Digital Library Services

Have you learned to code, use Excel or do graphic design lately? Then you may know that your library card gives you free access to Lynda.com. Lynda.com is an online learning platform with over 7,000 instructional videos in subjects such as coding, software, marketing, graphic design and management. 

In 2015, LinkedIn, the career-focused social network, acquired Lynda.com. Over the past couple of years, they've been adding Lynda.com's videos to a platform they call LinkedIn Learning. And now, it's our turn to make the move. On April 29, 2021, our Lynda.com platform will switch over to LinkedIn Learning for Library. 

What does this mean for Lynda users? All good things.

More languages

One limitation of Lynda.com was that its videos were only available in English. LinkedIn Learning for Library offers all the same content as before, plus 9,000 more videos in English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish, in an updated, easier-to-use interface.

Keep your progress

Already learning in Lynda.com? When you log in to LinkedIn Learning for Library for the first time, your course history will move over with you. You'll be able to carry on with your courses uninterrupted. 

Maintain your privacy

You won't have to create a LinkedIn account in order to continue learning. You'll only need to enter your library card number and PIN to log in — just like you did with Lynda.com. And LinkedIn for Library won't store any personal data — only your card number, your PIN and your course progress.

Please note that your Lynda.com account will be temporarily unavailable on the day of the switch (that's Thursday, April 29th).

There is one slight downside: the commercial version of LinkedIn Learning lets you automatically share course completion certificates on your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn Learning for Library won't provide this service, even if you have a LinkedIn account, because it doesn't store your personal information. On the plus side, you still get access to all the old and new videos on the platform, without having to give up your data. And you can still post on LinkedIn that you've completed courses — it just won't happen automatically.

More updates are coming: LinkedIn Learning will make its mobile app compatible with the library platform soon. In the meantime, you'll be able to access the mobile web version of the platform via your phone or tablet.

What do you think of this change? Let us know in the comments!