Favorite Free Resources

https://creativecommons.org/
Licensed resources (images, videos, etc) that you can use to create content. 

https://www.etsy.com
Not free, but a very inexpensive option for purchasing premade graphic designs, saving yourself time and payroll instead of making them yourself.

https://www.canva.com/
A drag-and-drop tool for creating graphics, flyers, brochures, and more. You can purchase a subscription, but can go far with a free account.

https://spark.adobe.com/
An easy-to-use tool for creating social media graphics and simple videos. The free edition offers many tools, but leaves an Adobe watermark on the bottom of the image. 

https://www.gimp.org
GIMP stands for “gnu image manipulation program” and it is an open source graphics editor. Think of it like a freeware version of photoshop. Tutorials are available on the website and on YouTube. 

https://obsproject.com/
OBS Studio is an open source software for video recording and live streaming to YouTube or Twitch. Several free tutorials are available online. 

https://www.techsmith.com/jing-tool.html
TechSmith Capture allows you to record your screen alongside your webcam. It is much easier to use than OBS, but offers less capabilities. However, if you just need to make a simple video, this is an easy choice. A free account has a limit on the amount of uploads, but the limit is very high and I’ve never even gotten close. 

https://www.openshot.org/
OpenShot Video Editor is very similar to Adobe Premiere in its use and feel, and is totally open source. Users already familiar with other video editing software will be able to quickly acclimate to it, and users new to video editing can begin editing video in no time. It can be buggy so save often and make sure you have the most recent version.

https://www.bluestacks.com/
A program that replicates a tablet or smartphone on your computer so that you can run mobile apps on the computer. This is handy for if you want to use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. for a library account without commingling your personal data with work social media. 

https://www.engagedpatrons.org/
Event management software free to libraries with a budget of less than $1M.