Are you “handy”? If not, you’re not alone. According to a Craftjack.com study, 73% of Americans polled attempted a do-it-yourself home project between March 2020 and June 2022, most likely at least in part inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, those projects didn’t always turn out the way they wanted: of that group, 27% started a DIY project they never finished, 29% actually broke something in their homes while attempting the project, and 8% reported regretting taking on a project.

Even if someone’s previous attempts at craftsmanship have ended in epic failure, that’s no reason not to try again. In fact, apart from saving money, many psychological benefits come with trying to do it yourself. It can give you a sense of accomplishment, help you bond with friends and family, provide a positive distraction from the negative things going on in your life, and give you much-needed exercise. Learning how to do it yourself is good for you, and even failures can help you cultivate resilience and strengthen your growth mindset.

For public library patrons who find DIY projects a serious challenge, there are plenty of resources that can help; it’s just a matter of finding the right ones. DIY videos can be a great place to start as they provide a much-needed visual component to learning how to perform an activity. Often, seeing a technique in motion is easier to follow and understand than looking at a two-dimensional diagram in a manual. DIY videos can also inspire watchers to take on projects or techniques they otherwise wouldn’t have considered. They can offer a look at what works…as well as what doesn’t. 

This is why Access Video On Demand streaming video for public libraries features hundreds of home and how-to videos, including many for aspiring DIYers. Access Video’s mobile-friendly platform allows patrons to stream videos anytime, anywhere—even while putting up those floating bookshelves in the living room. Here are just a few of the videos DIYers can find on Access Video On Demand.

How to: Paint a Room Series (Wiley)

These short, easy-to-follow videos walk you through everything you need to know to do a killer paint job. From calculating how much paint you need, to fixing issues, and cleaning up once you’re done, you’ll be a master painter in no time!

George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations Series (BBC)

How do you turn a building that was never intended for domestic use into a welcoming home? In this uplifting series, architect George Clarke breathes new life into industrial, commercial, and agricultural buildings. From a former bank to a giant granary, George helps homemakers convert their property into a beautiful place to live. Inspired by the relaxation of planning regulations and the current enthusiasm for renovation, this is inventive and instructive entertainment.

George Clarke’s Old House New Home Series 6 (BBC)

George Clarke helps people make their period homes fit for modern life, including a 16th-century listed Cotswold cottage with some nasty surprises, a Kent coast house needing a super-cool bedroom for an eight-year-old, an Edwardian arts-and-crafts terraced house in South London where the amazing original features need plenty of TLC, and much more. 

How to: DIY around the House Series (Wiley)

These short, easy-to-follow videos walk you through fixing and installing things around the house. From electrics to plumbing, your house will be tip-top in no time!

DIY SOS: The Big Build Series 30 (BBC)

Presenter Nick Knowles and the team issue a call to arms and recruit friends, family, and local trades to help transform the homes of families across Britain, including those whose DIY projects were abandoned or went wrong partway through.

Disaster DIY Series (Distribution360) 

Disaster DIY is the exciting hit show about do-it-yourselfers who have failed at their own home renovations and are in desperate need of some on-the-job training! Host and contractor Bryan Baeumler arrives to save a family from a reno disaster and teach the DIYer how to fix his own mess. With his rapier wit and humorous brand of tough love, Bryan shows the DIYer his mistakes, then teaches the safe and proper way to fix them. Family and friends of the DIYer comment and join in to watch as Bryan takes the DIYer from a handyman disaster to a hero. (Available in the U.S. & Canada.)

How Not to DIY Series (BBC)

We spend billions a year on DIY materials, and every day, more and more people are filming their handiwork. This is the show where anything that can go wrong, does go wrong. Delve into the toolbox of disaster and visit the homes of DIY nightmares throughout Britain. 

Leave It to Bryan Series (Distribution360)

When homeowners want to kick-start their dream renovation project, they call construction guru Bryan Baeumler for help. Given the choice of three projects, Bryan helps the homeowner separate their wants from what he believes to be their needs. Taking their keys and waving them goodbye, Bryan leaves the homeowner guessing as to which of the three projects he is going to take on. Will they trust his instincts and reset their renovation expectations in this ultimate renovation tug of war? (Available in the U.S. & Canada.)

Bryan Inc. Season 2 Series (Distribution360)

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler brave the tumultuous world of residential renovations for clients. This is a new challenge for Sarah as she continues to juggle the demands of family and work life, while taking on even greater responsibilities. Meanwhile, Bryan is expanding the construction arm of his business to tackle even more projects! (Available in the U.S. & Canada.)

Kirstie Allsopp’s Home Style Series (BBC)

Watch British television presenter and craft aficionado Kirstie Allsopp create a personalized doormat using vintage font; transform bored, tired chairs into vibrant, colorful pieces; create concrete lamps to add a wow to any sitting room; and turn out handmade coasters from old tiles.

Tackle My Reno Series (Distribution360) 

Professional football player and handyman Sebastian Clovis helps homeowners who need help to finish renovations, tackling problems such as a partially demolished kitchen, a nightmare basement, and an incomplete master and en suite renovation. (Available in the U.S.)

Welcome to My Farm Series (APT)

Join host Lisa Steele, New England’s very own backyard chicken keeper and Master Gardener, as she welcomes viewers to her farm in the woods of Maine, where she and her husband live with a mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese, a corgi, and a barn cat. In Welcome to My Farm, Lisa shares a glimpse into her country lifestyle—cooking and DIYing her way from the coop and garden to the kitchen.

What Is Access Video On Demand?

Access Video On Demand streaming video offers public libraries an expansive, patron-friendly collection of thousands of high-quality videos that complement and enhance your library’s content offerings. We bring your patrons exceptional content from around the world that they may never have had the opportunity to see: from Oscar®, Emmy®, and Peabody Award-winning documentaries, to how-to programs that make life easier and richer, top-quality performances spanning the arts, biographies of history-makers past and present, a variety of TV shows and movies, and more.

Try Access Video On Demand today!

See also:

• FREE webinar: Personalize and Curate Your Streaming Video Collection
• FREE white paper: How Public Libraries Can Connect with Small Business
• Effective Public Library Services for Seniors
• Promote Mental Health Awareness with These Video Resources
• Help Researchers Understand What’s Happening in Russia & Ukraine

About the Authors

Patrice Keville (she/her) has been Proofreader/Coordinator at Infobase for more than eight years. Previously, she was Online Editor at Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News and an Assistant Editor at the H.W. Wilson Company, where she coedited the Senior High Core Collection and Public Library Core Collection: Nonfiction. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Matthew.

 

 

Sharon Golan is Director of Content Licensing at Infobase. With over a decade of experience creating and licensing materials for the education market, she has a keen eye for high-quality, compelling content and enjoys working on films that employ this dynamic art form to educate and enrich audiences.