DAPHNE, Ala. — A crash course in computer research skills will be given at the Daphne Public Library’s AVL: Research Express workshop on Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.

The Alabama Virtual Library contains a range of databases useful to all ages. Encyclopedias specially designed for elementary students and sites such as Medline that contain extensive medical information can be accessed through the service, which is free to all residents with a library card.

Presenters Louise Youngblood, young adult services librarian, and Deborah Norris, reference librarian, will explain navigation of the database network and the range of topics that can be researched there.

The service can come in handy not just for research projects, but for everyday life.

“There’s an auto repair site that explains vehicle repairs according to the make, model and year of your car,” Norris said. “That could help anybody.”

AVL can be accessed from home, so you don’t have to come to the library to use the Web-based system, Norris said.

“This is our tax dollars at work,” she said. “It’s paid for by the legislature.”

Thursday’s presentation will show how to effectively use AVL’s search engine, though Norris believes the site is more user-friendly than the open Web.

“Another good thing about AVL is that it’s contained,” she said, referring to the fact that unlike most search engines, the AVL links to only reputable sources and journals.