What are Web Browsers?
Web browsers are the programs that allow you to use the World Wide Web. The two most famous web browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer and they are quite similar. The library system uses Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you look at the top of the library's internet computer screens you will see the toolbar, which looks like this. The buttons on the toolbar are there to help you explore the internet. The most useful buttons are:

	Back - takes you back to the last page that was displayed on your screen.
	Forward - Moves you ahead of the last displayed page.
	Stop - The stop button is very useful. If a web page is taking a very long time to load, you can press stop and either try again or go somewhere else.
	Print - If a printer is attached to the computer you are using, you can print a displayed web page.

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What is E-Mail?
E-mail is short for electronic mail. E-mail is an electronic message sent from one computer to another. Just like regular mail, or snail mail, you need an address to send and receive e-mail. E-mail is fast easy and much cheaper than regular mail. E-mail messages have two main parts- the header and the body.

A typical e-mail message looks like this:

The header has your name and e-mail address in the From box and the name and e-mail address of the person you are sending the message to in the To box. Your name doesn't have to be your real name, most people make up a name for online use.

Once you have an e-mail address you can send e-mail to friends who have an e-mail address and you can begin to receive e-mail. Sometimes you may get e-mail from people you don't know. Be careful! Sometimes these e-mail messages may be violent, threatening, or inappropriate.

Just a few notes of caution - don't send out personal information to someone you don't know and be sure your friends respect your privacy and keep your e-mail messages private.

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What are Newsgroups?
One of the oldest features of the internet are newsgroups. Newsgroups are a collection of messages on virtually every subject imaginable which are posted for everyone to read. There are newsgroups on television shows, pets, and sport teams such as the Miami Dolphins. You can read what other people have posted in their messages and even post your own comments.

Before you try posting to a newsgroup, be sure to lurk. Lurking is reading the messages to the newsgroup for a while without posting a reply. You may also want to read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about the newsgroup as well. Lurking and reading the FAQs will let you get a feel for the newsgroup - what kind of topics are discussed, are the posters friendly - and help you avoid any embarrassing mistakes. And speaking of embarrassing mistakes...

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What is Web Chat?
Chat rooms are actually web pages where you can communicate with other people in real time - messages back and forth are posted very quickly. Most chat rooms are on special topics and subjects or for certain ages so that people with something in common can get together.

Chat rooms can be fun or just as likely they can be a big waste of time. Some chat rooms allow users to go to private rooms to meet with friends - just keep in mind that these rooms are not really private anyone can listen in.

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What is the Internet?
Many people think that the World Wide Web (WWW) and the internet are the same thing, but they are quite different. The World Wide Web is only part of the internet, but the World Wide Web is one of the most popular parts. The World Wide Web is where you find web sites that contain pictures, animation, sounds (if you have a sound card) and text displayed on your computer screen. Such popular web sites such as www.nba.com and www.disney.com contain many web pages of information, games and pictures.

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What is the World Wide Web?
Many people think that the World Wide Web (WWW) and the internet are the same thing, but they are quite different. The World Wide Web is only part of the internet, but the World Wide Web is one of the most popular parts. The World Wide Web is where you find web sites that contain pictures, animation, sounds (if you have a sound card) and text displayed on your computer screen. Such popular web sites such as www.nba.com and www.disney.com contain many web pages of information, games and pictures.

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What Else is on the Internet Aside from the World Wide Web?
The World Wide Web may be one of the most popular parts of the internet, but e-mail, newsgroups and chat are all a part of the internet, too.

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How to use the Internet & World Wide Web?
The best way to learn how to use the internet is just to sit at one of the library's internet computers and play. Set your computer to Yahoo or Yahooligans. The mouse controls the arrow on the screen. When the arrow is on a link (remember hypertext?), the arrow turns into a hand. When you see the hand you can click and jump to a new web site or page.

Yahoo and Yahooligans have many interesting sites already set up. Try clicking, always using the left hand button, on the new picture or icon in the upper left hand corner. Once you have clicked on the new icon you will see a list of new sites on Yahoo. Try one - click on any site. As the page loads, you will see an hourglass shape. The hourglass lets you know the page is loading and to be patient. When the page loads you can play around with the web site. Click on some links and explore.