Watch Streaming Movies with our Newest Digital Media Resource: Kanopy!
By Jamie W.
Wed, November 1, 2017
The Free Library is very pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new service to our cardholders. The popular on-demand video streaming service Kanopy is now available at no cost with your library card! Free Library of Philadelphia card holders can access Kanopy and sign up to start streaming films on demand instantly. You will find a link to Kanopy on our Digital Media Portal.
Cardholders will be able to access four films each month! Friday date night movies? Kids' sleepovers? Just a way to unwind with great films including movies from the Critereon Collection and Janus Films? We've got you covered.
Offering what the New York Times calls "a garden of cinematic delights," Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 titles, including award-winning documentaries and acclaimed films, rare and hard-to-find titles, and classic films, with collections from The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, and PBS, among many others.
You can access Kanopy through a variety of devices and platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, iOS, and Android. Kanopy is also compatible for those with hearing- (with captions and transcripts) and visual-impairments (compatible with technologies such as JAWS).
With the motto "thoughtful entertainment," Kanopy provides access to films of unique social and cultural value; films that are often difficult or impossible to access elsewhere; and programming that features diversity, with a wide array of foreign language films and films on race and current affairs.
The Kanopy collection includes indie hits like A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, classic masterpieces like Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Seven Samurai, and award-winning documentaries like the 2017 Oscar-nominated I Am Not Your Negro.
To get started, visit Kanopy and log in with your library card number and PIN. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Kanopy
Have a question for Free Library staff? Please submit it to our Ask a Librarian page and receive a response within two business days.
Thanks!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
WOO HOO!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Sounds like a good opportunity, but won't the data charges from your internet service provider end up costing more than if you just rented a DVD?
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Thank you for providing this outstanding service!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
I am completely psyched about this!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Thanks for having this service, can't wait to check it out!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
I don't see where to enter library card # and pin...signup on the linked site requires facebook, google, or email address login.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Hi badams - I got confused at the same place. Once you enter your email address, Kanopy sends you a verification email and you need to click the link they provide. It is at that point that they ask for your library card number. Then your card number and email are associated and going forward you can sign into Kanopy just using your email and the password you make up.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
I verified my email, and now it wants me to enter/find Free Library....on a list. When I type in "Free Library of Philadelphia," nothing happens. I logged out and tried again. Any ideas? thanks!
Thursday, November 2, 2017
I just tired it again, and it worked. I entered my library card #, then the shape of the field changed and a list of libraries came up. Weird. But I'm in! thank you.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Is the free library only for people in the U S ?
Friday, November 3, 2017
Is there a workshop or anything for people who do not know how to begin?
Friday, November 3, 2017
Hello Ms. Silber - we do not currently have workshops scheduled. Please begin by visiting our Kanopy site at the link we provide above. Then click 'Sign Up' at the top right of the screen. You will be asked to enter your name and email address, Kanopy will then send you a verification email and you need to click the link they provide. At that point Kanopy will ask for your library card number and you will be able to start watching films. If you have trouble signing up or using the site, please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page to send us an email. One of our librarians will help you one-on-one via email.
Friday, November 3, 2017
can a movie be paused and restarted if I have an interruption that needs attending to so that I don't lose any of the four credits
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Awesome!!!
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Great!
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Great service. Thanks for offering. Love my local library. My librarians are so nice!
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
WOW! the Free Library is becoming relevant and pertinent in/to the 21st Century.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Heard about Kanopy this summer. Checked for Free Lib of Phila. It was not on list. Suggested it be added. You did it. Thank you.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Please send application for new library card. Lost old one
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Hello Frank - you can apply for a new card in any of Free Library locations or online here: https://know.freelibrary.org/MyResearch/register
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Great
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Thank You for The new information
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Trying to re register
Friday, January 5, 2018
Hi. Thank you for this. I love Kanop and I use it frequently. So much (to the max of 4 per month), I contacted Kanopy and offered to pay a monthly fee to extend my number of views per month. They wrote me back and said the limitation, i.e., 4 videos per month, is completely in control of the participating library. So my question to you is, can you up the movies, to say, 8 per month? Does anything weigh against doing so? I'm curious to know. Thank you.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
My Kanopy account through the free library is marked "inactive". Does this reflect something about my library
card?
Monday, October 1, 2018
Hi Saul - it's possible but we don't have enough information to help you here. Please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page to send us an email. Include your library card number and description of what happens when you try to watch a film on Kanopy. Thank you.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Hi! I just found out about Kanopy and of course signed up right away. However, it keeps telling me I have an invalid pin. I'm a HUGE fan of your online audiobook service so I logged out of that and then logged back in just to make sure I was using the right PIN number and i was. Is there something else I could be missing? Thanks!!!
Friday, December 28, 2018
Thank you!
