The Seattle Public Library Adds Film Streaming Service, Kanopy
release date: November 1, 2017
Film lovers asked for it; we got it! You can now watch more than 30,000 films from Kanopy, a streaming film service with a focus on classic and independent films. It's free for cardholders of The Seattle Public Library.
Kanopy's collection includes indie hits like "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night," cult classics like "Donnie Darko" and "The Boondock Saints," award-winning documentaries like the 2017 Oscar-nominated "I Am Not Your Negro," and selections from the Criterion Collection. The service launches over 30 films a day, so there's always something new to enjoy.
Viewers can watch five free films a month by visiting www.spl.org/kanopy. Once checked out, a title will be available for three days. The service is free, just use your email address and Library card number to create a Kanopy account.
Access For All
All films have closed captions, subtitles and transcripts that are fully ADA compliant. They can be watched using screen reader technologies like JAWS.
Multiple Devices
Films can be watched at any time on smartphones, tablets, PCs and smart TVs. The Kanopy app is available for iOS, Android and Roku. The app can also be watched through Chromecast or Apple TV.
Public Screenings
Films from Kanopy come with Public Performance Rights (PPR). Schools, nonprofits, events and businesses can stream movies in public, so long as the viewing isn't for commercial benefit - i.e. no admission costs are charged and no profit is made from the screening.
The Library will continue to offer video streaming through Hoopla and Access Video. To see all of the Library's streaming and downloadable services, visit www.spl.org/download.
Funding for Kanopy is provided by the 2012 Library levy, which promised to provide a robust collection of books and materials.