Sean C. Morgan
Got questions? For answers, try Lynda at the library.
The Sweet Home Public Library recently began providing access to thousands of courses in different areas, provided by the online information service lynda.com.
As part of a $10,000 Trust Management Grant, the library has obtained a license for its patrons to access lynda.com, offered by LinkedIn.
The website is an online platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals, said Danielle Herb of Lebanon, an intern at the library.
Herb is working on a master of library and information science degree at University of Syracuse. She holds a bachelor and master’s degree in English from Oregon State University.
The site provides video library tutorials, lessons, training and certifications, she said. The courses are organized logically into short video segments, with particular lessons lasting five minutes, which means a course may be used to learn one procedure or for comprehensive training.
The service offers more than 3,000 courses, including animation, audio, authoring tools, business, gamification, interactive design and photography, Herb said. It also includes a variety of tools and learning applications where needed. The lessons may be downloaded and viewed offline later.
Tutorials and training are available in marketing and sales, information technology, web design, graphic design, specific software applications, music, robotics, fine arts, test preparation for high school and college, math, science, history, English, programming languages, social media for business, taxes and bookkeeping and more.
“Most of the instructors appear to know their topics well,” Herb said. “They teach in an informal, casual and accessible style and give you the sense that they can help you become competent in whatever you’re trying to learn.”
They’re also verified and vetted experts, Herb said. That’s an advantage it holds over YouTube, which has no standardized vetting process for video creators and allows it to offer certification programs.
Lynda.com offers more than something like Khan Academy, which is student-focused, said Library Director Rose Peda. Lynda.com is aimed at everyone, teachers, students and parents.
Corporations and businesses can use it for professional development and training, Herb said. “If you wanted your staff to have training, it’s very doable.”
“I came across a news article through a library journal about the Chicago Public Library,” Peda said. She thought, “Oh, my goodness, that is such a valuable resource for us. I contacted the people. It’s a good program. I thought we could afford it. It is available to rural Oregon. If this tool could make us competitive with another town to get a business because we have (a better level of) education, what an outcome.”
The service was among several projects covered by the grant, Peda said. It costs about $2,500 annually.
A computer, phone or tablet is required to access lynda.com. Internet service is available at the library, 1101 13th Ave. An app is available for phones and tablets. A library card is required to log in. Visit sweet-home.or.us/library and click on “Online Resources” and then on “Lynda.com” in the center of the page or lynda.com/portal/patron?org=sweethomeor.gov.
For more information, call the library at (541) 367-5007.