Getting Started on the Internet
from the Rochester Hills Public Library

Are you new to the Internet?

Never used a a mouse?  Take the Mousing Around tutorial, perform some mousercise exercises or play some mouse practice games.

You could go to school! Start with a Bare Bones tutorial on searching the Internet and then take some more lessons  at  net.TUTOR or the UC Berkeley Library. There are even special strategies for Finding Images Online.

If you hear a "tech" term and want to know what it means visit whatis?com.

Would you like to meet with other computer users?  Attend a meeting of the South Eastern Michigan Computer Organization, a group dedicated to providing information and education to amateur and professional computer users.

You can even explore the impact of the Internet on daily life at the Pew Internet and American Life site.

Do you want to use a search engine to find specific information?

Then connect to a search place like Ask.com, Google, or Yahoo.

Would you like a subject directory to guide your Internet search?

You could browse an extensive subject directory like Michigan Electronic Library, Librarian's Index to the Internet or, or RHPL's Useful Sites by Subject.  Check out Great Sites: Web Sites for Kids.

Would you like some guidelines on how to evaluate Web sites?

Here's a handy checklist from the Duke Libraries Guide to Library Research page.

Read this guide to Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources.

Are you concerned about Internet security?

Find out if cookies are a convenience or a concern at cookiecentral.com.

Visit Scambuster's for tips to avoid scams and ways to stop spam.  Verify hoaxes and urban legends at SNOPES.  Protect yourself from password phishing at the Anti-Phishing Work Group or take a phishing IQ test.

To report Internet fraud, contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can also direct Internet, telemarketing, and identity theft complaints to the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection or to the Michigan Attorney General.  For more information about reporting computer crimes visit WWW.CYBERCRIME.GOV.

Do you want an e-mail account?

Apply for an e-mail account from one of the following free e-mail providers: 

Gmail

Hotmail

Yahoo

For other e-mail providers check out the Free Email Providers Guide.

Remember your manners! Here are some Core Rules of Netiquette.

Find providers offering  Free Email in Other Languages.

Are you ready to create your own Home Page?

The Bare Bones Guide to HTML can help you get started. Kids of all ages can get HTML instruction from WEBMONKEY for Kids.

Angelfire, Yahoo! GeoCities, and Tripod will host your home page free of charge.

Do you need help finding an Internet Service Provider?

Here's a RHPL list of commercial Internet Service Providers.