BPL Virtual Resources Spotlight: Self-Improvement, Career Development Package

BPL Virtual Resources Spotlight: Self-Improvement and Career Development 

 By Caleb West, BPL Collection Management

BACKGROUND: Today is Part II of the BPL Virtual Resources Spotlight, a new blog highlighting the Birmingham Public Library’s vast free online resources available to serve the public. This week, we spotlight BPL’s Self-Improvement and Career Development Package. 
For more about BPL’s virtual resources, click here http://www.bplonline.org/virtual/ 
The Birmingham Public Library is ALWAYS open 24/7 through our FREE online digital resources.

The value of our virtual resources has been elevated the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic. BPL has continued to serve the public through our free online resources and by creating new virtual programming.

This week we spotlight our BPL Self-Improvement, Career Development package, which provides for career, educational, and self-betterment. All resources below are also available on the Birmingham Public Library website page (www.cobpl.org) and on our Digital Library page http://www.bplonline.org/virtual/. These services are restricted to Birmingham city residents with active library cards.

Here is a description of some of our most popular online digital resources:

Gale Udemy 
Click here https://link.gale.com/apps/udemy/auth?prodId=UDEMY&userGroupName=bpl50399

Gale Udemy allows users to learn and improve skills across business, tech, design, and personal interests. Connect to over 4,000 on-demand video courses taught by world-class instructors. Courses cover the freshest and most relevant content on leadership and management, coding, design, marketing, IT operations, data science, project management, human resources, sales, accounting and finance, and productivity.

Powered by the Udemy for Business collection, this site has information on a variety of subjects:
Business Careers, Computer Skills, Education Exams/Test Preparation, General Reference, Online Learning, Personal Finance, Society & Culture Technology.

Gale Courses
Click here https://education.gale.com/l-bpl50399/ 

 Gale Courses offers hundreds of online courses focused on professional development, technology skills, and personal enrichment. Six-week long courses are taught entirely online by instructors, and new sessions begin every month Subjects include Business Careers, Computer Skills, Education Exams/Test Preparation, General Reference Health & Medicine, Languages Online, and Learning Technology.

 Gale Testing & Education Research Center(TERC) 
Click here https://terc.nelnetsolutions.com/home/index

Why just point someone in the right direction when you can provide a path? Gale Testing & Education Reference Center is a valuable online tool learners can use for standardized test preparation, researching undergraduate and graduate programs, finding tuition assistance, and exploring careers.

Additionally, users will find advice on resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and more. The result? They are better prepared for the next level. Subjects include Careers Education Exams/Test Preparation, Online Learning Resumes, and CVs School Information.

Ferguson's Career Guidance Center 
Click here https://fcg.infobase.com/default.asp

Ferguson's Career Guidance Center is a comprehensive career research database, providing detailed and up-to-date profiles of more than 2,050 of today's most popular jobs in more than 94 industries. This database now contains hundreds of new, in-depth job and industry descriptions; as well as a searchable archive of articles from current and past issues of Career Opportunities News, a 16-page, bi-monthly newsletter that provides timely information about colleges and the job market.

Organized by industry, Ferguson's Career Guidance Center covers careers and career resources, as well as career preparation information, including scholarships, academic programs, non-academic programs, web resources, and an employability skills checklist. An extensive "Four Steps to a New Job" section provides invaluable guidance on everything from choosing a career to finding and applying for a job to learning about employment benefits and laws. Subjects include Business Careers Resumes and CVs Audience High School/Adults.

CareerCruising 
Click here for Career Cruising link https://help.careercruising.com/

 CareerCruising features career guidance information, schools database, financial aid information, portfolio tool, employment resources and other assessments. (requires user name and password to access) This resource is applicable to middle school students exploring future career options as well as potential college students and job seekers. Create a CareerCruising profile to build a customized plan or build a resume. Subjects include Careers Education Financial Aid Resumes and CVs School Information. Audience: Middle School/High School/Adults Tutorials

EBSCO Learning Express Library 
Click here for the BPL link to EBSCO Learning Express Library   https://www.learningexpresshub.com/ProductEngine/LELIndex.html#/learningexpresslibrary/libraryhome 

The EBSCO Learning Express Library gives you links to a host of online tests, tutorials and virtual  help on a variety of topics:

 • Career Preparation – Make your work goals a reality – and start a new career or advancement in your current field.

• Job & Career Accelerator- Powerful tools and guidance to achieve your career goals.

• High School Equivalency Center- Guided support and preparation to help you earn a high school equivalency credential.

 • College Admissions Test Preparation- Prepare for important exams like the ACT, SAT, AP Tests, and more.

• School Center – Skill-building resources for classroom and homework success

• College Students – Achieve your undergrad goals and prepare for future success

• Adult Core Skills – Achieve your personal education and career goals

• Computer Skills Center – Video courses to learn popular software and computer basics

• Assistance in Spanish language

• Personal Success Skills – Build skills for personal success in work and life.