Get more intelligent with 4,000 free online courses at Osterville Library

“There are no excuses now; we’re taking them away from you,” says Cyndy Cotton, the library’s executive director. “The buzzword now is ‘upskilling.’ We wanted to provide an opportunity to spend your time getting skills to enhance your job and better enjoy your life.”

If people have ever wanted to learn to shoot all the more compelling photos or be a superior group leader at work or 3,398 different things, Osterville Village Library can help.

The library is offering 4,000 online courses tuition-free to anybody with a CLAMS library card.

“There are no excuses now; we’re taking them away from you,” says Cyndy Cotton, the library’s executive director. “The buzzword now is ‘upskilling.’ We wanted to provide an opportunity to spend your time getting skills to enhance your job and better enjoy your life.”

Cotton says authorities from the organization giving the courses, San Francisco-based Udemy, told her Osterville is the first library in Massachusetts to offer the free lineup. As indicated by the organization’s website, the majority of the on-demand video courses are $11.99 every when not taken through a library.

A $20,000 grant from Horizon Foundation is funding Osterville Village Library’s online courses, which opened up March 1. This is the library’s second grant from Horizon in its arrangement to become an innovation center. The first award brought Osterville Village Library a 3-D printer, virtual reality equipment and software, and a dozen top-of-the-line computer laptops, which are used for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes at the library.

The new courses are divided into 75 categories, with many concentrating on technical skills, for example, website design and cloud computing or leadership skills. Be that as it may, there are additional courses in the arts, including photography, drawing, and painting.

“Courses are added weekly as new skills and demands emerge in the ever-changing realm of technology,” according to a written release from the library.

“Anytime, anywhere access: with the iOS and Android apps, users can download courses to view offline, listen with podcast-style audio and watch using Chromecast or Apple TV.

“We’ll assist you to include your newfound skill on an updated resume.”

Cotton says huge numbers of the courses incorporate tests or different assessments toward the end and produce a certificate that can be used on an individual’s resume.

“We are still exploring all these courses, but I believe some even include Microsoft certification,” she says.

“We’ve reached out to other nonprofits to let them know this is available free to the people they serve,” Cotton says. “They can do it (access classes) on the website with just their CLAMS library card. But some people are not good self-motivators, so we will be setting up specific study times at the library for people who want them.”

Yet, patrons additionally can complete the courses individually, and with an application, on any gadget, they want to utilize. Cotton says the program can assist all ages, with a special spotlight on youthful families – or retired individuals – who want to learn however might not have the time or tuition money to enroll.

“Hopefully, this will have a ripple effect and help more people,” Cotton says. “That’s what we do!”