Isn't there are manual available for download somewhere on the Internet?

The other option is to find child to help you. Do you have grandchildren, neighbor kids, etc. ;-)

they all have a user manual on the device you just have to look through the icons to find it. You will need to have it plugged in when you do the update you do not want any chance of it shutting down while that is in progress. Most will let you know about the update as soon as you have your wifi set up and it connects to their servers.

It probably comes with one or 2 book reader apps on it already but you can get many more at the various app stores. Not sure if yours will have access to the actual android market or not if no then I would suggest getting the amazon app store app and the getjar app so you can download and install apps from there. An app is the same as a program you would put on your pc just called apps instead.
Amazon Appstore Support

Download Amazon Appstore application for Android (watch hands on video)
if you scroll down on that link you can download the actual amazon store app there then when you open that on your Cruz it will link you to their app store and you can download m there what ever you like. Including the kindle app to read kindle books, I highly recommend the aldiko app for an ereader app it is my fave one. Nook reader will allow you to access all your books you may have on Barnes and Noble it will sync right up with it so you have your books immediately.

GetJar: App
this has the getjar app for you if you click on the HERE hilighted link that says download from here. Once that is on your Cruz you can download and install apps from there, they are great because they have a lot of pay apps for free.

If you tell me which model your Cruz is I can help you better. The fact that it is obviously android 2.1 currently and is upgradeable to 2.2 is somewhat unfortunate because there are a lot of apps that will not work on that old of a system, now if it would update to 2.3 you can use just about any app. I really thought I had read the Cruz one at big lots was upgradeable to 2.3.

Once it updates look in the settings area under about for the device info and post your model and your android version.

for library books they use epub format you will need a library card and you will need to use overdrive to access the library. many ebook reader apps use epub, nook is one of them. You want to get epub format as much as possible since it is much more useable.
How To Get Free eBooks From Libraries Using Overdrive

home page for VelocityMicro Cruz where you can find info, manuals, instructions etc for your particular model just look it up on that site
Velocity Micro Logo

Just let me know which one you have and I will be happy to help you get started. Android is super easy to use so don't be worried. Just jump in.

Most devices have the manual already installed. If you can't find it, Google: "Cruz tablet manual". When I did that, it came up as the first link....

Thank you, I hadn't even turned it on.
I plugged it in to charge and then came here.

It is a Cruz tablet T103

I have never used any ebooks in any formats nor any touch devices like phones, iPods etc. Completely unfamiliar.

I do not have children nor grandchildren nor do I know any teenagers.

Ok, now I've turned it on and I see the date and time which are wrong and a scrolly wheel thing. I truly have no clue.

Not sure how but I found the wi fi and actually remembered my network password and so now it is wi fi enabled and connected.

I found it on Amazon.com for sale with some information so am reading there. The Velocity Micro website gave me error messages.

do all the updates for it before you put anything on it because many times doing big updates can wipe it clean. Also you want to get the sd card for it (be sure you get the right kind) and you want to put your books and stuff on the sd card so you do not fill up the small internal memory, many apps can also be moved to the sd card and should be. If it does not automatically find the updates when you connect your wifi, you can go into settings and in that list there is an update option you can select and have it check for updates.

to get books from barnes and nobel or amazon you do have to set up an account on their website and have a user name and password even if you are only getting free books it looks just like a regular purchase only the price will be zero.
I would do that and go to barnes and noble and select some of their free ebooks to put in your nook account, then if it has the nook reader when you open it and select store it will show you your archived books you just select them and it will put them right on your Cruz(you do this while using the browser on the Cruz) If you do not have the nook reader just go to one of the links I provided you above and download the nook reader. Just go ahead and get started don't be scared of it.