Saturday, December 29, 2018
I understood that we could watch any film in the Free Library catalogue, but I searched for RBG in Kanopy after signing in through the Free Library and the film did not show up.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Hello Walter - thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, that is not the case. We offer many films through our Kanopy platform, as well as many on our Hoopla platform. We also have a very large collection of DVDs for loan. When you search our catalog for a particular film, the record will indicate in which of these formats it is available. The film, RBG specifically, is available on DVD at many of our locations. It is also available digitally on our Hoopla platform. It is not currently available on Kanopy. You can access Hoopla on our Digital Media page (http://libwww.freelibrary.org/databases/featured.cfm?subjects=digital-media). Thank you.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Hi, does the limit of 4 movies per month include TV shows? If so, it's a shame that the number is limited to 4.
Friday, February 22, 2019
I have been using Kanopy to access the Great Courses, specifically How to Play Piano and Algebra 1. Today I tried to access Piano and my watchlist is empty as is Continue Watching. Is there a limit to access to Great Courses?
Friday, January 3, 2020
What's going on with the Great Courses? I was in the middle of one yesterday and it became unavailable. I contacted Kanopy and they said that you dropped the service. Any chance that was a mistake? Or is the Great Courses content gone?
Friday, January 3, 2020
Hi Chris,
Great Courses materials are no longer available through our Kanopy platform. We do offer Great Courses through other platforms and in other mediums:
36 Great Courses through RBdgital as audiobook downloads
50 Great Courses on DVD
30 Great Courses on audiobook CD
You can find all of these titles by searching our catalog at freelibrary.org, using the term "Great Courses" in quotes. If there is a specific course you're looking for but do not see, please email us and let us know the title and we will see if it is available to purchase: https://www.questionpoint.org/crs/servlet/org.oclc.admin.BuildForm?&institution=12274&type=1&language=1
Friday, January 17, 2020
Hi,
When signing up for an account, I am receiving an error message saying that my library card is not recognized. Do you know if there is a glitch with the system currently? My card works fine with other library portals (databases, for instance).
Many thanks,
Andrew
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
It was worth my time reading through your blog. I specially liked this topic . Well crafted article.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Hi Andrew - Sorry to hear you're having a problem with Kanopy. We're happy to help. Please submit your question using this form and we'll get back to you shortly: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/contact/
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Hi there -- it appears that the Library's membership included unlimited Kanopy Kids up until recently. Currently I cannot even access Kanopy Kids after logging in via FLP, and my viewings are limited to 4 total per month (including kid's programming). Have the terms of membership changed?
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Hi Liz - Starting June 1st, kids content on Kanopy is no longer free. With our increased usage our budget will now allow us to keep this feature. We do apologize for the inconvenience and will make a public announcement if anything changes.
Monday, July 20, 2020
Kanopy Kids was the only thing worthwhile on this. Why not keep Kanopy Kids and get rid of something else. This is great content for children.
Monday, August 17, 2020
Seeking the actual link to begin!
Sunday, September 6, 2020
I contacted Canopy with my card number but explained I had no pin. I then gave my date of birth to have Library look me up. Then: NOTHING for a week. I want to borrow Women on the Verge of a Nervous breakdown (Spanish film)
Monday, November 2, 2020
I enjoy streaming videos from my iPhone to to chrome sat device onto my TV, but today, I received a message saying "there was a problem playing this DRM-protected content." Please try reloading or visit help page. Haven't been able to troubleshoot my way out of this problem - any ideas?
Monday, November 2, 2020
I was able to correct the "DRM-protected" problem by playing the content on my phone first, then casting it as soon as the contebt starts. I find content on Kanopy that I can't find anywhere else and am grateful for the service, thank you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
I love Kanopy kids. A lot of the content is very short so the unlimited content was appreciated. With the 4 per month limit It is hard to watch shorts or some of the great scholastic content based on children's books. Please bring back the unlimited kids content or increase the total number of views per a month. Thank you!
Friday, December 4, 2020
I have NOT been able to log in to Kanopy, my library card and pin number works for all FLOP transactions. The note from Kanopy states that the email I entered is in use(yes, it is MY correct e-mail) now I see that Kanopy requires a 6 digit pin.. My FLOP is 4 digits
If I change the pin for Kanopy, it will probably screw up my FLOP access code.
I talked with Mark this a.m and we tried many approaches, Kanopy just has several solutions noted. I do NOT WANT TO have to change my FLOP access
By the way, I was able to access Kanopy directly with my Temple access code. However, Temple's Kanopy collection does NOT hold the film I need for a film discussion.
The only film that I have seen, in the past, was accessed thru FLOP, which is why Kanopy notes the address.
Linda Brick
Monday, January 11, 2021
Kanopy!
Sunday, March 14, 2021
thanks for the service
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Kanopy movies / Philadelphia Library
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Interested in Kanopy
Saturday, March 19, 2022
Downloaded kanopy and The Free Library of Philadelphia isn't even on their list
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Can I access Kanopy directly on my smart TV?
Friday, January 20, 2023
Hi Garry, please see https://help.kanopy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019042413-Kanopy-TV-app for instructions on viewing Kanopy on a smart TV.
Monday, January 23, 2023
Would like to view great courses
Saturday, February 3, 2024