<p>As web based designer who has designed web sites using tables but never with css, how can a novice get started with css?</p>

<p><hr/>
<strong>Related SO posts</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2084/can-you-recommend-a-good-css-online-resource-or-book">SO - Css Book &amp; website for CSS</a></p>

<p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/132587/the-best-css-tutorialsiteblogbook">SO - Css blog</a></p>

Get started by reading tutorial web site first. This way, he will see how to create simple CSS and see the benefits.
http://www.w3schools.com/css/
http://www.echoecho.com/css.htm
http://www.csstutorial.net/
http://www.w3.org/Style/Examples/011/firstcss
http://www.westciv.com/style_master/academy/css_tutorial/
Than, I suggest since he knows how to design website to check other website source and see their CSS files.
Zen Garden
is a good start.
If he requires more information, he can always get a book (I do not think it's necessary but if he wants a book), he could try
Core-Css
.