If I may, use your public library, they have or can get books on beekeeping, also join your local beekeeping club/assn. for hands on experience, check with your extention agent for local beekeepers.

Try these two forums, lots of activity and good advice for beginners;
www.beesource.com also www.beemaster.com then click on Beemaster international forums to enter.

A number of beekeepers from Kansas post on these two sites.

Lots of info. on the net about bees just do a Google search.

See you there,
PCM & BEE-BOP

I agree 100% with contacting your local county extension or your state dept of agriculture. They can almost certainly put you in touch with local bee clubs and/or classes where you can meet other beekeepers nearby. You can't learn it all from books or the internet.