By Naeisha Rose
Cinephiles who are patrons of Queens Public Library are in luck.
On Dec. 13 the extensive library system, which has 62 branches, launched the Kanopy video and film streaming service for cardholders in the borough, according to the library’s spokeswoman, Elisabeth de Bourbon.
Through the new streaming service cardholders can have access to more than 30,000 foreign-language films, award-winning documentaries, instructional videos, and classic movies, according to de Bourbon.
“Our goal is to offer our customers new ways to grow, discover, and succeed in their lives,” said Queens Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “Kanopy’s intelligent, compelling collection of films helps us deliver for them, and satisfy their appetite for learning and information. And with the holidays upon us, we hope they will have extra time to explore and stream the offerings from this terrific service.”
Kanopy is a San Francisco-based on-demand streaming service, which was founded in 2008 as an educational tool for 3,000 colleges and universities worldwide and has 5 million streamers, according to the company.
This expansion into the Queens library system would definitely give the streaming service a wider audience, because the 62 community branches combined has 11.2 million visitors a year, according to de Bourbon.
The streaming service showcases well-known and hard-to-find titles through collections such as the Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, Music Box Films, Samuel Goldwyn, The Orchard, The Great Courses, PBS and thousands of independent filmmakers, according to Queens Library.
Films set in or about Queens, such as the Tribeca Film Festival winner “Between Us,” the acclaimed historical drama “Leonie,” and the L.A. Outfest winner “Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House,” as well as many others will be featured in the streaming system, according to Queens Library.
Queens Library e-cardholders will be able to access six films a month from the streaming service through queen
Kanopy also accommodates the visually or hearing impaired with captions, transcripts and JAWS screen readers, according to de Bourbon.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
