Talk to your local VoTech or Adult Ed programs and see what is available in addition to anything anyone familiar with shapers can teach you. I've been doing woodworking on the side for probably 50 years and that includes having a shaper. Shapers are very verstile and useful tools but have both positive and negatives compared to router tables. I've used a router table before but prefer using a shaper unless you are using actual router bit. Shapers IMO don't handle the speed required for router bits but then again a router is not reversible nor can they handle cutters with the size or stacking options available with a shaper.
Just some thoughts.