Ford: Dead battery, ford taurus gl, ford taurus

Question
I can start my batter with a jump, but after it sits for the night or a few hours its dead again.
Thoughts?

its a ford taurus, GL, 96, I know one year after your perference but I figured its a common to all makes.

thanks for you help and consideration.

Answer
Best recommendation is to got to the local parts house or walmart and have the charging system tested they will do it for free.  They will help determine if it is the battery or the alternator.  If you do not have one of these close.  The redneck method of checking is to jump the car have it running, remove a battery cable from the battery if it dies the alternator needs to be replaced if the car still runs then you desperately need to replace your battery.