Appalachian State University offers its students, faculty, and staff free streaming access to more than 27,000 films through Kanopy, an online platform designed as an educational tool for universities. This resource is among a number of supports available to the App State community that are sometimes underutilized. Members of the App State community can stream a wide variety of titles, from classic films to contemporary documentaries, directly from their devices using their university credentials.
The Kanopy service highlights the extensive digital resources available through the university's library system. It complements traditional collections, such as Belk Library and Information Commons' physical DVD collection located on the first floor. Kanopy provides libraries, colleges, and universities with customizable websites where their members can stream content.
To access the vast library of films, students, faculty, and staff can navigate to the Kanopy website. On the “Get Started” page, users will find and select “Appalachian State University libraries” and then log in using their App State credentials. Once logged in, users gain access to a diverse catalog. The platform boasts a comprehensive selection, including titles such as "Citizen Kane" and "Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope," among its thousands of offerings.
In addition to full-length films, Kanopy provides valuable educational features like captions, transcripts, clips, and options to create personalized playlists, enhancing its utility for academic and recreational viewing alike. Kanopy's collection is regularly refreshed, with new titles added monthly to ensure a dynamic and current selection. While many films are available for on-demand streaming throughout the year, some specific titles may require a request for access. For these films, users can simply utilize the “Request for Access” form found within the Kanopy platform to gain viewership permissions. This system allows the university to manage access to a broad and specialized collection, ensuring availability for a range of academic and general interest subjects.
Kanopy was established in 2008 with the primary goal of serving as an educational resource for universities. Initially, its operations focused on distributing DVDs to schools, a common method for educational content delivery at the time. Recognizing the evolving landscape of media consumption, Kanopy expanded its services to include streaming options in 2010, making its extensive catalog more readily available to a wider audience. The platform further broadened its reach by expanding services to public libraries in subsequent years, reflecting its commitment to wider accessibility of educational and cultural content.
Beyond Kanopy, Appalachian State University libraries provide access to several other significant streaming services, further enriching the digital content available to its community. These include Swank Digital Campus, the PBS Video Collection, and Films on Demand. Each of these platforms contributes to a robust suite of online resources, catering to diverse academic disciplines and general interests. Additional streaming services and information about all available digital resources can be found by visiting the University Libraries website, offering comprehensive support for research, learning, and entertainment for all App State affiliates. The consistent provision of such diverse resources underscores the university's dedication to supporting its students, faculty, and staff with tools for both education and enrichment.
