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Internet InfoCenter
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Computer Classes and Tutorials
BCPL Computer Classes
A list of free programs
offered by the Baltimore County Public Library.
BCPL Internet Tutorial
This tutorial, created by librarians at the Baltimore County Public
Library, helps you understand how the
Internet works and teaches you more accurate ways of searching.
CCBC
Computer Classes
Computer classes offered
by the Community Colleges of Baltimore County.
HTML Code Tutorial
Write
your own code and create your own web pages without any special
software. This site offers tutorials on anchors, links, applets,
embedded objects, document tags, fonts, images, and more. Great for both
beginners and more advanced code writers.
Microsoft Office Online Training
Browse the different online Office products training courses offered by
Microsoft. Each course includes written as well as audio instructions.
Learn about security fundamentals in Microsoft Office programs and what
you can do to help protect your computer and documents, as well as how
to make the most of the many features of each product.
Mousing Around
The Palm Beach County Library System presents this resource to help
beginning computer users become familiar with using a mouse. They offer
a tutorial, something they call mousercise exercises, and practice
games. The tutorial is also available in
Español.
Typing Tutorial
"Free Touch Typing program that lets you exercise and
learn Touch Typing."
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Email and Instant Messaging
All About Instant Messaging
This site from BigBlueBall provides news, tips, tricks and support for
all major instant messengers including AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN,
Yahoo!, ICQ, Trillian, and many more.
Free Email Address Directory
Commercial site listing hundreds of
free email services and for-fee email services, info on how to search
for the email addresses of friends and family, advice on using email,
and more. This site also reviews over 100
free internet service providers, and covers
fax-to-email and other
services.
Free Email Services in Other Languages
Commercial site listing hundreds of free email services in languages
other than English.
Ten Tips for Safer Instant Messaging
Microsoft offers safety information for instant message users, and
explains the difference between on-line chatting and instant messaging.
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Internet Safety and Security
Faux Paw:
Adventures in the Internet
An animated mascot named Faux Paw the
Techno Cat teaches children the importance of protecting personal
information and avoiding inappropriate places on the internet by
navigating the internet through a virtual playground, Faux Paw's
adventures in storybooks, and educational games. Governors and/or first
spouses formed this coalition in partnership with a growing list of
crime prevention organizations, law enforcement agencies, foundations
and corporate sponsors.
Online Security and Safety Tips
This information, which is provided by the National Cyber Security
Alliance with support from Microsoft and reviewed by the Federal Citizen
Information Center, helps citizens learn how to protect their personal
computers from hackers, viruses, and other unwanted intrusions.
Safeshopping.org
Provided by the American Bar Association, this site provides information
that will help you order
safely and keep your personal information secure when shopping online.
Shop
Online Safely
The Federal Trade Commission offers tips and information for keeping
your personal information safe and secure on the internet.
ScamBusters.org
A comprehensive online clearinghouse for information about internet
fraud, but you must sign up for their free public service updates, which
will be delivered to you weekly via email.
Security Center: Spyware
Information provided by BCPL.NET about what spyware is, what it does, the
symptoms of infection, how to avoid getting spyware, and how to get rid of
it when your computer becomes infected.
WiredSafety.org
WiredSafety provides help, information and education to Internet and
mobile device users of all ages, and includes information on identity
and credential theft, online fraud and cyberstalking, hacking and
malicious code attacks.
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Internet Database Guide
The Invisible Web
This site is a companion to The Invisible Web: Finding Hidden Internet
Resources Search Engines Can't See by Chris Sherman and Gary Price, and
includes a directory of some of the best resources the Invisible Web has to
offer. The directory includes resources that are informative, of high
quality, and contain worthy information from reliable information providers
that are not visible to general-purpose search engines.
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Internet Service Providers
(ISP)
The List of Internet Service
Providers
Large directory of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) listing dial-up,
cable and DSL services. Search by area code then by the type of service.
Maryland ISP
Directory
Find a provider that offers the access speed
and computing services that satisfy your needs and budget. Search by
city or area code.
My ISP Finder
ISP directory, reviews and comparison of dialup and broadband service
providers. Search by area code and type of service.
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Search Engines
Find web sites on
specific topics using internet search engines: After conducting a search
using keywords or subjects, the search site will provide you with a list of
linked web sites which are usually ranked by relevance to your search
request.
AltaVista
Offers lots of Advanced
Search features. Supports searching on obscure topics. Can search for images
or files with extensions like .pdf, .jpg, .mpg, and others.
