Bookmarks are popular gifts for readers on holidays or birthdays and are also great for book clubs, Bible study groups and other settings. Web sites offering free printable bookmarks make it easy to instantly print dynamic designs for a wide range of genres, from sci fi and computers to mysteries and Westerns. There are also seasonal or birthday designs available online as well as Christian bookmarks.

In just a few minutes, you can have an attractive bookmark that's much more fun and functional than a torn piece of paper or other random scrap. Also, most booklovers don't relish folding down a corner of a page, and dog-earring library books this way only hastens their demise.

Teachers, book club organizers and Bible study leaders can also pass out printed bookmarks to students or members, making for a nice keepsake. They can be especially meaningful gifts because they show that you're aware of the recipients' interests. What fan of fantasy books wouldn't love a full-color marker with a dragon, knight or other exciting image?

Once you find a Web site with designs to match your bookmark needs, the toughest part is choosing your favorite!

First, make sure you have plenty of ink in your printer. The best printable bookmark designs are two-sided and print in full color. You also might want to consider using cardstock rather than regular printer paper, for added durability. Or, you could choose to laminate your markers.

They will likely print as PDFs, a file format which is easily opened using Adobe Acrobat's free Reader. Then, just select File and Print.

Once you've selected and printed the bookmarks you like, simply trim them to size. Some are designed to fold over, with an illustration that reaches from the front to the back of the completed printable.

You could also opt to embellish the marker by punching a hole in the top and adding some yarn or a tassel. This method works best when you laminate the paper first.

Gift-givers can then wrap the bookmark, enclose it in a greeting card or, even better, present it along with a book!