Do-It-Yourself
Crafting, hobbies, home improvement and DIY repair jobs.
Chilton Library provides photographs, diagnostics, step-by-step repair procedures, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for automobiles and light trucks. Domestic and import vehicle information updated monthly.
Check out the Chilton Library tutorial from Niche Academy.
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Gale OneFile: Gardening and Horticulture
Gale OneFile: Gardening and Horticulture contains articles and book selections for gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts of all levels.
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Gale OneFile: Home Improvement contains home improvement articles covering topics such as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, and zoning requirements for hobbyists and professionals.
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Gale Presents: Udemy offers thousands of on-demand video courses taught by world-class instructors across 75 categories for upskilling in the areas of business, technology, and design, as well as courses on health and well-being, the arts and language learning. Courses are replaced monthly with new material addressing emerging topics. On-demand videos in eight different languages taught by native-speaking instructors are also included.
Signing up for a Udemy account is required. If you've signed up with another library, you can use that login. If you have a direct account with Udemy, you need to create a new account after signing in with your Library card and password.
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SAMS Photofact Online
Access to SAMS Photofact Online will end on December 31, 2024.
Schematics and wiring diagrams for TVs, DVD players, LCD & HDTV, radios and VCRs
Access to SAMS Photofact Online will end on December 31, 2024.
SAMS Photofacts offers more than 200,000 schematics and wiring diagrams for TVs, radios, DVD players and VCRs. New manuals are published every month covering the latest in televisions, including HDTV, plasma and LCD monitors.
The following types of manuals are available:
- SAMS Photofact manuals contain a complete set of schematics with voltages, wave forms, component location guides, parts list and service adjustments covering TVs, VCRs, DVDs, radios and audio equipment (MHF).
- SAMS Quickfact manuals are designed to help with the repair of newer TVs including LED, LCD and plasma televisions. These manuals include a power supply schematic, a board placement diagram with connector charts, component locations, service adjustments and parts list.
- OEM Service manuals contain the manufacturer's service data that they release to repair centers. These may contain some detailed drawings, diagrams, schematics or parts list provided directly by the manufacturer at their discretion.
- OEM Owners manuals are the operating manual consumers get when they purchase a product. They usually contain a small troubleshooting section for connecting to other peripherals and equipment. They almost never contain detailed drawings, diagrams, schematics or part lists.
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SkillMill by Interplay Learning
SkillMill by Interplay Learning offers skilled trades training courses online on HVAC, solar, plumbing, electrical and more. Develop job skills at your own pace through expert-led video lessons and digital training simulations. With SkillMill, you can:
- Explore careers in the skilled trades.
- Gain continuing education units and prepare for certification exams like EPA 608, OSHA 10, NATE and more.
- Learn how to complete home repair projects.
Accessing SkillMill
An email address is required to use this resource. (Need an email address?) Click Register now above to complete the registration form. You will receive an activation email from marketing@interplaylearning.com 3-5 business days after registration.
Please note the registration form will not be available if all licenses are in use.
Tech requirements
- For the best experience, download the desktop app to your Windows computer or iPad.
- You can access SkillMill in-browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended) on most devices.
- Video courses are playable on all devices.
- Training simulations are only available on tablets, computers, and VR headsets.
Don’t have a computer or internet access at home? Cardholders can check out Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots to take home. (Need a Library Card?)
- Need help getting started? Take a welcome assessment to get course recommendations: Skills Assessments.
- SkillMill Tutorial: Click through an interactive tour of the user dashboard, course catalog, a simulation example and more.
- For technical issues within the SkillMill platform, click Report a Problem at the bottom of the page or email support@interplaylearning.com.
- For Library questions, Ask a Librarian or give us a call at 512-974-7400, option 1.
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