Ask X
From Ask.com, a simplified interface
featuring a three-column layout with the left hand column being used for
suggestions for broadening or alternate searches, the middle column
featuring both the sponsored and organic search results and the right hand
column featuring results from shopping, images and video.
Clusty
Organizes the top 250 search results
into subject folders for easier searching. Originally named Vivisimo.
Searches multiple engines.
Cranky.com
"A new search engine geared towards Baby Boomers and Seniors:
Fewer search results ranked based on their relevancy to older Web users."
Dogpile
Offers many different types of
searches, web, audio/MP3, news, etc. Searches multiple engines.
Exalead.com
"Features thumbnail previews of the target pages along with the results, and
allows advanced refining on the results page."
Excite
Offers concept-based searching.
Google
Search engine designed to
return relevant search results to general questions. Uses a relevancy
ranking based on text matching and the number of times a page is linked to
from other web pages to find results. Advanced search features include
languages, domain name, images, safe search filter, and related pages.
Gigablast
Indexes over one billion
sites. Offers basic search as well as a versatile advanced search.
HotBot
Wide range of advanced search
options. Use the pull down menus on the left hand side. Can customize your
results list to do more searching. Offers Top 10 Results list.
Info.com
Provides a powerful web search. Strong product search. Searches
multiple engines.
IXQUICK
Searches multiple engines, such as AltaVista, Fast,
Excite, HotBot, MSN and Yahoo.
Lycos
Web search, web directory and
Invisible Web Catalog which searches Internet databases.
Mamma
Searches a large number of popular
search engines. Results are sorted by relevance.
Soople
Offers an easy-to-use portal to
the advanced features of the popular search engine
Google.
TouchGraph.com
TouchGraph shows you what the web "looks like," visually
displaying the linkages between your favorite web sites.
TurboScout.com
With TurboScout you only enter keywords once, then getting
and comparing original results from over 90 search engines across 7
categories is as simple as clicking the engine’s name. No more retyping
keywords into different search engines.
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Subject Guides
About.com
A comprehensive subject
guide with sites selected by "About.com Guides." Each Guide is
carefully screened and trained, and must write original informative articles
and provide the best links for their topics, whether it be home repair and
decorating ideas, recipes, movie trailers, or car buying tips.
Enoch Pratt Free
Library: Subject Guides
These subject guides are
lists of Web links, reference books, and electronic databases covering
hundreds of different topics. The librarians at the Pratt Central
Library/State Library Resource Center have put together the most reliable
and trustworthy sources as a starting point for your research.
Internet Public Library
The Internet Public Library is the first
public library of and for the Internet community, and is hosted by the
School of Information & Library Studies of the University of Michigan. Sites
are selected by IPL librarians, and include Ready Reference, Subject
Collections, and Special Collections, as well as sites providing information
geared specifically for children and teens.
Intute
Formerly the Resource Discovery Network, includes more than 100,000 resources via a series of subject-based
information gateways. Created by and for the learning, teaching and
research community.
Librarians' Internet Index
Provides a well-organized point of
access for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected websites. Contains tens
of thousands of entries which are organized into 14 main topics, and nearly
300 related topics. Listings are in alphabetical order.
Excellent guide to quality sites with helpful annotations.
Michigan Electronic Library (MEL)
A subject guide created by a partnership of public and university
librarians in Michigan.
Open Directory
Over one million pages
indexed by volunteer Internet editors.
Yahoo
Over one million pages indexed by
subjects, some evaluated, the majority accepted as submitted.
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Using Search Tools
Directory of Internet
Navigation Tools
A comprehensive listing of web tools. This guide will help you find web sites
by subject, keyword and geographic location in addition to guides to
newsgroups, forums, frequently asked questions and personal Internet E-mail
addresses.
Searching the
Internet
Learn to search using the most appropriate Internet search tool for your
question.
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General
Resources
Baltimore County Electronics Recycling
Accepted items include TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computer monitors, CPUs,
mice, keyboards, cell phones, laptops, scanners, computer cables and
cords, stereos, answering machines, and other home electronics. No
appliances! Baltimore County residents can drop off their electronics
for recycling at the
Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility,
Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Computers and Internet Subject Guides
Brief categories with well-annotated hyperlinks to information about computing and
Internet facts,
from the Maryland State Library Resource Center.
Lazarus Foundation Computer
Recycling
Accepts tax deductible
donations of surplus computer equipment, which they restore and donate
to schools and non-profits.
Maryland
Computer Recycling and Reuse
Excellent local computer
recycling and reuse directories.
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