Major events shouldn’t shock you into learning, but when my girlfriend was worried about her deadbolt  and windows that don’t lock, I realized that I needed a little help to keep the place safe.

With so many hits for “fixing a deadbolt” on Google, I didn’t want a million answers. I wanted the right one. While I was in a fix-it mood, I also wanted to check and see how much a mechanic would charge me to replace the power steering reservoir on my Volvo.

Could the library help me with all that?

Of course they can!

Home Repair:

Purchased after Superstorm Sandy, the Do-It-Yourself Reference Center has a collection of digitized Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement projects. After searching for deadbolts, I quickly found a few full-color articles on installing and repairing locks. Have a door that doesn’t lock anymore because it’s warped? I did, until I found the article on how to fix it.

Just looking for a project to start? The Do-It-Yourself Reference Center is broken into six categories: A-Z Topics, Decorating, Electrical, Maintenance, Outdoor, Plumbing, Remodeling, and Woodworking. They also have handy tools like a conversion chart, Videos, Glossary and Homeowner Journal. For big jobs that require a contractor, there’s even a section called ‘Working with Contractors”. Curious about your contractor’s licenses? Suffolk County maintains a license database through the department of Consumer Affairs.

Of course, if you prefer books, we have a great selection of Home Repair Books and Do-It-Yourself Projects. And even more on Remodeling. Any available Ebooks that were purchased by Suffolk County will also show up in these results, too.

For those with older homes and an interest in its past, The Local History Room has a page on Researching the History of your House.

Are you a new homeowner, and completely new to home repair? The Community Development Corporation of Long Island has a training course on Home Maintenance, and charges a sliding scale fee.

For Seniors:

Are you, or do you know a senior that could use some minor home, condo or apartment repair at a low cost? The Town of Brookhaven Helping Hand: Residential Repair Program provides assistance with minor home repairs that do not require the skills of a licensed craftsperson. Call them at: 451-9092 (9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.)

Looking for help with a larger project? According to the Suffolk County Department of the Aging Resource Book, they suggest that residents contact their town Community Development Office. Click here to visit the Town of Bookhaven Community Development page. Or call: (631) 451-6600.

Car Repair:

The Library holds a large collection of Car, Truck and Motorcycle Manuals by Chilton, Haynes and others. Do you know the 1 simple trick that can save Library visitors hundreds? By coming into the library, you have full access to Alldata AND Mitchell ProDemand. These professional mechanic databases are easy to use and can also tell you about any open recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) sent to Mechanics. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s site Safercar.gov can also let you know what open recalls are on your vehicle through a VIN check. Tip: If you get a repair from a mechanic, ask for a TSB. With proper negotiation, a TSB (which is a known defect in your vehicle, yet not a recall) could result in a lower repair bill.

For those outside of the library, you still have access to the Auto Repair Reference Center.

Decided that you’d rather sell it? We have a variety of used car resale guides, too.