This page highlights the streaming video services to which the Library subscribes. The films in these databases are available for viewing, creating clips and making comments. Remember, if you are off-campus, you must run VPN first before viewing any film.
These internet sites help you determine what is available for streaming and where you can find it. It does not mean the Library has access to a specific film title. It will help you determine if something is streaming. Not everything on video is available on a streaming platform.
To view these documentaries, you must have a personal Netflix account. The library does not have an account. Please abide by the rules Netflix has set for access to these films.
Some Netflix original educational documentaries are available for one-time educational screenings.
To find out which titles are available for educational screenings, visit media.netflix.com and search for the title or browse our recent and upcoming releases.
Titles that are available for educational screening will display either the following Grant of Permission or an Educational Screenings Permission (ESP) on their details page:
Grant of Permission for Educational Screenings
Netflix is proud to present original programming that speaks to our users in a meaningful way. We know that many of you are as excited about these films and series as we are, and because of their informational aspects, you’d like to show them in an educational setting -- e.g., in the classroom, at the next meeting of your community group, with your book club, etc. Consequently, we will permit one-time educational screenings of any of the titles noted with this information, on the following terms:
The film or series may only be accessed via the Netflix service, by a Netflix account holder. We don’t sell DVDs, nor can we provide other ways for you to exhibit the film.
The screening must be non-profit and non-commercial. That means you can’t charge admission, or solicit donations, or accept advertising or commercial sponsorships in connection with the screening.
Please don’t use Netflix’s logos in any promotion for the screening, or do anything else that indicates that the screening is “official” or endorsed by Netflix.
"One-time screening" means that you can't hold screenings several times in one day or one week - but if, for example, you're an educator who wants to show these films or series once a semester over multiple semesters, that's okay.
We trust our users to respect these guidelines, which are intended to help you share and discuss our content in your community.
To the extent your institution requires you to demonstrate that you have a license for your screening, please show them this page.
[This text is taken from the Netflix Help Center, 01/26/2023]
Before going directly to one of the streaming services below, please check the library's online catalog first. If we have the film on DVD, we will not usually buy access to the film via one of the services (if available). If this is something needed for a course, please contact the Jones Media Center. The Center can help you with alternative access or lend you a DVD player.
When completing your form for film reserves, list ALL of the films you want including any titles found in one of the streaming services. Not all titles in the various services are available for viewing. The Jones Media Center may have an alternative source for viewing. This also helps us know what is being used and what is needed.
If you have any questions about the streaming services or what is available from them, please contact Lucinda M. Hall.
An Explanation of How Kanopy Works
The Kanopy service has a distinctive business model which is based on setting up an account at the beginning of the financial year. The service is patron-driven and draws down from that annually budgeted account as films are selected by our patrons. This “patron driven” model is really rather different than an annual subscription model such as you might find with Netflix or Amazon. When using Kanopy, after the third view of a film (defined as 30 seconds or more) we are charged a license activation fee which supplies all patrons unlimited access to that particular film (not all films) for 1-year. When the 1-year license expires then the process repeats, and we potentially pay again for that same film for another year. However, a new account is set up at the beginning of each new financial year.
[Test courtesy of Kenneth Peterson, Associate Librarian for Access and Collections Strategies, 5/2019]
For another perspective on Kanopy, please see Chris Cagle's commentary in Film Quarterly.
PLEASE NOTE: Kanopy film are not available for casual viewing. Please check the online catalog to see if we have the film available in another streaming service or on DVD. If we have the film on DVD, contact the Jones Media Center about access to the film.