The Ohio Library Council (OLC) and the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) announced recently that through an agreement with LinkedIn, Ohioans will gain free access to the online courses from Lynda.com with a valid Ohio library card. The agreement is the first-of-its-kind in the nation between LinkedIn and a statewide system of public libraries.
Lynda.com, a company acquired by LinkedIn, is now part of LinkedIn Learning, and helps anyone learn business, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. The service has more than 12,000 courses, ranging from computer programming to project management, including instruction on various computer software, programming languages, and business topics. The video courses are taught by industry experts and are designed for any skill level.
“Normally, using Lynda.com requires a paid subscription, but as an Ohio library cardholder, anyone can now access Lynda.com video courses from any computer with an internet connection simply by entering their library card number and 4-digit PIN,” said Don Yarman, Executive Director, OPLIN. “…the database gives Ohio’s public libraries another critical tool to cultivate the state’s workforce and it’s strongly aligned with the skills needed for Ohio’s list of in-demand jobs.”
“Technology and automation are changing the nature of work at a rapid pace,” said Ryan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. “We’re excited to see Ohio libraries partnering with LinkedIn to provide all Ohioans with online continuous learning resources to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Public libraries naturally inspire continuous learning and have been active supporters of workforce development in their communities providing computer and internet access and training, resume writing, small business resources, and career exploration through STEAM programming and makerspaces.
“This is a wonderful addition to the library’s growing collection of online reference resources”, states Susan Pieper, Paulding County Carnegie Library director. “All you will need is a valid library card, a PIN and access to the Internet. If you lack any of these tools, the library can help!”
The target date to make these new resources available to everyone is September 2018. For more information contact Pieper at 419-399-2032 or via e-mail at spieper@pauldingcountylibrary.org. To learn more about Lynda.com visit, ohioweblibrary.org/lynda/
