Public Computer & Internet Access

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Public computer use | Email | USB drives | Instant Messenging | Search | Resources | Library Homepage

Online Safety Pointers

Express Email Stations

Have you noticed the new link on our catalog and reference computers for Webmail / Email Access? These links are only active when all of the public Internet computers are being used. They allow you to access web-based email services - such as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, or Google's G-Mail - from the catalog stations during busy times at the library. Email sessions are limited to 10 minutes, at which point the browser will automatically restart. Please let staff know if you find this feature useful.

Thank you for using the Ripon Public Library's public computer stations. On this page you will find information on using these computers, as well as links to popular search sites and email services, and important news about the Library.

Using the Public Computers

Our public computers are provided on a first-come, first served basis, and check out for a time period of one hour. After an hour has passed, you may be automatically logged off if another patron requests this station. The computer will also shut down automatically at closing time. Please pay attention to time warning messages and save your work frequently! Look here for our complete computer and Internet use policy. For help with printing, look here.

USB Access

USB access is available on the public computer stations. Although we cannot guarantee that every device will work, Windows XP should recognize most digital cameras, flash drives, and other storage media. For your convenience, a USB extension cable is provided on the counter top at each station (if you cannot find the cable, please ask for assistance). You may safely remove USB devices by clicking the "USB Eject" button on the sign-in screen.

Using Public Web Browser

• Public Web Browser is compatible with all Internet Explorer compatible pages.
  
  
• Use the "Back" and "Forward" buttons at the top of the screen to move through pages you have already visited.
  
  
• Click "Refresh" to reload the page you are currently viewing.
  
  
• Click the "Home" button to return to this start page.
  
  
• The "Search" button will take you to the Google search page.
  
  
• Clicking on the "Print" button will display the Print Preview screen, which will show you how many pages you will be printing out. Click "Print" on the preview screen to bring up the final options screen; from there, click on "OK" to print your document.
  
  
• The "Save" button will allow you to save a web page to a floppy disk, or to the shared public folder.
  
  
• Clicking on the "Size" button will change the text size on most web pages (it will cycle through 5 sizes).
  
  
• To turn on the built-in popup blocker, click on the button labeled "Popups".
  
  
• For patron convenience, a button is provided to launch the calculator program.

Free Email Services

Instant Messenging

Our policies and computer setup do not allow users to install software, including instant messenging programs. Patrons may use web-based messenging alternatives, such as E-Messenger, which is compatible with MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and AOL Instant Messenger.

Internet Search Engines

Online Resources

Under the "Library Information" section of the menu, click on "Online Resources" to access our subscription databases and extended catalogs.

• EBSCO Host (magazine articles)
• ProQuest (newspaper articles)
• Gale Reference Center
  • Health Reference Center
  • Biography Resource Center
  • Marquis Who's Who
  • Junior Reference Collection
  • Business and Company Resource Center
• Grolier Online information sources
  • Encyclopedia Americana
  • The New Book of Knowledge
  • Lands and Peoples
  • Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia
  • America The Beautiful
• TeachingBooks
• WISCAT state library catalog system
• Community Information Database