So they could continue a discussion that they had been having about a 'frequency-hopping' device that would make torpedoes harder to track, of course. Hedy Lamarr had learned a lot about technology, especially electronics, during her first marriage to Vienna-based armaments dealer Friedrich Mandl. She managed to escape both him and Germany, and came to Hollywood where she made many movies and worked on inventions in her spare time. While the U.S. Navy didn't put the 'frequency-hopping' device to use until the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, others did use it. If you've ever used wireless technology or GPS, her patent is the granddaddy of its inner works. While her contribution wasn't recognized until 1997, she wound up her Hollywood career with the usual messiness and retired to Florida, where she died in 2000. To read about this fascinating, complicated package of beauty and brains, try Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr by Stephen Michael Shearer or Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by Richard Rhodes.
This is one in a series of posts about American Legends. Find other posts in this series.
System status
A new library system and online catalog will debut on May 30. Here's the current status of:
- Checkouts: May 24-29 you must have your physical library card in hand to check out materials.
- Due dates: All checkouts will have a due date of June 22, except DVDs and GRU watt meters, which still have 7-day limit.
- Holds and requests: New holds and purchase requests cannot be placed until May 30, but those placed previously will continue to be processed.
- Returns: Please "Babysit Our Books" — keep them until the new system is running smoothly (mid-June).
- Registration: Continues as usual today, but cannot be done May 24-29, as our entire system will be down.
- Interlibrary loan: Continues as usual throughout the transition.
- Digital checkouts: OverDrive checkouts and holds will work normally throughout the transition.
- My Discoveries: Will be retired with the AquaBrowser catalog on May 24. Please retrieve any saved book lists before then.
- Website: The Library District website (www.aclib.us) will be up as normal throughout the transition.
- My Account: Account info will be available through May 24. Your account will appear on the new system on May 30.
- Bill payment: All payments including PayPal are working today. No payments can be accepted May 24-29
- New catalog: Watch for its debut on May 30, with new features.
More about the transition.
More about the new online catalog.
Have any questions? Please Ask Us!
