Check It Out:

If you are interested in learning more about sharing an Internet connection at home among multiple computers, networking your home computers together, or even adding wireless Internet into your existing home network, the library has a number of resources that can assist you.

Building a home network can simplify the act of sharing files between users and help you be more productive. Incorporating Wi-Fi could help free you from a mess of cables tethering your laptop to a particular room and allow you to move from room to room, or even get outside.

“Wireless Home Networking Simplified” by Jim Doherty and Neil Anderson covers the selection of appropriate equipment, the installation of your networking equipment and step-by step instructions on how to set up the various features, including security, wireless Internet, Internet sharing and troubleshooting.

The book is filled with color screen shots that help in reinforcing the information. Owners of Linksys routers will reap the best benefits, since this title is published by Cisco.

If you are just getting started on this subject, never fear — the library has many titles that are appropriate for beginners. “Wireless All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies” by Todd Carter and “Home Networking for Dummies” by Kathy Ivens are both very suitable for anyone getting started or just more comfortable with the “Dummies” series of books. Both of these titles are written for the average layperson and cover basic concepts of networking multiple computers together, as well as information on various operating systems and equipment.

Two more titles that might appeal to a beginner are “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Home Networking” by Mark Edward Soper and “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Wi-Fi” by Harold Davis. The “Absolute Beginner” series, much like the “Dummies” series, is geared for those just getting started, but offers enough information to help more advanced users as well.

These books contain many screen shots and introduce lots of tips and notes along the way that help make the subject easier to digest.