domain name squatters

[Scritchfield, Larry]

I recently had a voicemail from a patron who couldn't locate our library
website. She said "I put in 'Washoe County Library' and I get
http://www.washoecountylibrary.com/. None of the links on that page are what
I want though."

Unfortunately she was so distraught by this that she neglected to leave her
phone number...

I tried kingcountylibrary.com. Same sort of result. jacksoncountylibrary.com
is apparently too generic, but webercountylibrary.com and
sonomacountylibrary.com (just to pick two) are occupied by nameking.com.

But hennepincountylibrary.com redirects to hclib.org. Is this due to
foresight on their part, I wonder?

It's old news that this kind of squatting happens. I just didn't think it
would happen to us. Shoulda registered a trademark or service mark, I guess.

Larry Scritchfield                       lscritch at mail.co.washoe.nv.us
Internet Services Librarian                             (775) 327-8349
Washoe County Library System                      www.washoe.lib.nv.us