Information Highway Is a Writer’s Fast Lane : Lectures, reference books among the ways to learn how to merge with the newest technologies.

Freeways and highways are obviously created to get us from here to there. And they take years to build. We watch the maddeningly slow progress, and by the time the new lanes of concrete are finally finished we are again experiencing gridlock before reaching our destination.

Meanwhile, the information highway is exploding and taking us from here to there in seconds. Now, instead of asking about astrological signs, people want to know your fax number and e-mail moniker.

And our way of doing business as writers has changed irrevocably. The computer has forced us to create and think in new ways and once we master the access codes, researching a subject becomes an exciting adventure instead of a tedious chore.

How does one drive onto the information highway? Ventura resident Mark Gibbs, author of “Navigating the Internet,� suggests attending lectures and classes and reading his book to learn how to use the technologies. He also recommends reading the book “Doing Business on the Internet� by Mary Cronin and buying the easy-to-understand package called Internet in a Box. For more information sources, consider the just-published “Internet Yellow Pages� and “The Internet Complete Reference� by Harley Hahn and Rick Stout of Santa Barbara.

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If you need a literary fix, consider gathering together a few like-minded colleagues and attend the book signing and reception to celebrate publication of “Kirsch’s Handbook of Publishing Law� by lawyer and book reviewer Jonathan Kirsch at 7 p.m. tonight at Samuel French Bookshop, 11963 Ventura Blvd., Studio City.

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The on-going storytelling hour for children at the Ojai Table of Contents, 208 E. Ojai Ave. will feature businesswoman Clara Dunwoody, who will read at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

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Betty Jo McDonald, a professional garden designer, will demonstrate how to plan a garden on paper before planting, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura.

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Ted Padova and William Harrell, authors of “Adobe Photoshop 3.0, Special Edition� will demonstrate how to use this graphics program to create dazzling effects, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble.

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Plan Ahead: Leland Meitzler will cover all aspects of genealogical research at his Heritage Quest Road Show seminar for members and guests of the Conejo Valley Genealogical Society at the Conejo Valley Education Center, 1025 Old Farm Road, Thousand Oaks. The seminar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. The fee for those registering by Jan. 21 is $32 and includes a one-year subscription to Heritage Quest magazine. Lunch will also be provided for an additional $5. Call 497-8293 or 496-0653.