John,
The libraries should go in a separate folder under the Libraries folder as in:
D:\arduino-1.0.5\libraries
I am pretty sure you can also import a library from a zip file which unzips the files and puts them in the same folder but I generally do it myself.
To use the library you need to make sure it is included. You can do this under the Sketch/Import Library menu.
All this does is add the appropriate #include statement to include the library header file(s).
Post a link to the board you have purchased. I think all you need to do is include the LiquidCyrstal Library with this statement
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
Once a library is imported, the examples that come with it appear under the File/Examples menu. start by running that.
eg. File/Examples/LiquidCrystal/HelloWorld will give you this.
/*
LiquidCrystal Library - Hello World
Demonstrates the use a 16x2 LCD display. The LiquidCrystal
library works with all LCD displays that are compatible with the
Hitachi HD44780 driver. There are many of them out there, and you
can usually tell them by the 16-pin interface.
This sketch prints "Hello World!" to the LCD
and shows the time.
The circuit:
* LCD RS pin to digital pin 12
* LCD Enable pin to digital pin 11
* LCD D4 pin to digital pin 5
* LCD D5 pin to digital pin 4
* LCD D6 pin to digital pin 3
* LCD D7 pin to digital pin 2
* LCD R/W pin to ground
* 10K resistor:
* ends to +5V and ground
* wiper to LCD VO pin (pin 3)
Library originally added 18 Apr 2008
by David A. Mellis
library modified 5 Jul 2009
by Limor Fried (http://www.ladyada.net)
example added 9 Jul 2009
by Tom Igoe
modified 22 Nov 2010
by Tom Igoe
This example code is in the public domain.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/LiquidCrystal
*/
// include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);
void setup() {
// set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:
lcd.begin(16, 2);
// Print a message to the LCD.
lcd.print("hello, world!");
}
void loop() {
// set the cursor to column 0, line 1
// (note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0):
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
// print the number of seconds since reset:
lcd.print(millis()/1000);
}
You need to look at this statement
// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);
and make sure the pin definitions agree with your LCD display.
I would start with the LiquidCrystal examples and make sure that works before moving on. You may need to also turn the backlight on and stuff like that to begin with.