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Library Class Descriptions

Schedule
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Be An Informed Citizen

   Take your civic duty seriously!  Election season is coming and that means it is time to learn about the issues and candidates that will be on your ballot. This class will survey government and voter information portals on the Web. After all, “the most important political office is that of the private citizen!”
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Book Reviews and Literary Criticism at Your Finger Tips

   Fretting about your next book group? Want to gain a deeper understanding of your latest novel's plot, themes, and characters? Have you read a meaningful work of non-fiction and want to know what critics think about it? In this class, you will learn how to find book reviews, literary criticism, and author biographical information available in libraries and on the Web.
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Company Information on the Web: How to Find It and Research It

   Looking for background material on a prospective employer or business contact? Trying to generate a list of key contacts that meet very specific parameters? We will explore select websites that provide authoritative information about companies, big and small, public or private, large manufacturers or small service firms.


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Computer Basics for 'Paper-and-Pencil' People

   By demonstration and hands-on practice, students will understand computer functionality and navigation - from hitting the “on” button to searching the Internet.  Part I introduces computer hardware and operating systems; Part II focuses on navigation through standard computer programs and the creation of a Word document; Part III explores the Internet via the MI home page.
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Do It Yourself Investing: Using the Library’s Financial Newsletters

    Learn to use the Library’s print collection of financial newsletters. Unearth the expert commentary and analysis of ValueLine, Morningstar, Dick Davis Digest, and others. Our extensive title list provides investment advice, analysis, statistics, and commentary.
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Effective Internet Searching: How to Find What You Really Want

    Assisted by the searcher’s best friend, the logical Mr. Boole, learn how to create effective search strategies that will allow you to pinpoint the precise information that you need. You will learn how to use search engines, subject directories, and how to navigate the “deep web".
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Email : Do the 'Write' Thing

    Especially for people who use more than one computer, travel frequently, or use public computers in libraries and schools, this class will help you set up a free email account that you can use anywhere in the world. Learn how to compose, send, reply to, and attach files to email messages using Windows Live Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo! Mail.
   
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Filing Taxes in the 21st Century

   Dreading Tax-giving Day this year? Tired of struggling to locate forms and that midnight dash to the post office? Relax. With a fast Internet connection, finding tax information is almost fun. This class will explore the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board websites. You will learn how to find forms, track refunds, calculate withholding, and identify tax code changes that may affect you.
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Investment information on the Web
   Free, comprehensive information on a myriad of financial topics is at your fingertips. This workshop introduces students to financial portals such as Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, Marketwatch, Dow Theory Letters and more to find company profiles, securities valuation, stock rating services, trading statistics and financial reports.

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Newspapers Online: ProQuest Electronic Database

    This class will help you find abstracts and full text articles from the San Francisco Chronicle (since 1996), The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, China Daily and hundreds more domestic and worldwide newspapers online. Learn the basics of how to find the list of newspapers that are included in the database, how to search for articles and various options for printing, citing, exporting or sending the articles by email.
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Now Where Was That Article?

   This class is for those of us who cannot find that important article we remember reading, or for those of us who have an interest in finding current information on a particular topic. Learn to locate complete articles from a database that covers current events, popular culture, arts and sciences, sports, hobbies, health and business.
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Skip the Phone Tree

   The City and County of San Francisco has been working hard to make government services more accessible. Learn how to quickly find the service or contact you need via SFGov.org and the new hotline 3-1-1. Find out how to get a marriage license, order vital records, pay your traffic citations or property taxes, report a pothole or broken streetlamp, and much more.
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To Your Health @ the Library
   
    People are increasingly turning to the Internet for answers to questions about their health. Learn about authoritative websites that are trustworthy, provide up-to-date information as you look for a doctor, evaluate medications, find a support group, watch a video in preparation for surgery, and more.

LOCATION AND TIME: 
All classes meet from 10:00 to 11:30 am
in the 3rd floor Classroom.
There is no waiting list. However, "stand-by" is possible.  On the day of class, members may be admitted five minutes after class has commenced, if someone does not show up.

ADVANCE  REGISTRATION  IS  REQUIRED
Phone: 415-393-0102     Email: reference@milibrary.org
Contact information (esp. email and daytime phone) is required for non-members.

CLASSES ARE OFFERED FREE TO ALL
Funded in part by the Stanley S. Langendorf Educational Program
for Seniors at the Mechanics' Instititute

Revised: May 1, 2008