The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in how we do just about everything, including how we watch movies and television. Over the past few months, streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu have hit record numbers. But what happens when we’ve binged all of our favorite shows and movies or when we’d like to watch something more thought-provoking than another go-around of Tiger King? The answer: Kanopy.
Kanopy is a streaming video service you can access for free with your library card. Just log on and you’ll have access to more than 30,000 mainstream movies, thoughtful documentaries, and educational videos, including the Great Courses. For children and families, Kanopy Kids offers movies, TV series, and stories for kids of all ages.
Kanopy is currently featuring films about racial and social injustice. Inspiring documentaries like “The Talk: Race in America,” “P.S. I Can’t Breathe,” and many others can help contribute to a more open dialogue about race relations in modern America.
The Great Courses include such titles as “How to Read and Understand Shakespeare,” “Big Questions of Philosophy,” and “Masterpieces of the Ancient World.” You can also learn to meditate, play the piano, and even train your dog using the Great Courses.
One of our Kanopy staff favorites is “Party Girl,” a 1995 dramedy starring Parker Posey as Mary, a free-spirited young woman who goes to raves and parties her money away. Following an arrest, Mary finds herself without bail money, so she gets a loan and takes a job as – gasp – a library clerk! Mary worries that working in a library will cramp her style, and she can’t make heads or tails of the Dewey Decimal System. No spoilers, but let’s just say Mary learns how to enjoy library life while staying true to her party girl nature. Of course, here at the Smiley, we already knew that library folks know how to party.
We encourage you to stay safe and healthy during this difficult time. We’re looking forward to the day we can safely open our doors. Until then, we’ve got you covered with our Books to Go curbside service, Kanopy, and our many other eResources.