 Rules of the Road
- I will never tell anyone my address, phone number, computer
password or name of my school.
Parents: The Internet is anonymous - you never know who you're really talking
to, so DON'T give out ANY personal information!
- I will make up a cool secret name and use it instead of my real
name.
Parents: This is a good way to protect your privacy online, whether you're
a child or an adult.
- I will tell my parents if I see anything online that makes
me feel funny.
Parents: Anyone with a computer can put information on the Net, and there is
no way to control it. If you encounter something offensive, tell your Internet
Service Provider (America Online, Prodigy, etc.) right away.
- I will never agree to meet with someone I've only talked to
online.
Parents: Children - AND adults - should NEVER GO WITH STRANGERS!!
- I will not answer a message that is mean or makes me feel
bad, but I will show the message to my parents!
Parents: Tell your Internet Service Provider right away if you find something
offensive or illegal.
- I will obey the rules my parents set up for my computer time,
because they will keep me safe.
Parents: Keep your computer in a family room so your child is not isolated.
This helps you monitor what your child is doing, and it makes the Internet
a family activity.
- I will remember that not everyone is who they say they are
online.
Parents: A "12-year-old girl who likes bunnies" could
really be a 42-year old ex-convict! You can't see who's typing the message!
- I will never try to play tricks on the computer.
Parents: Sometimes what we THINK are just pranks are really very serious:
 Check
out GetNetWise http://www.getnetwise.org for
more online safety information.
Next >>  Netiquette
Obey the rules!
Remember that you aren't invisible on the Internet! You can get into trouble
if you misbehave or do something illegal.
Don't make fun of other people!
Sometimes people start arguments or "flame wars" online. Don't get
caught up in this nonsense.
E-mail is not always private!
Remember that e-mail can be forwarded to ANYONE and the messages
you send can be sent all over the world, even to people you have never met
or to people you don't want reading your mail!
Next >>  Using the Internet at the Library
If you are under the age of 17, your parents must come to
the library with you to sign a permission slip before you can use the Internet
in one of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries.
Parents: CLICK HERE to
read more about our policy.
Next >>
 Filters
To comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act and restrict access to online content that may be considered harmful to minors or offensive to adults, the B&ECPL employs technology protection measures (filters) on all computers with Internet access. Parents/users must be cautioned that filters are not foolproof and due to technological limitations cannot obstruct access to all potentially harmful or offensive content. In addition, filters may block access to some legitimate or constitutionally protected material found on the Internet. By law, individuals who have attained the age of 17 have the right to unfiltered Internet access.
Next >>
 What
Can I Do On the Internet?
The Internet is a network of computers all over the world
that can talk to each other. On this network you can:
Play Games
Relax and have fun online, from chess to Word Searches.
Practice reading
The Net has something to interest EVERYONE - magazines, stories, e-mail, chat rooms about
any topic you can think of. Keep up with current
events, health news, sports scores.
Connect with people around the world
Learn about other cultures and make
new friends. Talk to other parents and teachers.
Learn how to use computers
Technology skills are necessary everywhere these days, from school
to work!
 Get
homework help
Find an online reference book, talk to an expert, find worksheets, lesson plans, almanacs,
and more.
Check out Live Homework
Help. This online service allows 4th through 12th graders
to "chat" with professional tutors for individualized, live
tutoring sessions in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies.
Next >> How Can I Tell What's Good?
 There
are SO many sites on the Web, it's hard to tell what's good and what isn't.
Here are some hints:
- Is the information correct?
- Is there an editor's name on the article? Remember,
anyone can publish on the Web, and unlike books, Web sites rarely have fact
checkers.
- Who wrote it?
- Is the page signed?
- Is the author qualified?
- Who is the sponsor of the page? If the page
is sponsored by a company, they MAY be trying to get you to buy their product!
- Is the information new or old?
- Is the web page dated? When was the last update?
- How current are the links? Have some expired or moved?
- Are they selling something on the web page? Do they
have a certain point of view?
- Is there advertising on the page?
- Is the page designed to sway your opinion? Many
people use the Web to express personal opinions.
- Is it easy to use and to understand?
- Is the site laid out clearly and logically, with well-organized
areas? Do links to other sites work? Is the writing appropriate for the
intended audience?
Next >>
Browser Basics
Can I Serve You?  No,
Just Browsing.
A server is a computer that puts information
on the World Wide Web.
A browser is software that lets you move around on the Web.
Two popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape.
To use the Internet, you should know how to use the basic buttons on your browser.
 Takes
you back to the previous page.
