Beauregard Parish Public Library
Getting Connected
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2. Getting connected

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Anyone with a computer and modem can gain free access to our services.

The first step is signing up for an Internet account. This will also give you an E-Mail address which can be used to communicate with anyone else who has E-Mail on the Internet. You can apply for this account at any branch of the Beauregard Parish Library.

You will need a library card.

Library cards are free to residents of Beauregard Parish.
Residents of other parishes can be served through the Libraries Southwest Borrower's Agreement.
When you apply for your library card, you will need to show something to verify your address. This can be a utility bill, driver's license or any thing other document that shows your name and address.
Library card applications for individuals age 17 and under must be signed by the parent or legal guardian. This requirement can be waived for individuals under age 18 who present proof of legal emancipation.

After you apply for the library card, you may pick up an Internet registration form at the Beauregard Parish Library. When you complete it you will be asked for a user name. It should be 5 to 8 characters long.

The user name will be the first part of your email address. For example, if you choose bobray as your user name, your email address will be bobray@beau.lib.la.us

You will be issued a password. The password will be a combination of letters and numbers which would be very difficult for anyone else to guess.

Depending on the speed of your computer & modem, you should be able to make either:

TEXT ONLY - You will need to set up an account with the library. Then, all you need is a communications software package. If you did not get one with your modem, you can probably use something like Telix or ProComm. Just get the computer and modem talking and then let the modem place the phone call.
GRAPHICS (WITH PICTURES) - Graphics accounts can be set up on computers which run Windows 3.x, Windows95, Unix (with Mosaic or XWindowing), Apple/ Mac, or other graphics based systems. You will need to set up an account with the Library. You will also need 2 types of software. These may or may not be on your system already. The TCP/IP client package which goes with your operating system allows your computer to set up and handle a PPP connection. Trumpet Winsock is one TCP/IP client which works with Windows 3.x. The other software you will need is a WEB browser such as Netscape.

2.1 How to connect using DOS

All you need is a computer, a modem & a communications software package which lets the computer and modem talk. If you did not get software with your modem, you can probably use something like Telix or ProComm. Ask at any computer store or come into the library and download one from the Internet computers.

Get the computer and modem talking and then let the modem place the phone call to 462-9420.

Logging in on the public account will allow you to use lynx to search the Internet. Lynx is a text based world wide web browser which allows to to visit all of the sites you can visit with Netscape -- you just won't have the pictures.

If you will be using this SHELL type interface and want to receive e-mail you will need to contact the Library and request a SHELL E-MAIL account. When you fill out the form for your account be sure to note that you will be using DOS rather than a graphics interface. We need this information to set up your account.

If you have problems establishing a text connection, make sure your communications software is set for eight bits, one stop and no parity; set your data rate according to the instructions with your modem & software (anywhere between 300bps and 38,400bps); then dial 462-9420. If you have call waiting, be sure to disable it when you begin a session.

2.2 How to connect using Microsoft Windows or Windows for Workgroups?

A starter pack of software is available at the Library. It should get you up and running with a minimum of effort. Instructions for loading the software will be provided with the disks or CDRom.

All you really need is to have a TCP/IP client (Trumpet Winsock) and a WWW browser (Netscape, Cello, Opera...). Follow the instructions for getting the TCP/IP client up and "aimed" at the Library site. Let the TCP/IP client make the connection & then kick in the browser.

The basic procedure to use the Internet under MS Windows is to first use a dialing program to dial in and establish the network connection and then run the actual application. Trumpet Winsock is one program which does the dialing and connecting job. You may need to configure it to be sure the port and baud rate are correct for your modem. Once it is configured, select Dialer-Logon and fill in the blanks. At this point your modem should dial the system and automatically log you in. If you see the text below, everything has worked. Minimize Trumpet Winsock and launch Netscape.

The required hardware level is a 386SX or better, with 4MB of RAM, and any modem with V.42bis. While this minimum system WILL work, we recommend a 386DX-40 with 4MB RAM and a 14.4KBps (with V.42bis) modem for reasonable performance. Increasing RAM to 8MB is also highly recommended. A Video board capable of displaying 256 or more colors, with drivers for Windows, is also highly desirable.

Note that a modem equiped with V.42bis data compression & error correction is required for reliable operation. Recently a wave of very low cost 14.4KBps modems have appeared on the market based on RPI (Rockwell Protocol Interface) technology. These modems do NOT support error correction or data compression without software assistance. Rockwell has a software emulation driver available, which may have been included with your modem, otherwise DataExchange has it available from their BBS

2.3 How to connect using Windows 95

Windows 95 has made many changes from version to version. If you have one of the newer versions, you may want to try these: Updated Win95 Instructions

Windows 95 is supplied with much of the required software. Consult the online help system's index, under the topic ``Internet, connecting to'' for step by step instructions on making the connection. Windows 95 is supplied with an ftp and telnet client, so you may directly obtain other clients from various Internet sites. If you install other Internet client software, be sure not to install another TCP/IP package. Windows 95 comes with TCP/IP installed and two packages will make for confusion.

As a general rule, if your hardware will run other Windows 95 based software, the average Internet client will run as well. The above note on RPI modems does not apply to Windows 95, since Microsoft has licensed the appropriate drivers from Rockwell and they should have been automatically installed as part of Windows 95's setup procedure.

Win95 Quick Install Checklist:

If Win95 came preloaded on your machine or you have MS-Plus, simply click the Internet icon and use Section info to fill in the blanks.
Otherwise, go to Control Panel (Click START, then Settings and finally Control Panel. I won't be giving a click by click description of the full procedure; if you are unable to perform basic Windows tasks, consult the tutorials which are built into the Windows 95 product itself.) and select Add/Remove Programs. Select Windows Setup. Select Communications and ask for Details, then check Dial-up Networking. Now select OK repeatedly until you work your way back up to a point where it asks for the original CD or floppies.
Now that Windows has restarted, return to Control Panel and now choose Network. You only want two items in the list, Dial-up Networking and the TCP/IP Protocol. First pick add and choose the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol. Do not modify any of the properties on any of these screens. You may safely remove any MS networking or Novell protocols which may have been automatically installed as this will free up much needed RAM. Hit OK until Windows reboots itself again. ;)
Now select Dial-up Networking, which is located in My Computer, and choose Make new connection. (If it does not automatically place you in the dialog box for an initial connection) Fill in the blanks using the info from Section info and the username/password you selected.
Double-click the new icon. You should get a connection. If it fails to connect, call our tech support line for assistance.
Launch an Internet app (ex: Cello or MS Internet Explorer) and begin exploring the Internet!

2.5 How to connect using OS/2

Good question! Anyone care to write this section for OS/2 users?

2.5 How to connect using an Apple Macintosh

Good question! Anyone care to write this section for Mac users?

2.6 Connecting with a unix (or clone) machine

Connecting a UNIX/LINUX/FreeBSD machine is beyond the scope of this document, although it is certainly possible. Many of our machines are running Linux & one runs SCO UNIX, so we can help with most aspects of UNIX networking.

2.7 Connecting other, less popular computers

The question you are asking is "Can I still get connected?"

The answer is ``Yes''. Anyone with a computer and modem can connect through a shell account. If your screen has less than eighty columns, some of the text may be harder to read than otherwise, but it CAN be done.

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Last Modified on Tue Nov 30 22:07:48 1999