Regional Library Computer Center

Looking for an alternative to Microsoft Word without spending a dime? You don’t have to look any further than your web browser. With Google Docs not only can you create a new document, presentation or spreadsheet you can also share it with your colleages and/or friends. Google Docs also allows users to upload previously created documents. In order to use this service you must create a Google account which involves no more than giving your name, email address and country of residency. Both you and the person who wants to view the document must have accounts with Google. The best part of this is…it’s FREE!

Google is constantly making changes to its services and Google Docs is not different. Just recently Google has added literally hundreds of templates which you can use in creating a document, presentation or spreadsheet.

Go to Google now and watch the short video on “Google Docs in Plain English”. This should answer any questions that you may have.

A few months ago I launched a new service in connection with the Birmingham Public Library and the Regional Library Computer Center. It is called Twitter. When it was first introduced, I blogged about it so if you need a refresher on what Twitter is, check the archives of this blog.

For the purpose of this blog entry I will define Twitter. Twitter is a Web 2.0 technology, more specifically a micro-blogging website which allows users to type in short messages (140 characters or less) to their friends, family and/or co-workers. We have used Twitter to advertise special events going on throughout the Birmingham Public Library as well as the Regional Library Computer Center. Twitter is fun and easy to use and I encourage you, if you haven’t already to establish a Twitter account and follow us. When you choose to follow someone on Twitter you are choosing to receive updates from that Twitterer as they make updates. Usually when you decide to follow a Twitterer, that person in turn will follow you. The links listed below will take you to the Twitter website where you can create your own account. I am also including a link to the Birmingham Public Library’s Twitter page.

http://www.twitter.com

http://www.twitter.com/bpl

AVL Databases: Saturday, August 16th

Blogging: Tuesday, September 30th; Monday, October 20th

Child Friendly Websites: Saturday, September 13th

Excel: Saturday, August 23rd; Monday, September 22nd; Saturday, October 25th; and Tuesday, October 28th

iGoogle: Tuesday, August 12th and Saturday, September 20th

Internet: Tuesday, August 5th; Tuesday, September 9th; and Saturday, October 18th

Student Resources: Saturday, August 9th

Word, Part One: Monday, August 18th; Saturday, September 27th; and Tuesday, October 14th

Word, Part Two: Monday, August 25th; Saturday, October 4th; and Tuesday, October 21st

Keyboarding: Monday, August 4th

PowerPoint: Tuesday, August 19th; Tuesday, September 23rd; and Tuesday, October 7th

PC Basics: Saturday, August 2nd; Monday, August 11th; Saturday, September 6th; Monday, September 15th; Monday, September 29th; Monday, October 6th; and Saturday, October 11th

Publisher: Tuesday, September 16th and Monday, October 13th

Surfing the Net for Your Roots: Saturday, August 30th

Travel Resources on the Web: Monday, October 27th

In conjunction with the Birmingham Public Library, the Regional Library Computer Center will be closed on Thursday, July 3rd and Friday, July 4th. There will be no classes on Saturday, July 5th.

In conjunction with the Central Library of the Birmingham Public Library system, the RLCC will be closed this weekend. The RLCC will be closing early on Friday, June 13th @ 4:30 p.m.

Basic PC:  June 2nd, 30th; July 19th

Files Management: June 3rd

Out of the Box: June 7th

Microsoft Publisher: June 9th; July 29th

Microsoft PowerPoint: June 10th; July 28th

Blogging with Blogger: June 16th

Microsoft Excel: June 17th; July 12th

Keyboarding: June 24th

Microsoft Word Part I: June 21st; July 7th

Microsoft Word Part II: June 28th; July 14th

Basic Internet: July 1st

iGoogle: July 8th

Labels and Letterheads: July 15th

Tables and Templates: July 21st

Social Bookmarking: July 22nd

Your Media Player and You: July 26th

The June and July 2008 class schedules should be ready in the next couple of weeks. Please contact us at   205-226-3799 for further information.

The Birmingham Public Library now has a Twitter account. Twitter is considered to be a microblogging website. In the most simpliest terms, it is a cross between instant messaging and blogging. As a “Twitter” user you post things that are going on in your world. These posts can not be more than 140 characters long. As a “Twitter” you can “follow” other Twitters by clicking on “Follow” below their name. One word of caution: in order to do this you must be a registered user of Twitter. So before doing anything else, become a registered user of Twitter. As you Twitter you may have people that like what you write and so they decide to “follow” you. When sending a “Tweet”, that is what a message is called, you can also include a URL. Tweeter converts the URL to a smaller version of it using TinyURL.

As a Twitter you can follow what the Birmingham Public Library is doing. Just do a search for “BPL” and you should get a listing with BPL included. Just click on “follow” and soon thereafter you will be receiving Tweets from BPL. The address for the BPL website is: http://www.twitter.com/bpl

April 2008

iGoogle:  April 1st

Basic PC:  April 5th, April 14th

PowerPoint Basics:  April 7th

Excel Basics:  April 8th, April 28th

Scouting out to Kill a Mockingbird:   April 12th

Basic Email Instruction:  April 15th

Microsoft Word Basics:  April 19th

Labels and Letterheads:  April 26th

Digital Photography:  April 29th

May  2008

Basic Internet: May 3rd

Basic PC:  May 5th, May 24th

Blogging with Blogger: May 6th

Publisher Basics: May 10th

Microsoft Word Basics Pt 1: May 12th

Microsoft Word Basics Pt 2: May 19th

Instant Messaging: May 13th

Excel Basics: May 17th

Travel on the Web: May 20th

Social Networking for Parents: May 27th

PowerPoint Basics: May 31st