This is NOT a recommendation but it might be useful for some people. Ancestry [which hosts these mailing lists through it's Rootweb branch] is offering a beginning genealogy class online beginning January 14. Note that for the two weeks of the class you get unlimited access to the Ancestry.com databases. http://www.irishgenealogy.com/class/computer-genealogy.htm The National Genealogy Society also has an online beginners course: http://www.inetba-asp.com/sites/ngsoc/CourseAbout.asp They also offer a home study course: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/eduhsc.htm