Lynda.com is an online education platform that offers thousands of video courses to help you learn a broad array of skills, including software, creative, and business skills. Within the Lynda library, you can browse courses by topic, software, or learning paths. Let’s take a look at some of the courses available on Lynda.

3D + Animation

• 12 Principles of Animation for CG Animators (1 hr 23 min)
• Animation Foundations: Storyboarding (1 hr 32 min)
• Learn Adobe Fuse CC: The Basics (1 hr 25 min)
• Matte Painting: Environments for Film (3 hr 21 min)
• MODO Essential Training (5 hr 25 min)

Audio + Music

• An Insider’s Guide to Today’s Music Biz 05: Managers (51 min 18 s)
• Learn Melodyne 4: The Basics (2 hr 8 min)
• One-Minute Weekly Songwriting Tips (25 min 21 s)
• Podcasting with GarageBand (2 hr 17 min)
• Vocal Production Techniques (1 hr 42 min)

Business

• Business Process Modeling Fundamentals (1 hr 20 min)
• Contracting for Creatives (1 hr)
• Design Thinking: Venture Design (1 hr 3 min)
• Migrating from Google Apps to Microsoft 2016 (2 hr 11 min)
• Personal Finance Tips (1 hr 23 min)

CAD

• AutoCAD Civil 3D: Site Design (3 hr 38 min)
• Bluebeam: On the iPad (1 hr 8 min)
• Customization for CAD Managers (2 hr 6 min)
• Rhino Project: Architectural Documentation (1 hr 18 min)
• SketchUp 2017: Essential Training (3 hr 48 min)

Design

• Logo Design Techniques (5 hr 7 min)
• Drawing Vector Graphics Laboratory (5 hr 56 min)
• InDesign Secrets (23 hr 51 min)
• Learning Print Production (4 hr 16 min)
• Understanding Data Science (1 hr 16 min)

Developer

• Computer Science Principles: Programming (1 hr 25 min)
• Learning Android App Development (1 hr 30 min)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Essential Training (3 hr 18 min)
• Programming for Non-Programmers: iOS 10 and Swift (3 hr 24 min)
• Unity 5 2D: Building an Adventure Game (2 hr 22 min)

Education + Elearning

• Create Effective Learning Assessments (35 min 30 s)
• How to Create Instructional Videos in Camtasia (1 hr 12 min)
• Learn Moodle 3.1: The Basics (1 hr 49 min)
• Test Prep: GRE (6 hr 44 min)
• Word 2016 Essential Training (5 hr 41 min)

IT

• Cloud Computing: Cloud Storage (1 hr 15 min)
• Ethical Hacking: Mobile Devices and Platforms (1 hr 47 min)
• Linux: Storage Systems (3 hr 30 min)
• PC Maintenance and Performance Fundamentals (1 hr 8 min)
• Windows Server 2016: DNS (1 hr 50 min)

Marketing

• Google AdWords Essential Training (3 hr 4 min)
• Instagram for Business (1 hr 16 min)
• Local SEO (2 hr 31 min)
• Marketing Analytics: Segmentation and Testing (53 min 4 s)
• Qualitative Marketing Research (1 hr)

Photography

• iPhone and iPad Photography with iOS 10 (2 hr 55 min)
• Learning to Critique Photos (1 hr 12 min)
• Photoshop CC 2017 for Photographers (7 hr 57 min)
• Video Gear: Technical Tips (4 hr)
• VR Photography and Video: The Basics (42 min 17 s)

Video

• Advanced Cinematic Video Lighting (1 hr 19 min)
• Creating Motion Graphics with Fusion (3 hr 49 min)
• Crowdfunding Campaigns for Independent Film (1 hr 9 min)
• DaVinci Resolve 12 Essential Training (15 hr 43 min)
• Final Cut Pro X Guru: Titles and Effects

Web

• Design Thinking: Understanding the Process (41 min 57 s)
• Installing and Running WordPress: WAMP (56 min 10 s)
• Learning Python Web Penetration Testing (2 hr 49 min)
• Ruby on Rails 5 Essential Training (10 hr 21 min)
• UX Design Tools: Axure RP (1 hr 37 min)

Access to Lynda is free for East Baton Rouge Parish Library patrons with a library card, and you can sign into Lynda through the library’s Digital Library.

Once logged in, you will see three sections. The top left section gives you quick access to courses you were most recently viewing. Below that is the “My Playlists” section. You can add courses that you are currently watching to the playlist as well as save courses for future viewing. This way all the courses you’re interested in are located in one place, and you don’t have to search through the Lynda library for them again.

The third, and largest, section features courses. Here you can see courses that have been recently added as well as popular and recommended courses.

When you are viewing a course — in this case “Data Visualization Tips and Tricks” — a contents section appears on the left. Here you can see the the progression of lessons and the length of each video. To the right of the contents is the video, and the section below the video gives further information and options, such as a transcript of the video and the option to download the lesson to view later, which is great if you know you’ll be somewhere without internet access.

So are you ready to start learning? Which course will you watch first?

Written by Thien-Kieu Lam.