Computer DIY

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, August 2006; written by Lisa Pearson.

As you are no doubt aware – devoted library patrons that you are – the Ketchikan Public Library prides itself as being a one-stop shopping center for all things how-to (or DYI, as they call it in the biz). And I’m sure many of you have availed yourselves of our books and videos on auto repair, gardening, plumbing, cooking, painting, etc. Generally speaking, these books are clumped (excuse me, organized) in the aisles that make up the 600’s and 700’s of the Dewey Decimal system. There is, however, a section of DYI books exiled into the beginning of the Nonfiction shelves: computer manuals.

We have recently updated our section on all things computer in an effort to keep up with shifting technology and rapidly changing demand. So it was with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to our Windows 95 manuals, and our books explaining how to program in DOS. We now have a fresher, hipper look on the shelves, with a range of topics that should appeal to all computer users, regardless of their level of expertise.

At one end of the spectrum we have “Easy Computer Basics” by Michael Miller. If you’re not sure how to turn one of these gizmos on, let alone do anything with it, than this is the book to turn to. It is full of large, full-color pictures illustrating how to plug all your components into the computer, how to turn it on, use a mouse, and log on to Windows XP. From there it takes you all the way through basic computer operations including setting up a wireless home network, protecting your computer from viruses, and restoring your computer after it’s crashed (not that that would ever happen!).

For the safety conscious – or the pessimistic – we have “The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware and Viruses”, by Andy Walker. As the battle between operating systems and hackers escalates, this topic can no longer be ignored by anyone with an Internet connection. There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about email phishing scams, especially those done in the guise of banks and credit card companies. Learn what all the fuss is about, and most importantly, how to protect yourself from these people.

Turning to a more lighthearted aspect of computing, we have new books on podcasting, blogging and website design, including cascading style sheets (CSS). My favorite of these books is “The Zen of CCS Design” by Dave Shea and Molly Hozschlag. Having helped design the library website - www.firstcitylibraries.org - I’ve played around a little with different looks and features for websites, and tried to get a handle on design (I will admit I eventually gave up on CSS). This book provides wonderful, easy to understand, explanations of how to use CSS to create the look of your page. Most importantly, it also shows you how to format your page using CSS rather than inflexible table-based layout. The real reason I love this book is because it was authored by the geniuses behind www.csszengarden.com. If you haven’t seen this website, or if you’ve ever wondered why people are so excited about CSS, check it out.

If you’ve been yawning through this column and waiting for me to bring up a computer application you can really get your teeth into, here we go: “SQL Demystified” by Andy Oppel, “Spring into PHP” by Steven Holzner, and “Developing Feeds with RSS and Atom” by Ben Hammersly. If you know what SQL, PHP, and RSS mean and you are nodding your head appreciatively, then let me assure you that these are well-written, authoritative manuals designed to help you get the most out of database management, scripting server-side applications, and creating syndicated feeds. If – like me – those acronyms cause you to look like a deer caught in headlights, then back up a couple of paragraphs and start from there.

And finally, a quick pitch for two new books that explain how to use and customize Skype – an Internet telephone application that allows you to talk to anyone in the world using your Internet connection (rather than your wickedly expensive phone lines). “Skype me!: from single user to small enterprise and beyond” by Michael Gough and “Skype hacks” by Andrew Sheppard will help walk you through this fun program and show you how to adapt it to fit your needs, including integrating it into your web pages, automating the system, and maintaining security.

So as you can see, the computer section at the library is definitely worth a look if you haven’t seen it lately. We’re constantly updating to meet changing technology, and our computer manuals give you the opportunity to try out new tricks and techniques without busting your budget buying books!