We offer free computer classes that provide hands-on training to adults. We'll make you more confident when using computers in the library, at work, at home or when looking for a job. Most classes are held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
The majority of our scheduled computer classes are currently offered on a walk-in basis (no registration required, except where indicated). Seats will be filled on a first-come, space available basis. We highly recommend that you arrive on time for the classes you wish to attend.
One or more of our classes may require online registration. These classes will contain a register link when you click the class title. Click the register link to start your registration for that particular class.
Please consult the library calendar or the Computer Class Calendar brochure to find a class. The computer classes FAQ can answer many of your questions. If you can’t find the answer to your question there, please contact Desire Grogan at desire.grogan@dc.gov or 202-727-1298.
Class Descriptions
For those new to computers, we highly recommend that the classes be taken in the order in which they are listed above. Customers are also encouraged to repeat the basic classes before moving on to the intermediate classes. The intermediate classes are fast-paced.
Practice tutorials and lessons for improving typing and keyboarding skills.
Required Skills:
The ability to read and comprehend English well. After this class you will be able to:
- Practice home-row key typing in self-paced exercises
- Test your typing skills at various levels of proficiency and speed
- Customize practice lessons to enhance your typing skill abilities
- Practice constructing your own résumé using MB's Print Shop Résumé Pro Deluxe program
Learn the basics of personal computing.
Required Skills:
The ability to read and comprehend English well.
After this class you will be able to:
- Identify basic computer components and operating system features
- Execute basic mouse techniques
- Perform basic keyboard strokes and functions
- Identify and navigate the features of the Desktop
- Open and exit software programs
- Identify and navigate the various toolbars of the Windows environment
- Create and save a document to a disk
- PC Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn the basics of Microsoft Office Word.
Required Skills:
The ability to read and comprehend English well and the skills acquired in the PC Basics class. After this class you will be able to:
- Identify and navigate the basic features and elements of the MS Word window
- Execute multiple text selection techniques
- Apply basic formatting features
- Perform the Copy/Cut and Paste function
- Execute the Find and Replace, and Go To features
- Create documents using templates
- Activate and navigate the Drawing Tool
- Word I Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn more Microsoft Word features.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics and Word I Basics.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Navigate and adjust default settings in the Page Setup feature of the File menu
- Create headers and footers, footnotes and endnotes, table of contents and indexes
- Insert, move and resize graphics
- Engage and apply the Bullets and Numbering feature of the Format menu
- Insert special symbols and diacritical (accented) letters
- Insert captions, page numbers and page breaks
- Create, modify, enhance a table
- Word II Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics and Word I Basics.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Identify and navigate the basic features and elements of the MS Excel window
- Build a simple budget spreadsheet, using data entry and cell navigation skills
- Format and edit spreadsheet data, using common and unique formatting features
- Create simple formulas
- Use the AutoSum feature
- Explore the Paste Function feature for all other mathematical operations available in Excel
- Engage the Chart Wizard to create a chart, based on the simple budget database created in class
- Excel I Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn more Microsoft Excel features.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics, Word I Basics, Word II Intermediate and Excel I Basics.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Create and navigate multiple worksheets in a workbook
- Construct 3-D formulas, using the Consolidate feature, and execute the Paste Special function
- Engage and perform the Auto Outline, Data Validation and AutoFilter features
- Apply the Conditional Formatting feature to spreadsheet data
- Protect worksheet/workbook environment
- Excel II Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn the basics of Microsoft PowerPoint.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics, Word I Basics and Word II Intermediate.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Identify and navigate the basic features and elements of the Microsoft PowerPoint window
- Create a simple slide presentation using the AutoContent Wizard or design templates
- Identify and engage the three working panes of the PowerPoint environment, i.e., outline pane, slide pane, notes pane
- Edit and customize each slide, by engaging PowerPoint's "bells and whistles," e.g. custom animations, transition effects, sound, and insertion of graphics and links
- Insert additional slides
- Delete unwanted slides
- Activate the slide show presentation
- Save the presentation as a slide show (.pps) and as a presentation (.ppt)
- Send both files to your e-mail account in order to tweak as an after-class activity
- PowerPoint Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn the basics of the World Wide Web.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics and Word I basics
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Distinguish between the Internet and the World Wide Web (www.)
- Identify and navigate the basic elements and features of the Internet Explorer browser environment
- Navigate the Web using hyperlinks
- Explore the features and advantages of various search engines and directories
- Perform simple Web searches and interpret results
- Copy and paste Web text and graphics to a Word document
- Web I Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn more about the World Wide Web.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics, Word I Basics, Word II Intermediate and Web I Basics.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Perform advanced searches, using the Advanced Search feature of several search engines and directories
- Interpret the differences in the results of each advanced search strategy performed by different search engines
- Conduct natural language searches, using Ask.com and others
- Identify and interpret error messages produced by broken links
- Explore high-interest Web sites, e.g. genealogy, employment, health, foreign languages, business and finance, online tutorials, personal profiles, and more.
- Engage the Source Mode of the View menu to examine the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) that supports the Web environment
- Web II Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn the basics of Web-based e-mail.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics, Word I Basics and Web I Basics.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Identify and navigate the basic feature and elements of a Web-based e-mail environment
- Read, send, forward and reply to e-mail messages
- Apply formatting features to e-mail transmissions
- Attach documents and graphics to an e-mail transmission
- Activate e-mail options, e.g. signature, vacation responses, and more.
