CHECK IT OUT

Whether you’re pursuing a new hobby, launching a career or dealing

with an unfamiliar life issue, there’s a good chance help is at hand in

books designed “for dummies.”

Written for folks who know they’re not dumb yet find themselves

overwhelmed by a particular endeavor, these user-friendly survival guides

can be terrific tools for building confidence and dispelling fears.

Just added to the series is “eBay for Dummies,” a guide to buying and

selling on the popular Internet auction site. Aimed at collectors,

bargain hunters and those who want to convert household goodies into

cash, there’s information in this new volume about locating items,

bidding successfully and avoiding scams.

Also just out is the fourth edition of “America Online for Dummies

Quick Reference,” covering the ins and outs of AOL version 5.0. Check out

this compact problem-solver book for tips about customizing an AOL

account, navigating and e-mailing through the Internet service provider

and accessing an AOL account while on the road.

Other computer-oriented “dummies” titles cover such popular programs

as Quicken, Excel and Microsoft Office. There are also volumes devoted to

specific Macintosh and IBM operating systems, as well as titles covering

specific hardware. Just off the press is “The iBook for Dummies,”

offering step-by-step help for everything from plugging in the power cord

to setting up a network on one of Apple’s candy-colored portables.

For job hunters and vocation changers, new titles include “Cool

Careers for Dummies,” listing a catalog of options for those who like to

work with people, data, words and things. Additional tips for finding a

desirable trade or profession are in “Job Hunting for Dummies,” replete

with insights relating to resumes, cover letters, interviews and

networking.

Beyond the computer world, dozens of “dummies” volumes deal with such

practical issues as planning a wedding, buying a home or having a baby.

Check out “Mortgages for Dummies” for just about everything you need to

know about escrow accounts, reduced-equity refinancing and rollover

loans. Study “Buying a Car for Dummies” for help with purchasing, leasing

and insuring new wheels.

Or you may take a crash course in understanding the Bard of Avon with

“Shakespeare for Dummies,” covering play themes, plot synopses, character

descriptions and Elizabethan social and political issues. Expand your

knowledge of other cultural fields with such series offerings as

“Classical Music for Dummies,” “Art for Dummies” and “Opera for Dummies.”

Numerous titles focus on health and fitness. To reduce stress and

improve flexibility, study “Yoga for Dummies.” To tap into holistic

health, check out “Herbal Remedies for Dummies” and “Alternative Medicine

for Dummies.”

To locate these and other popular reference guides for novices through

the Newport Beach Library, enter “for dummies” in the title words index

of NEMO, the library’s online catalog.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Library.

This week’s column is by Melissa Adams.