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TECH: FREE Movies from Your Public Library!

EH Stafford

Last week, I reviewed the App called Libby. This week: Kanopy!

Last week, I reviewed the App called Libby. It’s a great way to check out free books from your public library to read on your iPad, tablet or e-reader. Even though my first love is reading a book, my very close second is watching a movie. One of the many extra resources available through the Libby App is called Kanopy. To access Kanopy, the Libby App is required. You must have a library card to use either App. Click here to see last week’s article and view information on obtaining your FREE library card.

Download the Libby App from the App store if you have an Apple device or the Google Play store if you have an Android. Each brand has its own method of downloading apps.

Libby App => Extras => Kanopy

The movie library in the Kanopy App is HUGE, estimated at over 30,000 titles. The service was originally meant for libraries and universities and contained many independent and foreign films. Currently it’s categories include: movies, documentaries, The Arts, business, education, global studies & languages, health, media & communications, sciences, social sciences, instructional films & lessons, and Staff Picks.

Even though it’s FREE to you, your public library pays for this service

Each library patron can view up to 10 movies (credits) per month. (Some of the major libraries have upgraded to 20 per month.) If you view more than 30 seconds of the movie, you are charged your 1 credit for that movie and your library pays for it with whatever licensing they have arranged with Kanopy. (Note: there is a section of “Credit-Free” movies which do not count towards your monthly credits.)

Once you open the Libby app (and enter your library card number which you only need to enter once), then you can scroll down to the EXTRAS section where Kanopy can be found. Tap the Extras word and you will then be able to tap on the Kanopy icon.

How to use the app

The first time you select Kanopy, you will be instructed to download the Kanopy App. The process is similar to most apps that you have used. Again, similarly to Libby, you may have to select your library and enter your library card number the first time you open the App. Afterwards, it will remember your selections, so you will not need to enter it more than once.

From the Libby App, select Extras and then select Kanopy.

The first time you open Kanopy, you’ll be instructed to select a Library and enter your library card number. Afterwards, it will show you which library and card you are using as shown above.

Just like other apps, Kanopy will ask you whether you want notifications. There are advantages to either selection Allow or Don’t Allow. You can still use the app if you “Don’t Allow” notifications.

The selection of movies is larger than anything I’ve ever seen

Truly, it may take you longer to Browse all the categories and selections that to actually watch a movie!! I have NEVER seen such a large selection of popular and independent movies on any service.

This screen capture shown above is only the teeny-tiniest of the HUGE selection of movies that you can browse and watch.

Tap on any movie to see a description

Then tap on the “Play” icon in the center of the photo to play the movie.

Click on the Synopsis button for a description of the movie. Or tap (click) in the center of the photo to begin playing.

Navigating

You can view the description of any book or audiobook (indicated by earbugs below the photo) by clicking on it. You can’t accidentally borrow a book by clicking on it. You need to click the “Borrow” link at the right of the description. [Pictured below.]

Home takes you to the beginning of the movie browsing section. Browse moves you through the selections and allows you to select a specific category.

My Lists …

Contain your “Continue Watching” section where you will see any movie that you have not finished watching and “My Watchlist” which is the place where you can see the list of movies you have selected for your Watchlist. Watchlists are a great advantage because the HUGE number of movies may make it difficult to remember a title that you want to watch at a future point in time.

In the picture above you are seeing the Continue Watching list on my Kanopy app.

Happy Movie Watching!

Article and photos by Ellen Stafford

Ellen H Stafford is the managing editor for LKNConnectCommunity.com. She loves communicating with people whether it’s great conversation over a good meal, writing and encouraging others to write, photography and video, or drawing and painting. Gardening and cooking are among her passions. She is currently writing a book about time travel.

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