sleeping Beauty is sleeping for a reason and we DO NOT want her to wake up.

Other books by Kingfisher that I have read recently are Nettle and Bone, What Moves the Dead, A House with Good Bones, and novellas Minor Mage, Illuminations, and Nine Goblins.  There are several more I am excited about reading.  I'm thinking I'll try the Paladin series next.