Mousercise

These pages teach how to use a computer mouse, using interactive pages to allow you to practice 'mousing around.' A great site for the beginner computer user.

New User Tutorial

A tutorial designed to help people who have never used a computer before. Concentrates on using the mouse and a few other basic skills. Provided the The Library Network (TLN) Technology Committee. To begin using the tutorial, press the "enter" or "return" key on your keyboard.

Learning the Computer Keyboard

Click on parts of the keyboard to learn about the use of keys in that area. Another great tutorial from the Central Kansas Library System.

Computer Training Tutorials

Lessons on using computers and the Web from the Central Kansas Library System. Some link to outside resources.

Learn2Type.com

Miss taking that typing class in high school? This site offers free exercises to help you master the skills of touch typing. Requires registration.

Learn the Net: An Internet Guide and Tutorial

This free site helps new users learn about the Web, starting with a section on basic browser navigation and continuing with sections on Internet basics, the Web, e-mail, and newsgroups. A weekly Web Tour highlights sites on a particular topic, and the "Digging for Data" section helps teach successful use of search engines. A glossary, learning games, and other features make this an impressive place for Web newbies. Available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.

Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial

This site is an excellent tutorial for beginning web users, explaining how to search for information,including effective strategies for using search engines. Also gives a good introduction to the web and the use of the Netscape browser. From the University of California at Berkeley.

How to Search the World Wide Web: A Tutorial for Beginners and Non-Experts

Extensive introduction to various search engines and the best search strategies for finding the information you need on the Web. From the Middletown Public Library in Rhode Island.

Choose the Best Search Engine for Your Information Need

A short list of search types, with explanations of the best search strategies for each type with appropriate links. Especially good for K-12 students. From NoodleTools.

Internet Awareness for Families

Outlines safe web surfing for parents and children, tips for searching, and a list of recommended websites for children. A must-see for families just starting to investigate the Internet. A presentation by the Palos Verdes Library District.

Thinking Critically About WWW Resources

When viewing websites, it is important to think critically and to evaluate the information offered. This site, from Esther Grassian at the UCLA College Library, contains a handy checklist of points to keep in mind when reviewing a site for credibility, accuracy, reasonableness and supporting documentation.

Everything E-mail

Tips, tutorials, a glossary, resources and reviews, e-mail discussion groups and newsletters, software and services, and many other helpful links for the Internet's "killer app" -- electronic mail.

Finding Images on the Web

A tutorial outlining search strategies for finding images, graphics, maps and other pictorial representations on the web. Presented by an art librarian at Boston University.

How to Search for Medical Information

An online tutorial prepared by medical librarians to aid librarians and laypeople in searching for medical information online. Highly recommended and should be reviewed before beginning any extensive medical and health research. Includes recommended websites in many areas.

Researching Companies Online

An excellent tutorial outlining the steps you should follow in undertaking business research on the Internet, whether for investing, marketing, or job-searching. Includes several links to free resources on the web.

webTeacher Tutorial

An extensive set of online tutorials, prepared with teachers and educators in mind, dealing in depth with all aspects of the Internet, from e-mail, web browsers, and navigation to distance learning, teleconferencing, discussion groups, creating web pages and more. Sponsored jointly by the National Cable Television Association and TECH CORPS as a public service.

Tutorial: Guide to Effective Searching on the Internet

This tutorial is geared toward the intensive web searcher and gives an excellent overview of various search strategies and techniques. From Complete Planet.

Writing HTML: a tutorial for creating WWW pages

Created especially for teachers and educators, this site will guide you step by step through creating a web page from scratch, including adding graphics and other enhancements.

HTML: An Interactive Tutorial for Beginners

An easily navigated way to begin learning the intricacies of HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the computer language used to create web pages.

W3 Schools

Free tutorials for website development, including courses in HTML, XML, scripting, and other issues of design and usability. Includes examples and quizzes.

Web Developer's Virtual Library

Another site devoted to free tutorials for website development, including plug-ins, design and navigation, and multimedia and graphics.

Google

A new and very powerful search engine (and search engine of choice for many of our librarians), Google returns results to queries with relevancy rankings based on the number of other important sites which point to them. UC Berkeley has detailed instructions for using Google. Google has recently added an image search feature to its armory.

AltaVista

Indexes every word on a page, and as a result provides a very large database for searches. AltaVista also provides advanced searching capabilities which include Boolean operators and several other search variables. It is possible to search for documents in many languages other than English, as well as to perform computer-generated translations from English into French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish.

FastSearch

One of the largest of the newer search engines, FastSearch performs searches very quickly but without some of the advanced features of other engines. Use the drop-down menu to search for all of the words, any of the words, or the exact phrase.

Internet Searching Tools

Links to more search engines, directories and metasearch engines, along with web searching tutorials and other helpful links. From the Library at Southern Oregon University.

Hints: When using any of the above search engines to search for a phrase, put " " around the phrase, e.g., "national parks", or else the search engine will find matches for each individual word. Use a plus sign in front of each word you wish included in the result, e.g., +dogs +wild. Use a minus sign in front of each word that you do not want to appear, e.g., +dogs +wild -pets.

Ask Jeeves

Uses natural language queries, e.g., it will respond to a question such as: "Have the Red Sox ever won a World Series?" A separate Ask Jeeves for Kids! is available also.

ByteSearch

In addition to searching the web, Usenet and newswires, this metasearch engine allows for searches of auctions, dictionaries, companies, domain names and more.

DogPile

Searches WWW, Usenet, FTP and newswires. Click the "Help with Syntax" link to view search options.

MetaCrawler

Has "mini-crawler" and Power Search functions.

Yahoo!

Probably the best-known hierarchically-organized directory.

Yahooligans

The same principles as Yahoo! with a focus on young people's interests.

Open Directory Project

A comprehensive directory of the web compiled by volunteer editors with expertise in various subject areas. Browse by category or use the search engine.

About.com

Individual guides to Internet resources in selected subject areas are offered here. Formerly the Mining Company.

Librarians' Index to the Internet

This is an impressive project from the University of California at Berkeley in conjunction with California public librarians. Thousands of carefully chosen and annotated links in various categories with further subdivisions. Includes a search engine. Sign up for the weekly e-mail newsletter announcing new additions.

Digital Librarian

Maintained by a librarian in New York State, the Digital Librarian contains an impressive number of sites in various subject categories. Very quick loading too.

Internet Public Library Reference Center

The first virtual library has in impressive collection of online reference sources, subdivided by subject area.

KidsClick!

An index to the World Wide Web chosen and annotated by librarians specifically for children. Includes a search engine. The advanced search feature allows searching by reading level and use of images. Another essential site from Sunsite at UC Berkeley.

Scout Report

An in-depth review of new websites, including both specialized and general-interest links. You can request automatic e-mail delivery of the weekly editions.

Search Engine Showdown: The Users' Guide to Web Searching

Compares "Features, Size & Strategies" of various search engines, along with a miscellany of interesting information and tips for the serious Internet researcher.

Search Engine Watch

Everything for the searcher! News, tips, reviews, lists of the major search engines, and more.