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Internet InfoCenter


Computer Classes and Tutorials

BCPL Computer Classes (local interest)
A list of free programs offered by the Baltimore County Public Library.

BCPL Internet Tutorial (local interest)
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 (local interest)
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."

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.


Internet Safety and Security

Faux Paw: Adventures in the Internet (local interest)
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 (local interest)
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.


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 (local interest)
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 and 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 Information

Baltimore County Electronics Recycling (local interest)
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 (local interest)
Brief categories with well-annotated hyperlinks to information about computing and Internet facts, from MD State Library Resource Center.

Lazarus Foundation Computer Recycling (local interest)
Accepts tax deductible donations of surplus computer equipment, which they restore and donate to schools and non-profits.

Maryland Computer Recycling and Reuse (local interest)
Excellent local computer recycling and reuse directories.

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This page is provided by the Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland USA.
The text version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
The graphics version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
You are welcome to provide feedback.