Home Improvement and Do-It-Yourself (DIY)

A Research Guide

What key words will help me find information about home improvement & DIY?

Where can I find print resources about home improvement & DIY?

What are some good internet sites about homeimprovement & DIY?

SELECTED SOURCES AT PAMUNKEY REGIONAL LIBRARY

This guide tells how to find information in the library about home improvement and do-it-yourself projects.  If you need assistance, please feel free to ask the Library staff. 

1. What key words will help me find information about home improvement & DIY?

To find books that can be checked out, choose the SUBJECT search in PamCat, our online catalog, and type (one at a time) these subjects:

• Dwellings--Maintenance and repair

• Household appliances--Maintenance and repair

• Dwellings--Remodeling

• Do-it-yourself work

You may also want to browse subjects: when in the catalog, choose the "Browse" radio button and select "subject" from the drop down menu and type in “Dwellings” or "Household appliances". This will allow you to browse narrower subjects related to home improvement.

2. Where can I find print resources on home improvement and do-it-yourself in the library?

Most of the books will be shelved according to their Dewey Decimal Classification number in the Non-fiction Stacks at:

Please keep in mind that Juvenile non-fiction is not separated from the Adult non-fiction when you browse the shelves.

When you are doing research, make sure that you search in the reference area as well; these books cannot be checked out like the general collection can, but there is a lot of valuable information available.  Some reference books you might look at include the following:

Your branch library may not have all these resources, but other titles may be available to be checked out.  When in doubt, just ask a library staff member or e-mail a Reference Librarian at ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

3. What are some good internet sites about home improvement & DIY?

The library provides free access to the Auto Repair Reference Center in the library or from work, home, or school.  AARC includes information on both domestic and foreign makes of cars and trucks. There are more than 150 illustrated auto repair manuals on all repair procedures. Maintenance schedules, specifications charts, factory drawings, step by step photographs, wiring diagrams, and labor time estimates are also available.

You may also be interested in our Resources for Thrifty Living and DIY Auto Repair pathfinders.

There are a variety of excellent resources on Home Improvement and Do-It-Yourself projects available on the Internet, including the following:

• DIY Home Improvement Information

  DoItYourself.com is the leading independent home improvement and home repair website. It has been repeatedly honored among the Best on the Web, and was named "One of the Top 50 Sites in the World" by Time Magazine.

• Do it Yourself: Ideas for your Home and Garden

  This do it yourself site is brought to you by Better Homes & Gardens.

• DIY Network

  This web site is brought to you by the only television station bringing you nothing but do it yourself featured programming. DIY’s programs and experts answer the most sought-after questions and offer creative projects for do-it-yourself enthusiasts.

• The Blue Book of Building and Construction

  The Blue Book is a regionalized directory of commercial construction professionals listing: general and subcontractors, architects, engineers, regional and national manufacturers.

• Bureau of Automotive Repair

  This agency protects California consumers in the automotive repair marketplace and implements the vehicle emissions reduction program.

• Kelley Blue Book

  New car pricing and values for used cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft.

• Edmunds Car Buying Guide

  Provides complete, clear, timely, accurate and unbiased information needed to make informed car purchasing and ownership decisions.

• The Old Car Manual Project

  Wiring diagrams, pictures, manuals, carburetors and more! For the repair of some older models.

• Autotropolis

  Assists consumers in researching and purchasing new or used vehicles. Provides interactive research tools.

• This Old House

  You've seen them on TV, now check out "America's most trusted home improvement brand" online.  Tons of advice, plans, and tips are available for most any home improvement project.

• Hometime

  the TV show that’s been on PBS for twenty-two years and in commercial syndication for seven years -- is also your best source for home improvement information on the web. With hundreds of pages of How-To Articles and a growing library of How-To Streaming Video Clips.

• McGraw-Hill Construction Network for products: online resource for building product information (formerly Sweet's Catalog)

  A construction industry online publication containing product and project information.

• HGTV: Home and Garden TV network

  "America's leader in lifestyle programming" has instructions for thousands of home and garden projects, video tips, and more on a variety of topics, including decorating, home improvement, landscaping, and organizing.

• Family Handyman (also available in the library)

  Looking for remodeling tips for your home? Get easy home repair how-tos including kitchen remodeling ideas, garage storage and basement finishing tips and much more from this online and print publication.

• BobVila.com

  Do it yourself with help from home improvement and remodeling expert Bob Vila.  Find all the help you need for all your projects with our videos, articles, tips, blogs and more!

• Better Homes & Gardens Home Improvement

  Find tools and guides for your next project, be inspired by slide shows of homes around the country, learn tips and tricks for making your life easier, and more!

• ACMEHowTo.com

  Learn how to fix appliances, repair electrical problems, resolve plumbing problems, set up home theater equipment, get gardening tips, repair a PC, fix doors and windows and much, much more. Learn how from our free repair guides and do it yourself.

• Hammerzone

  Ever wish you could be more handy around the house?  Hammerzone has step-by-step instructions for tons of projects for your home.

• Plans Now

  Huge compendium of all kinds of woodworking and home improvement projects, available for free and immediate download.

• Backwoods Home Magazine (also available in the library)

  delivers authoritative, useful do-it-yourself information on sustainable, self-reliant living. Bi-monthly issues are packed with information and resources on rural land, mortgage-free building, solar and renewable energy, chemical-free gardening, wholesome cooking, home business, small livestock, and vehicle and workshop projects.

• Mother Earth News (also available in the library)

  A country lifestyle online and print publication that helps readers with how-to information on home improvement, organic gardening, small business development, outdoor recreation, wood working projects, and natural country cooking from scratch.

• Easy2DIY.com

  Home improvement tutorials in a huge number of categories. Locate your needs by Category, Location, or Task and then click the Tutorials tab.

• National Association of Home Builders

  NAHB provides information on remodeling, hiring a professional remodeler, and making a home safe for people of all ages and physical abilities.

• Fine Homebuilding (also available in the library)

  This print and online publication features guides to renovations and building new homes, as well as smaller home improvement projects.

Search all of the above online resources with our new Google search box

You may also want to check out the resources at the Internet Public Library. These web sites will provide you with reliable information.

As always, please feel free to ask a Library Staff member, or email us at Ask a Librarian!

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compiled by the PRL Reference and Training Department (2010) 

PRL Website: http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/

E-mail: ask@pamunkeylibrary.org