For Release: Immediately
Department of External Affairs
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
FAX (215) 567-7850
Contact: Communications and Development
For Release: Immediately
Contact: Communications and Development

Kanopy Streaming Service Returns to the Free Library

PHILADELPHIA, January 17, 2023— The Free Library is excited to announce that it will once again provide access to the media streaming platform Kanopy. Free Library cardholders now have unlimited access to hundreds of titles available through the Kanopy PLUS (Public Library Unlimited Subscriptions) subscription model.

“We are overjoyed to resume access to Kanopy through the Free Library. It was a popular service with many of our patrons, and adds another way that Philadelphians can access the Free Library from the comfort of their homes,” said Free Library President and Director Kelly Richards.

In the past, the Free Library offered access to Kanopy, however, the pay-per-use subscription model made the cost unsustainable and unpredictable. The new Kanopy PLUS subscription model allows the Library to pay a flat rate for access to packages of its titles. The flat rate also allows the Library to remove the streaming limits that were once placed on its cardholders using Kanopy.

Free Library patrons have unlimited access to films from all available Kanopy PLUS packs:

  • Favorites: A mix of patron and staff favorites that spans the breadth of the full catalog, including Joe Bell, Howards End and Dial M for Murder.
  • Easy Watching: Easy Viewing: Fun, charming and delightful titles that engage and entertain, such as My Afternoons with Margueritte, Charade and Life Animated.
  • Diversity: Featuring a broad range of popular and compelling narrative films and documentaries that focus on diverse stories and storytellers including Miss Juneteenth, Whale Rider and Ken Burns: The Central Park Five.
  • World Cinema: International titles that span comedy, drama, romance and more. Titles include Transit, Nowhere in Africa and Downfall.

In addition, all Free Library cardholders have access to titles in the Kanopy Starter Pack—which includes Academy Award winners, Cannes and Sundance favorites, and classic films—as well as more than 2,000  titles in Kanopy Kids.

Patrons with existing Kanopy accounts will still be able to access their accounts. Patrons without existing Kanopy accounts can sign up through the database page on the Free Library’s website.

01/17/2023


Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850