Exploring Universal Class, Gale Courses, The Great Courses, LinkedIn Learning, and Transparent Language

#BackToClass: Anytime, Anywhere Learning with EVPL

How often do you find yourself browsing YouTube or Reddit to find out how to do something? If you’re like many people in our modern society, chances are it’s a daily or weekly thing. But things are about to change, once you see the many classes and opportunities awaiting you through EVPL’s online learning platforms.

What’s even better? Access to these services is free with your EVPL resident borrower card. Plus, we offer another new platform to expand your language skills. Hoe klinkt dat? (That’s Dutch for How does that sound?)

Multiple resources available to you

EVPL offers many online tools and research databases in our online learning and digital collections. If you want to find out more about a niche topic, new hobby, computer software/app, or take a class on a new language, it’s time for you to explore these great services.

• Universal Class
• Gale Courses
• The Great Courses (Hoopla Binge Pass or Kanopy)
• LinkedIn Learning*
• Transparent Language

Commonalities

• No Cost: All four services are entirely free to patrons who log in with a valid EVPL card number and PIN. (What’s my PIN?)
  
• Expert-Led Content: Unlike user-generated video sites, every platform uses vetted professionals, university professors, or industry experts to teach the material.
  
• Similar to Schooling: They provide structured education and upskilling opportunities without the tuition costs, application processes, or prerequisites of traditional colleges.

Differences

• Time Commitment: Most Gale Courses run on 6-week learning blocks starting on specific calendar dates, whereas LinkedIn Learning and Universal Class are self-paced. The Great Courses is accessed via temporary streaming access (ex: Hoopla Binge Pass access is 7 days), encouraging binge-watching a lecture series.
  
• Goal Orientation: LinkedIn Learning and Gale Courses lean heavily toward hard career skills (coding, accounting, software). Universal Class leans into a mix of professional skills and personal hobbies (cooking, crafts), while The Great Courses focuses strictly on deep intellectual enrichment (philosophy, classical history, science).

Breaking it down

*Accessing LinkedIn Learning through EVPL is not connected to a personal LinkedIn profile. If you wish to connect to your personal profile, you will need to consider signing up for the paid version of LinkedIn Learning through the main LinkedIn Learning website.

**Hoopla Binge Pass and Kanopy offer differing borrowing models. Please review the borrowing policies for each service once logged into the service. Contact Reference Services at EVPL Central for assistance.

We speak your language! (Quite a few, actually.)

EVPL also now offers Transparent Language, which has access to courses in 140+ languages, including ESL, ASL, and Indigenous languages. Flexible courses let you learn what you want, when you want, so you are ready to use the language in the real world. 

Click here to see all languages offered. 

Get the kids involved, too!

Transparent Language offers a version for kids – KidSpeak. Introduce children ages 6 and up to new languages. Fun, age-appropriate courses feature more than 40 activities, puzzles, and songs to guide young learners, along with a cartoon “friend” who speaks the language.

• Available languages:  Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
• Age-appropriate content:  Designed for ages 6 and up, children will learn words and phrases suitable for their age, needs, and interests.
• Engaging activities:  Combining animations with over 40 interactive activities, puzzles, and songs, each language is hosted by a fun cartoon “friend” and his or her playful pet, using only the language being taught.
• Important skill development:  Using the successful immersion approach preferred for young children, they’ll learn the alphabet and word recognition, simple sentences, how to use plural and singular, how to distinguish between words that look and sound similar, simple addition and subtraction, how to tell time, number recognition (matching numbers to written words), and correct pronunciation.
• Dozens of topics:  No matter what they’re interested in (clothing, school supplies, sports, travel, weather, and more), your children will be on their way to learning a new language in no time.
• Hundreds of words and phrases:  Add to your children’s seemingly endless vocabulary (and energy!) with over 700 words and expressions per language and 3 levels of difficulty.

Parents and caregivers: Children can use the program independently, while teachers and/or parents can be as involved as they’d like using the KidSpeak Language Series Parent’s Guide. Learn more after setting up your account on first use.

A note about Universal Class

Great news — this service is back at EVPL! You may remember it from its earlier days as part of OverDrive’s Libby “Extras” platform. Since its return in July 2026, accessing this database has changed. If you have older blogs, links, or handouts from before, feel free to set those aside and use the information presented in this blog to start learning.

Looking for assistance or guided tutorials?

We hope you’re as excited as we are about getting you connected to the online learning world. You may request a Book-A-Librarian appointment or send us an email with your questions. 

This content was posted in September 2026. For the most up-to-date information about EVPL’s Online Learning & Research databases, please visit evpl.org/onlinelearning.

EVPL Staff

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With 8 locations throughout Vanderburgh County, EVPL is ready to discover, explore, and connect WITH you! We encourage you to uncover new things, revisit old favorites, and to engage with us along the way.