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Home | Learning | Libraries | Computers, the Internet and IT training

Computers, the Internet and IT training

Last updated: 12 March 2012 11:57 UK

Portsmouth City Council provides free access for members of the library to the Internet, word processing and other computer facilities in all of its nine public libraries across the city. Computers can be booked up to 7 days in advance and for session lengths ranging from 15 minutes to 1 hour. A generous allowance of 4 hours Internet access a day across the city has been allocated to everyone. Call your nearest branch for more details or to reserve a computer.

What's available?

• Internet access and e-mail: Search the Web and communicate with friends and family
• Microsoft Office 2000: Word, Powerpoint, Access, Publisher and Excel. Microsoft Office 2007 is available at Central Library
• Scanners: use our scanners to convert documents and photographs into digital format
• Multilingual support: The public computers provide support for users in a wide selection of languages
• Blind and visually impaired support: Screen reading and/or screen magnification software (Zoomtext and Jaws) is available in most of the libraries in Portsmouth to assist blind and visually impaired users to use the computer facilities
• Dreamweaver: Web design software (Central Library only)
• Photoshop: image editing software (Central Library only)

Wifi

Wireless Internet access is available at Central, Carnegie, Southsea and Alderman Lacey libraries. Access is free and unlimited to Portsmouth library members. Please note that it is not permitted to plug laptops or other devices into library power points, so please make sure your battery is fully charged.

Computer classes

Do you want to get online but can't use a computer? Central and Southsea Libraries are now UK Online Centres and we are offering free courses to help you get started and improve your confidence. Working through Go-On courses on the Internet, you can take your first steps with computers and the Internet and learn at your own pace with support from friendly staff.

It's so important to be able to use the Internet; you can save money, keep in touch with family and friends, find a job, swap your council house and make your life a lot easier.

We meet at Central Library every Thursday from 9am-12 noon and at Southsea Library every Monday from 2pm-4.45pm. If you are interested in having a go, please call Tom Williams on 023 9268 8037 or Pat Garrett on 07960091722.

Computer training for the visually impaired

If you are visually impaired and want to learn how to use computers, we can help. We run 2 drop-ins a week and can offer support, training and advice. The first is every Thursday at Southsea Library from 10am to 12 noon. The second is every Wednesday at Central Library from 2pm to 3.30pm.  

For further information, please contact Community Library Services at 023 9268 8998