 Moves
you forward through the pages you have seen.
 Stops
loading a web page. This is helpful if a page is taking too long to appear.
 Takes
you to your pre-selected start-up page. If you are using a library computer, "home" takes
you to the library's web page.
 Prints
the page you are viewing. BE CAREFUL when you use this button, because you
can't control how many pages you print! To control how many pages you print
(because it's 10c a page if you print at the library), use the print command
from the File drop down menu (for instructions, click
here.)
Next >>
 Where
to Start your Engines!!
Because there's so much information out there, you might not
know where to start. Try using a search engine! For kids, Yahooligans is
our favorite. You can also try Ask Jeeves
for Kids or KidsClick! Adults,
try Yahoo, Google,
or HotBot.
Check
out KidsClick! Worlds of Web Searching http://www.worldsofsearching.org/ for
search lessons for kids.
Speciality Search Engines for Kids and Students
Little-Red-Schoolhouse Library – Specialty Search Engine http://www.westmark.pvt.k12.ca.us/LRCweb/specialtysearch.html
Geared for K-12, this site contains links to hundreds of specialized search
engines. Many of the resources will be of interest to adults also. Arranged
by broad categories. Topics range from Animals to Presidents to Weather with
everything in between.
Kid Info http://www.kidinfo.com
Excellent resource for students, parents and teachers. The author of this web
site has been a teacher for 30 years and has organized the site to complement
the curriculum covered in elementary, middle and high schools.
Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids http://bensguide.gpo.gov/subject.html
This is the companion to GPO Access, designed just for kids and teenagers.
It is arranged by grade level, from grades K-12. The goal of the site is
to guide students to government web sites and to resources that will teach
them how our government works.
 Come
On! Surf's Up!!
Here are some of our favorite places to visit:
B&ECPL KIDS' CORNER http://www.buffalolib.org/kidscorner
This is a great place to find safe, FUN sites for kids in preschool through
grade six.
Cool Sites for Kids http://www.ala.org/alsc/children_links.html
Homework help and fun sites for kids chosen by librarians.
KIDSCLICK http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!
Try this alphabetical collection of safe, cool places for kids.
KIDS CONNECT FAVORITE WEB SITES FOR K - 12 STUDENTS http://www.ala.org/ICONN/kcfavorites.html
Web sites KidsConnect school library media specialists have found most helpful
for K-12 students!
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FOR KIDS http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids
Kids can learn about science, history, travel ... and it's all fun!
OH! KIDS http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/oks
Visit this site in Ohio to see one of the best kids' sites anywhere!
YAHOOLIGANS http://www.yahooligans.com
This is the kids' version of the popular search engine Yahoo.
Children can search by typing in a specific topic, or they can browse through
the subject listings. Also includes "Cool Sites," "What's New," and "Net
Events."
ZOOM http://pbs.org/zoom
This popular PBS television show has a great web site, full of games, science,
jokes and more.
 Teens
B&ECPL Teen Space http://www.buffalolib.org/teens
Some cool sites geared towards teens!
Oh! Teens http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/index.cfm?id=1334 Stop
in and visit one of the best teen links we've found anywhere!
TNBC http://www.nbc.com/tnbc/pgv_index.html
You're heard of MSNBC; here's TNBC! NBC for Teens! Links to fashion, scholarships,
chat and more.
 Parents
and Caregivers
Families Connect http://www.ala.org/ICONN/familiesconnect.htm
FamiliesConnect is a website created for parents and children to use
together. It offers families (parents, kids, grandfathers, aunts, cousins
- everyone) an opportunity to learn about the Internet and use it together.
ALA Parents' Page http://www.ala.org/parentspage
The American Library Association has great tips for parents on Internet safety
and how to raise a reader.
A Safety Net For The Internet: A Parent's Guide http://www.nypl.org/branch/safety.html
Tips for parents from the New York Public Library.
700+ Amazing, Spectacular, Mysterious, Wonderful Web Sites for Kids
and the Adults Who Care About Them
http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/
Web sites reviewed and recommended by librarians.
B&ECPL Parents Page http://www.buffalolib.org/parents/
We've put together some great sites to help you find information on adoption,
homeschooling, foster parenting and so much more.
Parent Soup http://www.parentsoup.com
Here's a magazine for parents, ONLINE!
ParentsPlace http://www.parentsplace.com
Your one stop for information on pregnancy, child development, immunizations
- even chat with other parents.
 For more information: Internet
Basics, an online tutorial
Next >>
 Congratulations!
You have completed the "YO!" - Youth Online tutorial!
TOP... |
