Burlington Public Library
  22 Sears Street
  Burlington, MA  01803



Computer and Internet Sources for Beginners

Web Sites

New User Tutorial
Designed to guide those who have never used a computer before. Move through the tutorial by pushing the ENTER key.

Introduction to Windows (from Camden County Library, NJ)
A beginners course on using the computer

Welcome to Mouserobics!
Little tutorial that teaches the nuances of mousemanship.

Mousing Around
Learn to use the computer mouse with this excellent tutorial from Palm Beach County.

Learn2Type
Practice keyboarding for free!

Learnthenet.com's The Web at a Glance
Excellent Internet tutorial. Simple, easy to understand, covers the basics.

Seniornet.org's Learn to Search the Web (Self-paced)
Another excellent tutorial with an affection for seniors. Covers a wide range of topics relating to computers and the Internet.

Finding Information on the Internet : A Tutorial
Detailed and comprehensive resource from University of California/Berkeley. Covers Internet, WWW, browsers, search strategies, and much more.

net.TUTOR
Collection of tutorials about the Internet and email. Includes getting started on the web, email and chat basics, searching, researching, and evaluating web sites.

webwise : The BBC's beginner's guide to the Internet
From the British Broadcasting Company. Nicely designed but you need to understand hyperlinks to use it. Includes email, getting connected to the Internet, searching.

Glossary of Internet & Web Jargon
From University of California/Berkeley.

Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask
Includes printable checklists to evaluate web sites.

Four Nets for Better Searching
Tutorial on how to search effectively.

MVLC List of Search Engines
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium's list of search engines.

searchenginewatch.com
Reviews, ratings, tests. Everything you ever wanted to know about search engines.

Research Bookmarks : Recommended Tools on and for the Web
Site oriented towards scholarly research that includes an excellent section on searching and using information from the World Wide Web.

Videos & DVDs

 
Web Wise Seniors. Basic computers. Part 1 : An introduction for beginners [DVD 004.16 BAS pt. 1]

Web Wise Seniors. Basic computers. Part 2 : Essentials of the keyboard [DVD 004.16 BAS pt.2]

Web Wise Seniors. Basic computers. Part 3 : Filing fundamentals [DVD 004.16 BAS pt.3]

Web Wise Seniors. Basic computers. Part 4 : Customizing your computer [DVD 004.16 BAS pt.4]

Web Wise Seniors. The Internet. Part 1 : Searching the Internet [DVD 004.16 INT pt. 1]

Web Wise Seniors. The Internet. Part 2 : Better Searching Techniques [DVD 004.16 INT pt. 2]

Web Wise Seniors. Email. Part 1, [the basics] [DVD 004.692 EMA pt. 1]

Web Wise Seniors. Email. Part 2, [advanced techniques] [DVD 004.692 EMA pt. 2]

Books
 

  Ackermann, Ernest and Karen Hartman. Searching and researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web, 3rd ed. [025.04 ACK]
Bass, Steve. PC Annoyances: How to fix the most annoying things about your personal computer [004.165 BAS]
Calishain, Tara & Rael Dornfest. Google hacks [025.04 CAL] 
Gookin, Dan. PCs for dummies [004.165 GOO]
Gralla, Preston. How the Internet works [004.678 GRA]
Hock, Randolph. The extreme searcher's Internet handbook : a guide for the serious searcher [025.04 HOC]
Levine, John R. The Internet for dummies [004.6 LEV]
Schlein, Alan M. Find it online : the complete guide to online research [025.04 SCH] and [READY REF 025.04].
White, Ron. How computers work [004.16 WHI]


Updated June 2007 by Shelley Sloboder, Reference Librarian

Thank you to Winchester Public Library for some of the sources listed in this guide.