LANGLEY — There’s no place like home. Or Rome.

If you’re a gnome.

Or so says Jayanne Bixby, a local librarian who is playing travel agent to at least 20 five-inch tall gnomes.

Bixby is passing out gnomes to South End teenagers who will take the mystical garden dwellers on their journeys this summer, even if they don’t make it off the island.

“It’s just a fun way to explore your home, or wherever you’re going,” Bixby said.

Gnomes have been known to hit the road well before Travelocity commercials put the pointy-hatted fellows in exotic locations around the globe. But Bixby recalled the hit French film, “Amelie,” as one of the reasons why gnomes have been known to roam. Since the movie, taking — or stealing — a garden gnome for a trip afar, then photographing it on its travels, has become an alternative form of recreation, akin to geocaching or bike polo.

After its journey, the gnome is usually returned from whence it came with a photo album of its travels.

Bixby said her gnomes from the Freeland and Langley libraries need not be abducted, stolen or gnome-napped. She’s started an “Adopt-a-Gnome” program where teenagers can borrow the gnomes as easily as they can borrow a book, and each gnome has a barcode for scanning so it can be checked out for a three-week term.

The goal of Adopt-a-Gnome program is to get teens out and about, whether it’s across the world, across the country, across the island or across the street.

Library officials say their gnomes need a little excitement this summer, and they’re hoping teens will bring back their tiny travelers with a photo, story or video to share their adventures.

Bixby added that the gnomes are meant for all forms of adventure.

“If you’re going to Double Bluff for the day, think about what a gnome would do at the beach,” she said.

Gnomes aren’t strangers to surf or turf.

Garden gnomes were originally popularized in Germany and the United Kingdom in the 1800s. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the early 1900s, and have increased in popularity as lawn decorations.

Bixby made her gnomes from plaster of Paris, then painted each one in classic garden gnome style: green, yellow, red and blue.

At least 10 plaster gnomes will be at both Freeland and Langley libraries. One gnome will travel to Paris as part of South Whidbey High School’s Europe trip this summer, led and organized by high school history teacher Tom Kramer.

“It’s not just for going on vacations,” Bixby said. “It’s a way to look at Whidbey through fresh eyes, or through a gnome’s eyes.”

Traveling gnomes are one of a handful of gnome-related activities planned for the summer.

Walk around Langley between July 1 and Aug. 12 and keep an eye out for tiny blue, green, purple or red pointed hats. Gnomes will be placed around Langley as part of a summer-long scavenger hunt.

Sleuths who find five of the 10 hidden gnomes are entered into a drawing for a prize from the Langley Library.

“Wander around Langley and keep your eyes open,” Bixby said.

Should a traveler become attached to their gnome, the library has a create-a-gnome day at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 in Freeland. Teens can create their own felt gnomes.

Continuing the fanciful events, summer’s “Teen Thursdays” ends with “Croquet and Alice and Wonderland” on Aug. 4, and “Light the Night: LED throwies and Sky Lanterns” on Aug. 11.

A different kind of gnome can be seen at the Freeland Library in July.

Riding the success of the “Harry Potter” novels and films, the Freeland library also will host a Harry Potter party from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 8. Gnomes are a fictional race in the Harry Potter stories and share the distinctive size of their garden variety.

The program description includes butterbeer (a cream soda-like drink), games, crafts and Harry Potter trivia, before watching “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.”

The gnome program is an extension of the summer teen events of Sno-Isle Libraries, “You Are Here.” Teens can read and review books for a chance to win a 16 gigabyte iPad 2, an iPod Touch, headphone ear buds or other prizes. The iPad and iPod are open to all Sno-Isle Libraries, other prizes are localized to the branches. Three book reviews get the reader-reviewer a free book from either the Freeland or Langley libraries.