This internet based tutorial introduces you to important tools that will help you find information while using Blaine High School Library, including the catalog and databases.

Library Account

Every new student will be given a library account that allows you to save files on any Mac or Dell in the library. Any information found in your account is considered yours. No one is to access your account but you. If someone else is found using your account, both you and the person using your account will not be able to use library computers for a week for the first offense, a month for the second offense, and the semester for the third offense. Remember that any information in your files is of public record and can be reviewed by appropriate personnel.

Email

There is no student email provided. There are only five computers in the library that can access email software. They are Mac stations 1-4 and the teacher Mac station. The only reason for you to access email will be to transfer work between home and school. However, a better method is to purchase a flash drive and use it instead. Otherwise, no email is allowed.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying occurs when information in the form of text or photos is sent to other people (using mainly cell phones but also using email) that is slanderous, mean-spirited, and hurtful. Cyberbullying is against the law and many teens have been sentenced to detention or community service. Remember that courts determine whether a message is inappropriate according to who receives the message, not the sender.

Managing Files

This library has Dell computers and Mac computers. Saving files so you can access them on either type of computer is critical. You must save files to the folder on the server that will store your files and not to the computer you are typing on.
On the Dells, you have to navigate to your account on the server, then locate the folder titled Documents, and then save the document. You should not save documents to the folder called My documents. If you save to the My documents folder, you will not be able to work on that file on a Mac.
Similarly, on a Mac, you must save to the Documents folder and not to the desktop or the house icon. If you save to the desktop, you will not find the file when using a Dell.

Printing

Print documents that are in the final phase of editing. It is best to use the shortcut commands of ctrl-P on a Dell and command-P on a Mac rather than clicking on the print icon.
Rarely should you print directly from the internet to the printer. It is much safer to copy the information or picture, etc., open Word, paste into Word, and then print. Printing directly from the Internet is risky because it includes fancy fonts, lots of graphics and unnecessary additional information, or it may print much more information than you anticipated.

1. User Agreement
2. Basic Internet Terms
3. Internet Searches
4. Printing
5. Online Database Sites
6. Home