Disclaimer: Los Angeles Public Library is providing these lists as a service to help the public effectively use information available from databases and other resources. Los Angeles Public Library does not endorse any particular free web-based e-mail service.

Free e-mail is available from several companies through the Internet. Web-based e-mail accounts are available from any computer that has Internet access, including the Internet computers at Los Angeles Public Library. To sign up for a free e-mail account:

1. Choose which company you want to use for your e-mail account. For a list of Internet sites that offer free e-mail accounts, click here.
2. Sign up: Look for a link that says Sign Up, Sign Me Up, Sign Up Now, Sign Up Today, or something similar. Click on the link.
3. A registration form will appear. Be sure to read all of the instructions and fill it out completely. Some of the common elements of the form are:

1. User Name: This is also called Member Name, Log-in Name, Member ID, ID, and Sign-in Name. This will be the first part of your e-mail address. You can use letters or numbers or both. Keep it short – 8 characters or less is best. Make it unique – you will need to use something that nobody else has used already.
2. Password: Your password must be different from your user name. Choose something that you will remember, but that is hard to guess. Some companies require your password to be a certain length, so make sure you read the instructions carefully.
3. Confirm Password: Most services require that you type your password twice to make sure that it is correct. This is because you will only see asterisks * when you type your password, not the actual letters and numbers you type. The form might ask you to Re-enter Password, Re-type Password, Verify Password, or Repeat Password.
4. Security Question: Many companies, although not all of them, will ask you to choose a security question. This can be used to identify you if you forget your password. It is also called a Secret Question, Hint Phrase, Password Hint, or a Reminder Question. Most of the time you will choose a question from a list, but sometimes you will need to type in your own question. In the next box, you will need to type in the answer to the question.
5. Information About You: All of the e-mail services are going to want some information about you. All of them will want your name. You can use initials, although some of them require at least three letters in the name. They will ask for your address, and/or zip code, and country. Some of them want your current e-mail and telephone number, although these are usually optional. You may also be asked one or more of the following: birthday, gender, occupation, language, education, marital status, income, industry, and interests. These will usually be in a drop-down menu where you will select from a list.
6. Special Offers: At the end of the form, many services ask you if you want your e-mail address listed in a directory. Some services will also give you the option to sign up to receive e-mail messages about new features, special offers, and/or products and services. This section generally has boxesand checkmarks. Click in the box to either remove or add a checkmark.
7. Register: After you have completed the form, click on the button that says Register, Sign Up, Next, Done, or Submit.
8. You may get a message asking you to select a new user name if the name you selected is already being used. Suggestions of alternate names may be made for you. Enter new names until one is accepted.

4. Make sure that you write down your user name, password, and e-mail address so that you do not forget them!

Using Your E-Mail Account

Checking Your E-mail

• When you want to check your e-mail, go back to the web site of your e-mail provider. For example, type www.hotmail.com in the location box.
• Type in your User Name and Password in the boxes.
• Click on Sign In.
• This will take you to your Mailbox or Inbox where you will see any new messages.

Reading Your E-mail

• Click on the subject of the message you want to read.
• The message will be displayed along with information about whom it is from and when it was sent.

Replying to Messages

• With the message open that you want to reply to, click on Reply.
• It will automatically insert the e-mail address of the person you are replying to in the To box.
• In the Subject box, it inserts Re: followed by the subject of the e-mail that you are replying to.
• With most e-mail services, you will see the original message in the message box. To type your reply, click at the top of the box and type your message.
• Click on Send when you are done with your reply.

Writing E-mail

• Click on Compose Message (Your service may use a different phrase, but it will be something similar).
• Click in the To box and type in the e-mail address of the person you want to send the message to.
• Click in the Subject box and type in a subject for your e-mail.
• Click in the big empty box and type your message.
• Click on Send when you are done with your message.