Cedar Rapids Public Library offers help with home projects

Soon the crackle of leaves underfoot and frosty temperatures will signal the change of seasons already reflected on the calendar.

It's time for homeowners to make home repairs before winter weather sets in. Find resources at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Books explain how to complete these projects safely and economically - and even have some fun with other do-it-yourself projects.

Every homeowner should read Charlie Wing's “How Your House Works.” A description of virtually all appliances and systems and how they function helps homeowners understand their dwellings. The detailed, labeled diagrams and “Before Calling for Help” sidebars set this guide apart from other run-of-the-mill manuals. There is common sense advice that can resolve problems without costly repairs calls.

Five home improvement specialists combine their expertise in “Do-it-Yourself,” a practical repair, maintenance, and home decorating manual. Mike Collins, David Holloway, Brenda Legge, Diane Carr and John McGowan delineate planning, tools and techniques, equipment and materials, maintenance and repair, carpentry and decorating. A glossary, lists of suppliers and addresses, and an index round out the text. This book contains extensive photos and diagrams for step-by-step processes.

If you are daunted by repairs or if you have forked over a lot of money for a fix that you later realized you could've made, check out “Trade Secrets: Fix Your Home like a Pro!” There are easy-to-follow instructions that will let you make your own repairs and save big bucks. Published by Reader's Digest, this softcover selection has suggestions for establishing an essential tool kit and the techniques to use it throughout the house. From doors and windows to appliances and fixtures (plus more), the know-how and directions here are remarkably clear and concise.

After reading Popular Science's “The Big Book of Hacks” you may want to become a hacker. No, not someone who breaks into computer accounts. A hacker in this context is a person who tears apart an item and consolidates its pieces with other components to create something new. There are diverse inspired home improvement hacks such as designing the perfect gaming chair, turning an old TV into an aquarium, and molding a retro lamp base. Guys can really ramp up their man caves with hacks from the Geek Toys, Gadget Upgrades, and Things that Go sections. The Pop Science publication is a fascinating and entertaining tome for those who like to tinker. For more information on home improvement sources, visit the library website Crlibrary.org. Under eLibrary, select Research Databases, Ebscohost, Hobbies and Crafts, and Home Improvements.

Melia Tatman is a librarian at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.