Computer Training
News, comments, resources, and more.
Microsoft sure wants to make things complicated for beginners! They've used the number 7 both in their new operating system as well as in the current version of their productivity tools software. Windows 7 and Office 2007 are two very different things.
- Windows 7 is an operating system that makes your computer work. Previous versions of operating systems go by different names: Vista, XP, 2000, NT. It is like having a different model of the same type of vehicle.
- Office 2007 is a set of software that includes programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and perhaps Publisher and Access.
If you are purchasing a brand new computer this winter season, it is likely your computer will come with Windows 7 and perhaps Office 2007. If your computer is new is the past 2-3 years, you might likely have Vista and perhaps Office 2007. If your computer is a tad older than 3 years, your system would likely be XP with Office 2003. These are general guidelines--not cut and dried rules for what is included when you purchase your computer.
The library has numerous books on Vista currently and are in the process of acquiring resources for Windows 7. They will definitely help you get to know your computer better! Or feel free to check out our schedule of computer classes--we'd be glad to see you!
Book
The Complete idiot's guide to Microsoft Windows 7
9781592579549
Don't be worried if you see less classes offered for the fall--we are simply in the mode of preparing for new and exciting things! In the next few months, we will be upgrading our staff computers to Microsoft Office 2007 which means the librarians and staff you rely on to help you with all your information needs at KPL need a little learning time! We look forward to eventually offering such software as Word and Excel in the 2007 version to patrons. The computer classes will change in the future to reflect this as well.
Also, in an ongoing effort to respond to patrons' needs, we adjust the training schedule. So, some months, you might see more of one class offered than another. For example, since we are now in the "back to school" mode, we have a class specifically designed to assist adults with their research needs. When the newness of school is over and projects are in full swing, we will open up more PowerPoint classes so students can create powerful presentations for their classes. In the colder months when going out for picnics, baseball games, and concerts to socialize isn't possible, we hope to offer classes on the world of social networking online (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
What kinds of classes interest you?
Book
Microsoft Office Word 2007 Step-by-Step
0735623023
Did you know that you can avoid or complement using the mouse on your computer by utilizing keyboard shortcuts? These handy little actions are when you combine the pressing of several keys on your keyboard similar to getting a capital letter on your name (Shift + the first letter of your name). Using the control (Ctrl, located on the same row as the space bar to either side) or the alternate (Alt, next to the space bar) keys, you can save time when doing things like printing (Ctrl + P) or selecting all the text in a document (Ctrl + A).
Keyboard shortcuts are for general computer use as well as for specific software use (such as making commands more efficient in Microsoft Word). Internet and email tasks are also included in the list of shortcuts.
This great little book also introduces how to use the keyboard to its maximum potential with or without shortcuts as well! Check it out today!
Book
Keyboard Shortcuts
0072255005
In addition to our many computer classes, the Kalamazoo Public Library also has a myriad of books that will be helpful to you in your quest for basic computer knowledge. One of my favorites is Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics. I like a couple things about the book. First, I enjoy the funny bobblehead looking images that accompany helpful sidebar tips. One such tip says "Tip: The cursor changes shape--to a double-ended arrow--when it's positioned over the edge of a window". Those types of tidbits of knowledge are spread throughout this great resource.
Second, the book is fabulous at one of the things I encourage most in the classes here at the library: knowing the lingo. Knowing what various computer terms are will vastly increase your confidence and ability to "speak" computers with people. For example, in the world of the computer mouse, there are commands such as right-clicking, hovering, dragging and dropping, and double-clicking. Do you know what each command will do and when to use each command? Little things like that make a world of difference in feeling knowledgeable about computers.
So, come on down for a class, and while you're here, check out our great section on computers!
Book
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics
9780789736734
Did you know that there are computer programs out there that can guess or "crack" your passwords for your online accounts? However, many times it doesn't even require a sophisticated program to crack your code. You make it easy for a hacker to learn your password because you pick things that are easy to remember: your street name, your pet's name, your birthday. Once someone purports to know that, they simply have to assume you've used that password for more accounts. (You haven't, have you?)
While it is a little extra work to maintain strong password integrity, it is essential to preventing your identity from being stolen. So, no common information that someone could guess. That's easy enough. Now, nothing in the dictionary. What?! Yes, it is true. Nothing that a simple dictionary matching program could find. So what is left?
- Create words that are acronyms for something you like to do. For example, instead of "hoops", you could use "iltpbb" which stands for "I like to play basketball".
- To mix it up even more and ensure even more security, combine caps with lower case: IlTpBB
- One more step to up the security ante: combine letters with numbers and/or characters: 1!2pBb (notice the one and the exclamation mark look like an I and a lowercase L)
So, you have to be smarter than the average bear (as Yogi would say). The password strategies in your pic-i-nic basket have to outsmart the ranger--every time.
Book
Stopping identity theft : 10 easy steps to security
9781413309560
Today, the Kalamazoo Gazette ran a "savvy citizen" article about how the Kalamazoo Public Library is a GREAT place to find information for those seeking employment. Well, in case you missed that, let me tell you that we are the place to enhance your job seeking skills. We can help you with ways to look for a job, spice up your resume, or overcome interview fears (preparation is the key!).
We will be running our three-part series of Job Skills Workshops throughout the coming months, so be sure to check out the schedule for updated registration information.
If you can't make it to a class, consider our
- Career and Employment Topic Guide--this offers a wide variety of essential job seeking information from helpful websites to databases such as our Learning Express Library, specifically designed for job search and workplace skills.
- Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview Books--the library offers a huge selection of books that can help you formulate a resume (or cover letter), practice for the big interview, or help you focus on what skills come naturally for you.
