Why does the library have limited access to Kanopy?

Unfortunately, the unlimited subscription model for the Kanopy platform proved  financially unsustainable. It provides access to a core set of films; all other films available on its site involve the purchase of additional licenses. (Harvard Library's Changes to Kanopy Streaming Service announcement gives more detail.)

 

We subscribe to multiple streaming video services. If you are unable to locate a streaming version of the film you’re interested in for academic use, please use the purchase request form to request streaming access. We will do our best to honor as many requests as we can.

  • For Kanopy in particular, please be aware that at this time we can only fulfill add-on licensing requests made by faculty for the purpose of course assignments or for doctoral dissertation research. Faculty can add the film to their Course Reserve requests in Canvas or contact the Reserves Librarians for help. 
  • Faculty reviewing Harvard's streaming video film selection may want to take note of possible streaming video expiration dates.

Harvard Library is not alone in having made this difficult choice. Libraries like Stanford and Yale are also using the limited subscription model, and the New York Public Library system has had to cancel their subscription to Kanopy.

Please note that all Harvard affiliates can obtain library cards from the Minuteman Network (the network that Cambridge Public Library is part of) and the Boston Public Library. These libraries allow their patrons to access five free Kanopy films per month. 


More information:

https://filmquarterly.org/2019/05/03/kanopy-not-just-like-netflix-and-not-free/

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