• The Year 2000 Problem
• Resources on the Year 2000 Problem
• More Resources on the Year 2000 Problem
• The Dictionary of Art

The answers to the following questions were provided by Manny Lorenzo, the North Campus Associate Dean of Learning Resources.

Q. What is the Year 2000 Computer Problem?

A. Basically, it is the inability of hardware and software to recognize and deal with calendar dates beyond 1999. This problem was brought about by careless programmers who did not anticipate that their applications would be used into the next millennium. Programmers, in the past, have typically represented dates in terms of two digits, so 1999 in many computers is represented as "99." The problem arises with "00" for the year 2000. Does "00" represent the year 2000 or 1900? That is the problem.

Q. Will our high-tech world be ready for this problem on January 1st, 2000?

A. This is difficult to answer. Most large companies, our government at all levels, and institutions like M-DCC have been making extensive preparations to deal with this problem. Much money is being spent on correcting or eliminating software and hardware that is not compliant; however, the problem is so pervasive that even user-created spreadsheet formulas are susceptible if the person failed to account for the change in dates beyond 1999.

Q. What will happen if the Y2K glitch is not fixed on time?

A. That all depends on what system is involved. Some say that banks, air traffic control computers, etc. will be most at risk. Shutdowns of critical systems around the world are possible; however, most organizations have been working very hard to rewrite and purge troublesome computer code and equipment.

Q. How much will it cost to solve the Year 2000 Problem in the United States and worldwide?

A. I’m not sure, but the figures that I have seen place the cost in the tens of billions of dollars. Probably this figure will substantially increase due to the number of lawsuits that will arise from Y2K problems and losses.

Q. What is M-DCC doing as an institution to prepare for the Millennium Bug?

A. We have a Y2K Plan and Y2K coordinators for each campus. We are addressing potential Y2K

problems very aggressively and have covered our mission-critical systems (registration, payroll, student records, etc.). At this point we are looking at small systems and office PC’s to determine their level of compliance. This process will continue through most of this year.

Q. Could the Y2K Problem affect my PC at home? If so, what can I do to get my computer ready?

A. Yes, especially if you have a pre-Pentium PC. We don’t expect to have any problems with Mac’s of any kind, except perhaps, like PC’s, with software or spreadsheet programs written with abbreviated date codes using only two digits instead of four. Your vendor may be able to give you more specific information.

InfoTrac, an electronic periodical index in the North Campus Library, displays over 700 citations under the subject heading Year 2000 transition (Computers). Many of these articles can be found in our Periodicals Department.

WilsonSelect, one of the FirstSearch databases, includes several hundred full-text articles under the subject heading Year 2000 Date Conversion. FirstSearch is one of the options on the main menu of the Library’s LINCC computers. It is also available through the MDC Home Page (www.mdc.edu). Just click on Learning Resources and then on Journal Indexes And Databases. The Borrower ID is your M-DCC library card number.

These are the addresses of a few websites that represent a variety of domains and that contain Y2K-related information. The list begins with M-DCC’s own Y2K Page address:

http://www.mdc.edu/it/y2k
http://www.year2000.com
http://www.y2k.gov
http://y2k.comco.org

There is now a toll-free telephone number that anyone in the United States can call for information on the Millennium Bug. This service is provided by the U.S. federal government. The number is 1-888-872-4925.
 

The following books and government documents on Y2K were found as a result of a statewide search in the LINCC system in January 1999 under the subject heading Year 2000 date conversion (Computer systems). LINCC is the online library catalog shared by Florida’s community colleges. Notice that four of the titles are owned by Miami-Dade College. Some of the other titles may be available through interlibrary loan.

Bourne, Kelly C. Year 2000 Solutions for Dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, 1997.

Chapman, Robert. Practical Methods for Your Year 2000 Problem: The Lowest Cost Solution. Greenwich, CT: Manning, 1997.

Cleenewerck, Lawrence. Meltdown 2000: 25 Things You Must Know to Protect Yourself and Your Computer. San Francisco: Robert D. Reed Publishers, 1997.

De Jager, Peter. Countdown Y2K: Business Survival Planning for the Year 2000. New York: Wiley, 1999.

De Jager, Peter, and Richard Bergeon. Managing 00: Surviving the Year 2000 Computing Crisis. New York: Wiley, 1997.

Fairchild, Alea. Year 2000 Compliance: A Guide to Successful Implementation. Charleston, SC: Computer Technology Research, 1997.

Feiler, Jesse, and Barbara Butler. Finding and Fixing Your Year 2000 Problem: A Guide for Small Businesses and Organizations. Boston: AP Professional, 1998.

Hayes, Ian S., and William M. Ulrich. The Year 2000 Software Crisis: The Continuing Challenge. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Hyatt, Michael S. The Millennium Bug: How to Survive the Coming Chaos. Washington, D.C.: Regnery, 1998.

Keogh, James Edward. Solving the Year 2000 Problem. Boston: AP Professional, 1997. M-DCC’s Kendall Campus Library, call number 005.16 K37s.

Keyes, Tony. The Year 2000 Computer Crisis: An Investor’s Survival Guide. Brookeville, MD: Y2K Investor, 1997.

Lefkon, Dick, ed. Year 2000: Best Practices for Y2K Millennium Computing. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.

McDermott, Patrick. Solving the Year 2000 Crisis. Boston: Artech House, 1998.

Miller, Stewart S. Year 2000 Solutions: A Manager’s Guide to the Impending Collapse of Every IT System. New York: Springer, 1997.

Murray, Jerome T., and Marilyn J. Murray. The Year 2000 Computing Crisis: A Millennium Date Conversion Plan. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996. M-DCC’s North Campus Library, call number 005.16 M982y.

Ragland, Bryce. The Year 2000 Problem Solver: A Five-Step Disaster Prevention Plan. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997. M-DCC’s Kendall Campus Library, call number 005.16 R143y.

Ulrich, William M., and Ian S. Hayes. The Year 2000 Software Crisis: Challenge of the Century. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997. M-DCC’s Kendall Campus Library, call number 005.16 U45y.

United States. General Accounting Office. Year 2000 Computing Crisis: An Assessment Guide. Washington, D.C.: The Office, 1997.

United States. General Accounting Office. Year 2000 Computing Crisis: Risk of Serious Disruption to Essential Government Functions Calls for Agency Action Now... Washington, D.C.: The Office, 1997.

United States. General Accounting Office. Year 2000 Computing Crisis: Strong Leadership Today Needed to Prevent Future Disruption of Government Services... Washington, D.C.: The Office, 1997.

Yourdon, Edward, and Jennifer Yourdon. Time Bomb 2000!: What the Year 2000 Computer Crisis Means to You! Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Zetlin, Minda. The Computer Time Bomb: How to Keep the Century Date Change from Killing Your Organization. New York: American Management Association, 1998.