AARRGGHH.  We all want to fix it.  No one wants to buy new computers.
We're stuck.  However, there's talk about software programs that can
correct this, you can find out about it on www.pcworld.com or something
like that.

It has been recommended to us that we begin buying new systems with
Pentium II processors, and this will help us avoid the problem.  Our
financial manager has advised us to begin switching over to newer systems
so that our accounting platform remains stable.

I do believe the list has gone over this issue, and there may be some
interesting articles for you to pull from the Museum-L archives.  Wish us
luck.

O


Olivia S. Anastasiadis, Curator
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace
18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard
Yorba Linda, CA  92886
(714) 993-5075 ext. 224; fax (714) 528-0544; e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

On Fri, 7 Aug 1998 13:54:30 -0800 Kenneth R Deroux
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
>I am looking for information on how museums are dealing with potential
>Y2K
>(Year 2000) problems, especially as they might impact building systems
>such
>as HVAC, fire, security etc. I will be doing a short presentation on
>this
>subject at a pre-conference workshop at the Western Museums
>Association
>conference in Anchorage, Alaska in September. I posted this message to
>this
>list last week, but there has been a deafening silence. (The only
>response
>on this list was from the AAM). I don't think it has been discussed at
>any
>length here, as it is a fairly new subject. I would even be interested
>in
>responses, perhaps off list, saying that your museum is doing nothing,
>or
>is just beginning, or you've never heard of this issue or whatever.
>
>The concern, if you read some of the literature on this, which is
>easily
>available on the Internet, is that some microchips that make up the
>components of a wide variety of automated systems, such as HVAC etc.,
>or
>the computers they are connected to, will have problems when the date
>changes to 2000 or even later, and may not perform their functions
>properly
>or may shut a system down. The scenario is further complicated when
>one
>considers the possibility that these problems may occur in  systems
>outside
>the museum as well, such as water, electricity, transportation and
>communications. I'm trying to arrive at a realistic appraisal of the
>situation and I'm hoping to come up with some examples of problems (or
>lack
>of problems) encountered by museums who have begun testing their
>systems
>for y2k compliance, and the kinds of systems that might be at risk.
>I'm
>also interested in related issues with other computers and software
>used in
>museums, as well as what kinds of contingency plans museums are
>developing.
>Any information you can provide will be appreciated.
>Kenneth DeRoux
>Curator of Museum Services
>Alaska State Museum
>395 Whittier Street
>Juneau, AK. 99801
>
>(907) 465-2396
>[log in to unmask]
>http://www.educ.state.ak.us/lam/museum/home.html
>

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