Best of luck with your job search! Make searching for a job your current full time job, be resourceful, and keep a positive attitude!
Book
Resumes for the rest of us
9781564149831
Huh? If you are the parent of a tween or teen, you may want to know what that says. In chat speak or texting, PRW GTG means "parents are watching, got to go". This example is pretty tame compared to some of the other acronyms and abbreviations that are used when chatting online.
The age old question of "do you know where your children are" when they leave the house on a Friday night to hang out with friends is now the same question you should be asking yourself when they are in their rooms using their computers. Do you know who they are talking to online? What sites they are surfing? What MySpace is? Who they might be planning to meet and for what purpose? Stay informed of the rapid change of "technological parenting" by reading Generation MySpace or Me, MySpace, and I : parenting the net generation. What you learn might help save your child's life from an online predator or cyberbully.
Learn all you can about the new world of the today's adolescent, check out one of these books (there are copies at nearly every branch and even on the bookmobile--it is that important!), and consider keeping your computers in family or living rooms so your children aren't KPC (keeping parents clueless)!
Book
Generation MySpace
9781600940118
One of the basic things about learning how to use a computer is knowing how it works. While learning things like the Internet, email, blogging, and using your digital camera are important in today's technological world, one of the greatest things you can learn is HOW your machine thinks, operates, and functions. (NOTE: each of the links above takes you to the appropriate page for one of our great computer classes!)
This book is brand new to KPL and isn't even quite on the shelf, so reserve your copy today by clicking on the image of the book and clicking "hold" on the left side of the screen. Have your library card number ready along with your PIN number (the last four digits of the phone number on file), and you'll be on your way to reserving this book and learning about your computer!
Book
How Computers Work
0789736136
(NOTE: The following is taken directly from the Dummies.com eTips I get regularly. They are short, cover a wide variety of topics, and give you something new to add to your "technology toolkit" daily or weekly. You can subscribe, too, but clicking here!)
People now talk about the Web more than they talk about the Internet. The World Wide Web and the Internet are not the same thing — the World Wide Web (which we call the Web because we're lazy typists) lives "on top of" the Internet. The Internet's network is at the core of the Web, and the Web is like an attractive parasite that requires the Net for survival.
The Web is a bunch of "pages" of information connected to each other around the globe. Each page can be a combination of text, pictures, audio clips, video clips, animations, and other stuff. (People add new types of other stuff every day.) What makes Web pages interesting is that they contain hyperlinks, usually called just links because the Net already has plenty of hype. Each link points to another Web page, and, when you click a link, your browser fetches the page the link connects to. (Your browser is the program that shows you the Web.)
The other important characteristic of the Web is that you can search it — all ten billion or so pages. For example, in about ten seconds, you can get a list of Web pages that contain the phrase domestic poultry or your own name or the name of a book you want to find out about. You can follow links to see each page on the list to find the information you want.
Each page your browser gets for you can have more links that take you to other places. Pages can be linked to other pages anywhere in the world so that when you're on the Web, you can end up looking at pages from Singapore to Calgary, or from Sydney to Buenos Aires, all faster than you can say "Bob's your uncle," usually. Most of the time, you're only seconds away from any site, anywhere in the world. This system of interlinked documents is known as hypertext.
Links can create connections that let you go directly to related information. These invisible connections between pages are like the threads of a spider web — as you click from Web page to Web page, you can envision the Web created by the links. What's so remarkable about the Web is that it connects pieces of information from all around the planet, on different computers and in different databases (a feat you would be hard pressed to match with a card catalog in a brick-and-mortar library).
Every Web page has a name attached to it so that browsers, and you, can find it. The name of this naming convention: URL, or Uniform Resource Locator. Every Web page has a URL, a series of characters that begins with http://. (Pronounce each letter, "U-R-L" — no one says "earl.")
Book
The Internet for Dummies
9780470121740
Online shopping has become a popular way to purchase items without the hassles of traffic and crowds. However, the Internet has unique risks, so it is important to take steps to protect yourself when shopping online.
Again, the US-CERT Security Tips have some valuable information to share regarding your safety when shopping online. First, knowing how shoppers get attacked online is helpful in understanding preventative measures.
- If you do not take steps to protect your computer from viruses, attackers may be able to gain access to your computer and all the information on it.
- Attackers often create malicious and deceptive sites that mimic legitimate online businesses. Charities can also be misrepresented in this way.
- If a vendor does not use encryption when you are asked for your personal information, an attacker may be able to intercept your information as it is transmitted.
So, what do you do?
- Make sure your anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spyware products are all up to date.
- Keep your computer including the operating system, software, and web browser up to date by installing the updates and patches that are recommended.
- Apply the highest level of security that will still give you the functionality you need.
- Assess what you know about the online business you are purchasing from--have you heard of them before? Are they reputable?
- Never supply personal, financial (credit card, bank account) information via email.
- Read the vendor's privacy policy to see how your information will be stored.
- Make sure the site you are on when you actually are asked to provide your personal, financial information is encrypted. The URL for a secure site will begin with "https" (rather than just "http").
- Use a credit card rather than a debit card. Credit cards typically come with additional security measures.
- Check your statements often to make sure they are consistent with orders you've placed.
To learn about staying safe on the web yourself, check out the US-CERT website by clicking here. Also, feel free to come to the KPL Computer Safety class.
Finally, to learn more about Internet commerce and how the Internet is influencing the ways consumers make choices, check out Tom Murphy's book Web rules : how the Internet is changing the way consumers make choices. The library also has many other books to help you learn about the vastness of the Internet. Enjoy!
Book
Web Rules
079313613X