- Create folders
- Insert e-mail addresses into an address book
- Search online e-mail address resources
- Use appropriate e-mail etiquette
- Identify e-mail abuse
- E-mail Basics Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn the basics of simple Web page design.
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics, Word I Basics, Word II Intermediate, Web I Basics, Web II Intermediate and E-mail Basics. A significant amount of typing is required!
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Use four basic HyperText Markup Language tags
- Create a simple Web page using a text editor
- Apply the appropriate enhancement tags for formatting text, inserting images and creating hyperlinks
- Apply attributes to existing tags, e.g. background color to the background tag
- Save your .html document with its imported graphics to a disk (a free disk will be provided)
- HTML Basics Extra! - a three-hour presentation of the above, when advertised
Learn how to find quality online health information.
This class is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the DC Department of Health's HIV/AIDS Administration (DCDH/HAA), and is presented by the Project for Intermediate Advocates (PIA).
Required Skills
The ability to read and comprehend English well, and the skills acquired in PC Basics, Word I Basics and Web I Basics.
Class Objectives
You will be able to:
- Navigate medical Web sites
- Evaluate medical Web sites for updates and active links
- Research personal health issues
- Make informed health decisions based on information retrieved from creditable health Web sites
Online registration is required for this course.
Learn to use one of the most popular search engines to identify potential jobs and to post your résumé and cover letter for potential employers to consider! Also, learn how to apply to job postings, using one of three methods, and how to keep track of your application process in order to keep your job search organized.
In addition to online registration, registered customers must:
- Bring a prepared résumé and cover letter that are created in MS Word and saved on portable media, preferably a flash drive.
- Bring a list of job titles and/or subject areas for the Job Search and application processes.
- Be able to open and save résumé and cover letter to Desktop.
- Be able to navigate an e-mail environment and generate-mail messages
- Be able to navigate and complete online forms.
- Be able to create folders in the Windows environment
- Be able to read and comprehend English well
Walk-in access will be limited. Space permitting, only walk-ins who satisfy all seven prerequisites will be allowed to claim vacant seats, if any.
Class Objectives
You will be able to do the following:
- Navigate the features and menus of Monster.com job search engine.
- Evaluate medical Web sites for updates and active links
- Upload résumé and cover letter to Monster.com. Review demo of three types of application responses to a job posting.
- Conduct and save job searches.
- Apply to job postings, using one of three featured application processes on Monster.com.
- Generate a tracking system by creating folders to host employer contact info and follow-up communications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Classes
How often are classes offered?
Free computer classes are offered on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Classes are advertised on a monthly basis about one week before the first of the month. From month to month, class times vary in order to accommodate morning, afternoon and evening attendance during the library’s hours of operation. Each class is a one-time workshop and is scheduled for two to three hours of instruction and hands-on training. For this reason, customers are encouraged to repeat a class several times, in order to strengthen their skills, before moving on to the next level of classes. Our year-round schedule allows for this kind of repetition in the learning process.
View class descriptions for classes currently available.
Do I have to register to attend?
No, you do not have to register. All classes are available on a walk-in basis only. This means that seats will be filled on a first-come, space-available basis. There may be certain classes in the future that require registration. These classes will receive special notations both on the Web site and in the monthly calendar brochure. Seniors are welcome in all classes!
What happens if I am late for class?
Even though all classes are available on a walk-in basis, we highly recommend that you arrive on time for the class you wish to attend. Some classes may fill up, and then you will not be able to get a seat. Though latecomers may be admitted to the computer lab if there is space, it is with the understanding that the trainer will not be repeating covered material. This would be unfair to those who arrived on time. Please be on time!
How do I find the latest schedule?
About one week before the upcoming month of classes, the schedule of computer classes is distributed in brochure format to neighborhood libraries throughout the city. It is also available at the Central Information Desk at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (Main Branch). This same schedule is also posted on the library's Web site. Please consult the current schedule of computer classes in order to choose the class (es) you wish to attend.
Where do I go for class?
All classes at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (MLK) are held in our new, roomy Computer Lab (Room 311), located on the third floor at 901 G St. N.W. The library is accessible from both the Metro Center Station on the Red, Orange and Blue lines (11th Street exit) and from the Gallery Place Station on the Red, Green and Yellow lines (9th Street exit). Until November 15, free parking is available in the library's underground parking garage (accessed from 10th Street, then a left turn onto "G" Place, behind the library). The library's free one-hour parking can be extended for customers attending the two-hour computer classes. You must stop at the library security desk to get a special parking permit before going to the computer lab.
Effective November 15, 2009, public parking will no longer be available. The nearest paid
parking is available on 8th Street (PEPCO Building) and on H Street between 9th
and 10th streets.
Class Canceled: What do I do?
Due to circumstances outside the library's control, a scheduled class may sometimes be canceled. When we find out about a cancellation in time, we will leave a message on the computer class information line, 202-727-1298. The word “Canceled” will also be placed next to the class title on the online calendar. Sometimes, we may have to cancel a class because of a last-minute, emergency situation. We apologize if this happens. If you arrive to discover that a class has been canceled, please feel free to walk in on another class of the same or different type during the month.
If there is stormy weather, please call 202-727-1111 to find out if the library is open. Thank you, in advance, for your patience.
