Learning software, music & more: Lynda.com

Whatever mission you’re on, YouTube is fine for that quick fix so that you can get up and running. If you really want to know a topic in depth it helps to invest a few hours in a more thorough training. For me that resource is Lynda.com. The video training is usually $35/month but below, I outline a way to get it free, indefinitely, on your home theater!

How’s this done? Some public libraries such as  LA county, San Francisco and Boston provide free access to Lynda.com for their card holders. 

For example, membership is available to any California resident, not just San Francisco residents, by signing up at http://www.sfpl.org/ 

L A County residents get full access to all their electronic training, Zinio, Hoopla audiobooks and a couple dozen other electronic resources http://www.LApl.org/ 

Boston, MA: Boston Library gives free access to people in Massachusetts  (https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1425983082_lyndacom)

Wanna get started? Google “lynda.com access <YourCounty> library” inserting your county of residence into the above.

Lynda.com is not just for hobbyists and desktop applications anymore. They were purchased by LinkedIn for 3 billion dollars a few years back. Since then, they’ve added videos relevant to those of us working with Enterprise IT. Complete training on Flask, Python, Azure, VMware, AWS and Cisco (CCNA/CCNP levels) are available to name a few. 

What’s even better is that, in most cases, this account works with your AppleTV, ROKU, and other smart streaming devices. That means you can work on your laptop, perhaps simulating what the instructor is showing on the TV screen, right on your PC.

Lynda.com, also called LinkedIn Learning, offers video courses teaching nearly any skill. If you work or create you will likely benefit from skills you learn across many disciplines taught at Lynda!