Film streaming service available at library

Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library now offers the popular on-demand film streaming service Kanopy to library patrons.

Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 of the world's best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and cinema from around the world.

Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform simply by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku.

“After receiving several patron requests to add Kanopy to our services, librarians trialed Kanopy in May. Staff was overwhelmingly happy with the content, quality and ease of use of Kanopy. We are pleased to offer this new streaming option to Baldwin patrons, in addition to our popular Hoopla Digital service,” said Josh Rouan, technical services coordinator.

Kanopy was first launched in 2008, and provides public libraries and other subscribing institutions with a dedicated and customizable website through which their users can access and watch films. Available features for those who try Kanopy include captions, transcripts, clip creation and playlist creation.

With the motto of “thoughtful entertainment,” Kanopy provides Baldwin Library patrons with 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.

If you've got a Baldwin library card, it's easy to start streaming Kanopy films right away. Visit baldwinlib.org/movies. Select Kanopy and then click “sign up” in the right hand corner to create a new account. Library staff recommends logging in via Facebook or Google so you don't have to remember yet another password. Then, after responding to Kanopy’s email verification, enter your Baldwin library card number and select a film to watch. Baldwin users will receive up to ten play credits per month.