By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
The Geneseo Public Library has a new free streaming service available to its patrons.
Kanopy is an ad-free streaming service that distributes content through membership at public libraries and universities, according to Claire Crawford, director of the Geneseo library. “Kanopy focuses on providing movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos without commercial interruption, and it’s free to our patrons.”
Kanopy charges libraries and universities a fee for providing content to their members. Each member is allotted a certain amount of free digital rentals per month.
Anyone who has a library card is eligible to receive the free service and those patrons with library cards will be asked to use their library card number and a PIN password.
The new service offers PBS, Paramount, HBO Documentaries, A24, The Criterion Collection.
There is an entire section of Kanopy that is dedicated to children – Kanopy Kids. Some of the content includes: Peanuts, Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Arthur, Calliou, and Franklin the Turtle in addition to parental controls and classes for kids.
Even though it won’t have the most recent blockbuster movies, the library staff believes those people looking for independent films, documentaries and lots of content for kids “will really like it.”
Residents of Geneseo who do not have a library card can apply for a card at the library. They will need to present two proofs of residency (a current driver’s license with their address) and a paid utility bill that has their address.