Unfortunately though the one you got is pretty outdated, and you will need to use your finger nail to tap and it takes a harder tap or use a stylus.

but your best option is to fully read the user manual for it. this link is the pdf manual download it to your pc and save it so you have it.
Getting Started with - Cruz Tablet

also here at the cruz page
Cruz User Guides Available for Free Download

Support Center

this is important! this older model it sounds like you will have to do the update by putting it on the Sd card then moving it to the Cruz, so this model may not automatically get the updates.
How do I update the firmware on my Cruz Tablet T301?

What apps are compatible with the Cruz Tablet T100 series or T301?

It appears this model does not have the android market on it.
How do I install Android apps?

Since the market is not on the Cruz go to my original post and click the links I provided for you to download and install the amazon app apk and also the getjar app apk, once you install those on your cruz you can get your apps right from those 2 stores directly from your cruz and install them. Much easier than the directions they are providing.

since this is an older model with an older android you will have to do a lot more yourself but once you have it set up it will be functional.

I've been trying to do the update to Android 2.2 for hours now.

My Acer 1410 netbook has a card reader built in so I put the 8gb San Disc card which came with the Cruz tablet in it and downloaded the update.

When I put the SD card into the tablet and perform the reset and hold down the up volume button to trigger the update it won't complete the process. It does start is exactly as shown on their website but it stops partway, the status bar makes it about a third of the way to done and it flashes an error message too fast for me to read and then goes ahead and shows the main screen.

I've done it at least six times.

I've been googling and reading that some have a hardware problem that prevents the upgrade. :(

I suppose I can take it back to Big Lots...

I have downloaded and read the entire manual and various topics in the support library. I am now trying to update again using the other SD card that came with it. Maybe the first one was corrupted or something. No idea at this point.

I didn't ask for a Kindle Fire because I read six months ago that my library didn't work with Kindle but I now know that has changed. I also got a horse in May and figured that was a big enough expense for the year ;) but after traveling with six books in my suitcase and seeing everyone on the plane with an eReader I really did want to try one...

Tried again using the other SD card and it still won't update. It starts the process but then flashes an error message that I can't read and goes to the locked screen.

I would call their support number they seem to be closed right now but as soon as they open you could try that plus I would bet you can get a lot of help on how to do it on the specific cruz tablet forums, I know they were a lifesaver to me when I first got started with my android tablets.

I am seeing a lot of people having the same issue and saying that their support is not keeping up probably will be heavy calls right now. You may want to try the alternate method by installing the ADB driver as instructed here.

How do I update the firmware on my Cruz Tablet T103, T104, T105?

One of the reasons I had posted several times urging everyone to be sure to get a tablet with android 2.3 and no lower is because the older versions can be more difficult to update and to use, the newer versions pretty much all do the auto updates when you turn it on.

Depending on what was paid for this tablet you might be able to find a better alternative that does have android 2.3
The Vizio tablet I just got has 2.3 and is supposed to be updated to 3.0 soon, it is an awesome tablet. I paid $169 for mine. You can try googling around it is a Vizio Vtab1008.
or try googling for android 2.3 tablets.

the fire is not getting very good reviews currently, amazon has locked it down so much it is very amazon propritary and I am hearing the browser is not good at all since they tried to make their own browser.

I have spent quite a bit of time on the various android forums reading about your cruzT103, many many people are having the same update problem, it is not looking like an easy fix, some did say the support was able to finally help them but it took over 2 hours. The process is not one that is for a novice, I understand part of what they are suggesting and even that is not necessarily working.

they have said to try to take the sd card out and do a factory reset on the device and then try it again and be sure you hold the buttons down for plenty of time that has been an issue with many of the tablets you have to hold the buttons for longer than they tell you, the pandigital was that way too.

I have been reading Android specific forums too and I did take the card out and did a factory reset (all I had done was set up my wi fi) and tried again.

I was going to do the other mode of updating but I didn't understand a couple of things. When it says to download the ADB driver, I didn't understand if it meant to my PC or the tablet.

Neither my desktop nor my netbook recognize the tablet as a drive when I connect the USB cable, they don't call it android but null usb device.