Get in Touch with Your Inner Dummy Challenge

A few weeks ago The Little Sister was peering at the bookshelves with a curious look on her face, "Mom, what are all those books? Those yellow and black ones?" 

The Mom responded without thinking, "those are Dummies books." 

I wish we had a photo of her face at that moment: a mix of giggles and wisdom trying to work out in her head how there could be dummy books. 

The Mom went on to explain, ""Dummies Books" are written by people who are experts in their field to help other people understand the subject."

We own several Dummies Books. We frequents library book sales and always looks for the yellow and black covers: Sewing for Dummies, Yoga for Dummies, Nonprofit Kit for Dummies, Houseplants for Dummies. 

There is something comforting about referring to a Dummies Book for help. Mortgages for Dummies helped us navigate buying our first house. Houseplants for Dummies helped The Mom stop killing plants. Yoga for Dummies, got The Mom over her fear of yoga, there was something about relaxing in a room full of people just didn't work in her head.

Rminiscing about our Dummies Books got The Sisters and The Mom into full BFWP brainstorming mode, there seemed to be a challenge here. The Big Sister got it, "we can invite readers to tell us what THEY are experts on, what Dummies book THEY could write!" 

The Mom asked The Sisters what Dummies Book they could author, wondered about what subject they were experts on, and without hesitation they answered (read the comments to find out). 

Now it is your turn.  

Here is your Challenge: We all have some special thing, a talent, a secret hobby, a career, a sport, a trick, something we are experts on. 

Don't worry you do not have to actually write the book, just tell us in the comment below what Dummies book Y-O-U could write!

We searched www.worldcat.org for Dummies
Books and the search came up with 19,000 titles,
click here to check out the search
and find a Dummies book at a library near you!

*Updated, originally published March 2011. 

10 Ways to Give the Library for the Holidays

Need the PERFECT holiday gift? How about a gift that is simple, inexpensive, and local; a gift that literally keeps on giving?

Give 

the

Library. 

No, we're not suggesting the WHOLE thing, would there even be a box that big? We can imagine our library wrapped in a BIG bow. We came up with 10 ways to give friends and relatives The Library as a gift! Enjoy:

Get your new bags at
all branches of Traverse
Area District Library!

1. Give library bags or wrap presents in your local libraries re-usable bags! (This suggestion is inspired by Traverse Area District Library's wonderful move for the environment: reusable bags in a rainbow of colors.)
2. Give a library card! Know someone that doesn't have a library card, a child perhaps? Slip a library card form into their stocking or into a christmas card and explain that you are giving them thousands of books, movies, music and oh, so much more for Christmas.
3. Give a "Friends of the Library" Membership. A great way to support libraries and often the membership is inexpensive --give a lifetime membership, very generous!
4. Shop at library gift shops. Our local library has an amazing gift shop with lovely bookish gifts, cards and treasures. According to Carolyn Moehle, Manager of the TADL gift shop, "we have tons of stocking stuffers!" Contact the library for gift shop hours. Shop online via New York Public Library's extensive gift shop. Call your local library and see if they have a gift shop!
5. Giving someone an eReader? Check to see if their local library has OverDrive. OverDrive is an amazing online resource that many libraries use to give access to ebooks and audio books to patrons. Click here to see if your local library uses OverDrive. Then give the eReader with literally thousands  of books, wow!
6. Giving books for Christmas? Stop by your library and get information on how to donate books. Then in the gift card suggest that when the giftee finishes the book they donate it to the library!
7. Donate books to a library in the name of a friend. Be sure to call you library and ask what books they need. Then put a bookplate with "Donated by: your friend's name", take a photo of the book plate and slip it into a card with an explanation! We always love when we come across books at the library that were given in honor.

8. 

   The lovely Holiday Book Sale at 

   Interlochen Public Library

   Shop Library Book Sales. Many libraries have on going book sales with all sorts of wonderful options. Contact your library to see what they have available.  
9. Have a friend that is notorious for racking up library fines? Stop by their branch and deposit a bit of money into their account. Due to privacy issues the library can't tell you how much they owe --but they can credit an account! Take a photo with the librarian as you pay the fines (with big smiles) and slip it into a gift card!
10. Give a library date. Invite the giftee on a library adventure. Often there are music and special events at the library --spend the day at the library with your friend. Remember the best way to give the library is to USE IT!!

Give the Library a present for Christmas:

• Clear out your bookshelves and donate them to your local branch.
• Give your librarians a present! We like to give a big basket of oranges and chocolate, lots of chocolate... lots and lots of chocolate.
• The simplest gift: Use your library. That is the best way to show you care.

Now get out there

and 

Use 

Your 

Library!