Kanopy users can see classics, indie films and special programming
By Barb Pert Templeton
There are certainly plenty of streaming services out there but all come with a price tag which makes the new free streaming service, Kanopy, being offered to patrons of the St. Clair County Library System, so appealing.
The Kanopy website states that they partner with public libraries and universities to bring users an ad-free experience that can be enjoyed on their televisions, mobile phone, tablets or online.
Kanopy further explains the system stating that just as libraries buy books to add to their collection for patrons to borrow, the library offers a variety of digital resources too and Kanopy is one of them. Kanopy does not charge individuals because the public library or university cover all associated costs, allowing users to watch for free with no ads.
Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with Mike Mercatante, community relations and friend development coordinator for the St. Clair County Library System to pose a few questions about the new service for patrons. He said Kanopy was launched in the St. Clair County Library System on Jan. 2, 2025.
Blue Water Healthy Living: What exactly is Kanopy?
Community Relations and Friend Development Coordinator Mike Mercatante: Kanopy is a streaming service for critically acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, award-winning foreign films, and enriching, educational, and entertaining kids’ content.
St. Clair County Library System Community Relations and Friend Development Coordinator Michael Mercatante.
BWHL: Is it just for use by library patrons:
Mercatante: Yes. Another great reason to have a St. Clair County Library System library card.
BWHL: Does the library pay for a subscription in order to utilize the Kanopy service?
Mercatante: Yes.
BWHL: Can you share an example of a critically acclaimed movie or educational programming that can be streamed using the service?
Mercatante: Sure. There is a whole section devoted to Oscar-winning or nominated movies, ranging from Raging Bull to Finding Neverland, classic comedies such as Some Like It Hot, musicals such as Fiddler on a Roof, and acclaimed animated movies like The Secret Of The Kells. Educational programming is available through the many documentaries on Kanopy, as well as the PBS and Kanopy Kids programming. Reading Rainbow and The Great Courses are examples. The selection is always changing as videos are added/removed due to licensing requirements.
BWHL: Is this streaming service meant to replace Netflix, Hulu and Acorn streaming services or is there original programming via Kanopy?
Mercatante: I think of Kanopy as more of a complimentary streaming platform to those other services. Kanopy does not fund original content while those services do. There’s a lot of crossovers with existing content and Kanopy is free with your library card and those other services charge therefore, Kanopy is a lot nicer to your wallet.
BWHL: How does the ticket system work – is it one ticket per movie or program or several tickets depending on the movie selected?
Mercatante: Each month, patrons receive a set number of tickets. The tickets reset on the first day of the month, and unused tickets don’t roll over to the next month. Videos vary on the number of tickets required.
BWHL: How did you decide to offer 18 tickets per month for patrons?
Mercatante: Budgetary considerations and comparisons to other libraries of similar size that offer the Kanopy service. Every year the library re-evaluates the usage of our collections and reallocates funds to try and meet demand.
BWHL: Is Kanopy only available at one per household or?
Mercatante: It is available to each individual library cardholder.
BWHL: What is Kanopy Kids and what are some examples of their programming?
Mercatante: Kanopy Kids offers a wide variety of programs. Examples being: Shaun the Sheep, Minibods, Timmy Time, Odd Squad, etc.. Kanopy does have content from PBS Kids such as Caillou, Reading Rainbow, Blippi, Franklin, Arthur, HIGHLIGHTS, as well as storybook read-a-longs. I don’t believe that there is any Disney content on Kanopy.
