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Kanopy Streaming Video Access Changes

Promotional image showing the Kanopy app on a mobile phone.

By: Bobby Reeves

The library has made a significant change to our Kanopynew window streaming video access.  Effective September 15, 2022, the service has been changed from an unlimited access model to a hybrid model, where about half of the videos are available immediately and the remainder are in a mediated pool that will require users to request access. Videos that are available through a different subscription service have been removed entirely.

Why are we making these changes?

Costs for Kanopy have risen considerably - approximately 400% - since we first began providing access in 2015 and they are no longer sustainable. Unlike other streaming video services the library offers, Kanopy videos are paid for on a per-title basis once they are watched four times in a 365-day period. By reducing the number of titles that are immediately available, we are hoping to reduce costs and better encourage use for instructional and educational purposes while still supporting the MC curriculum.

What will this mean for faculty?

To minimize disruptions, the immediate access pool will include all Kanopy videos that have been licensed in the last 12-month period and those from our most-used video production companies. Other videos not previously licensed that faculty intend to use in a course may now require that you request access. Requests are placed directly from the video entry in Kanopy and library staff will endeavor to respond to requests within one business day. Requests will be approved when the intended use is for a course and the library doesn’t have access to the video from another source. 

What should you do if you are concerned that a Kanopy video you want to use in your class may not be immediately available?

In Kanopy, search for the title and see if you can play the video. If you get a “request access” prompt, fill out the form and library staff will ensure the title is added to the immediate access group. If you get the message “Sorry, this video is not available for your institution", please report the problem and we will investigate for you. Please note that a title that has been removed may be due to availability with another service or it could be that Kanopy no longer has the title available to license.

Please feel free to reach out to the library’s electronic resources librarian (that’s me!) with any questions you have about these changes to our Kanopy service. And if you need any assistance identifying alternate film resources for use in the classroom, you can find contact information for librarians that support your department/academic subject on our Connect with a Librarian page.