The North Canton Public Library has a lot of great databases, which is just a fancy name for websites with good stuff that we pay for and provide to you for free. One of my favorites is Lynda.com. This is a website with streaming video training on literally hundreds of topics that can help you learn just about anything. Personally, I often think of it as a great way to learn software. For instance, with Lynda’s Word 2016 Essential Training, I can watch about 5 ½ hours of videos and know the basics for Microsoft Word. If I want to become an actual Microsoft Word ninja, I can also take their Intermediate and Advanced Microsoft Word Training.
Now, 5 ½ hours might sound like a pretty big time commitment, but Lynda makes it easy. Those hours are broken down into videos of 1-8 minutes in length, and you can watch as much or as little in one sitting as you want. Because you will be signing into Lynda with you library card and PIN, Lynda will remember where you left off, and you can pick back up with the next video. And once you’ve finished, you even get a certificate you can share with your boss or anyone else who might be interested in your accomplishment.
But it’s not just software. You can learn skills like time management, leadership, and project management. And Lynda puts individual courses together to build what they call Learning Paths, and at the end of these, you will have the skills to be a digital illustrator, music producer, or an online instructor, just to name a few. If any of this sounds interesting, and you want to learn more about how Lynda.com works, I’ll be teaching a class this Thursday at 6 p.m., and I’d love to see you there! (Bring your own laptop or mobile device if you want to follow along hands on. If you can’t make it, here’s my handout.)
Shelia
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