Ever spend 20 minutes scrolling through streaming services only to decide there’s nothing new to watch? Us too. That’s why the Aurora Public Library District is excited to introduce Kanopy, the newest addition to our digital collection family. Kanopy is more than just another place to watch movies. It’s an opportunity to discover new ideas and cultures through its unique collection of movies, documentaries, world cinema, and children’s programming.
Kanopy has a different feel than most mainstream streaming services. “I really like the diversity of movies on Kanopy – there’s foreign language films, classic films, documentaries, just a bunch of things you might not find on other platforms,” said librarian Megan. Titles are always available (no holds or waiting necessary!) and you can watch as much as you’d like because there is no limit. “I love Ken Burns’ documentaries, and Kanopy has such a great selection to choose from,” added assistant children’s manager Gretchen. “I was especially excited to finally watch The Dust Bowl after learning it was featured in one of my favorite movies, Interstellar. It’s been a great way to discover high-quality documentaries that I might not have watched otherwise.”
What also makes Kanopy unique is its designated Kanopy Kids collection. Kanopy Kids contains content designed specifically for children ages two to eight. Caregivers can enable parental controls that allow or limit access to content outside of Kanopy Kids. And since Kanopy offers unlimited viewing, your little ones can safely watch their favorite videos and story read-alouds any time, any place, and at no additional cost to you.
Services like Kanopy allow us to extend the library beyond our physical buildings and meet our community where they are. “We are continually looking for ways to expand access to information, education, culture, and entertainment,” said senior manager of digital services, Himanshu. “Kanopy is a natural extension of what libraries have always done—connect people with reliable resources they value. We are excited to see what our community enjoys most and how customers use this new resource.”
So, if you enjoy wandering the library shelves in hopes of stumbling upon something new or are looking for a streaming service without a monthly subscription fee, we encourage you to give Kanopy a try! Kanopy is available on your web browser and as an app on your device. Make sure you have your APLD barcode number, PIN, and a reliable internet connection (content cannot be downloaded or viewed offline). To learn more, visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/DigitalCollection or give us a call us at 630-264-4117. What will you discover?
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.