Unlocking Library Coolness: Learning! All the Learning!

Welcome back to Unlocking Library Coolness, where I take a tour of the different nifty opportunities that may await you at your local (library)!

You can take a tour of the archives if you’re curious what other marvelous discoveries I’ve made while researching, as there are many services and unique offerings at public libraries. (You probably knew that, though.)

This month: learning! Learning All The Things! 

Online education is not new, but library subscriptions to various learning sites and collections are increasing each year. While my examination of learning is limited to what I can see at my own library website (hiya, Montgomery County Public Library, and thanks for being awesome), I know that there are many more options out there. If you’ve found a really useful learning portal at your library, please tell us about it in the comments!

I’ve already covered Language Learning at your library (and I used the heck out of Mango to prepare for trips to Japan, Greece, and France, and use Mango to keep my Spanish at least somewhat engaged). Beyond apps like Mango, there’s also a good chance your library has Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone available for borrowing, too. If one of your resolutions for the new year includes making resolutions in a second language, your library is so ready to help.

But what if you want to learn a skill? Tech or writing or crafts or repair? Or all of the above? (Does anyone else get a little giddy and tingly at the idea of learning new things? It’s not just me, right?) Your local is probably already on that, and ready to give you All The Learning.

My local has an entire page about their Education Opportunities and as usual, I looked through the list and it was giddy tingles for miles. MCPL offers Career Online High School, an accredited online high school diploma program (and the library offers scholarships, too), multiple teacher resources with lesson plans and curricula, testing and study materials for all the alphabet tests (GED, SAT, ACT, AP, TOEFL, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, etc) and even a driving test skills practice area. (You should see how big my eyes are, looking at this list).

The library also offers access to Lynda.com, an online learning platform I already know about. Accessing Lynda through the library means I have access to a literal metric bucket-ton of courses in SO MANY SUBJECTS HOLY SMOKE. There are “learning paths” toward digital marketing, java programming, songwriting, and presentation skills improvement. There are some music programs, too, like learning to play the guitar.  If you wanted to learn how to improve in a specific software like Excel, there are several options, including weekly tips and challenges, or essentials for new users.

I just lost about 45 minutes exploring all the things I can learn. And here’s my favorite page: Lynda access for individuals starts at $24.99 – $29.99 per month. But if you access through your library? Paid for by property taxes (or other revenue sources depending on your location). WOOT!

One other incredible chronophage opportunity I found? Creativebug.

Oh, boy, oh boy.

Prepare for an excellent assembly of words, y’all: “Nurture your creative side with 1,000+ video classes on painting, knitting, crafting, sewing, and more! Most videos are captioned.” (Emphasis mine.)

Oh, dear. This is…this is going to be both terrible and AWESOME. There are classes on design, sewing, quilting, paper craft, knitting & crochet, food and home, jewelry, and seasonal crafts, too. There’s an entire category just for kids. THIS IS AMAZING. If, like me, you’ve always wondered how cookie artists or online crafters accomplished something, well, you can probably find a video tutorial in here and learn how.  And again, you don’t have to subscribe if your library did so for you. (Thanks, y’all!)

As I said earlier, my examination is limited to the resources I access through my local, but it seems that there are many online learning options offered through various public libraries. 

What about yours? Have you discovered nifty online education options at your local? Any specific resources or videos you really recommend? Please share yours!

And, of course, if you are a librarian, and you’ve got rad and nifty things going on in your collection, please email me or leave a comment!