Free Streaming Services with your Library Card
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
Scrolling too long on the same streaming services you’ve always been paying for? The Orion Township Public Library offers two video platform streaming services that you absolutely must add to your streaming repertoire, if not to replace them totally. Hoopla and Kanopy are two streaming services that host tons of movies and tv series that you can watch on any mobile device or smart television. What stands out about each streaming service?
HOOPLA
First things first, Hoopla is an app that has more than just movies and tv series: it also has music, comics, books, and audiobooks to check out as well. You’ll want to add Hoopla to all of your mobile devices to have easy-to-access entertainment on the fly.
But how does it work? First, your Library provides you with 8 new Instant Borrows at the start of each month. Instant titles are always immediately available - with no holds or waiting. Second, you can borrow up to 4 Flex titles at any one time. You can always get another Flex borrow by returning a Flex title you have checked out. If no copies of a Flex title your library owns are available, you can place a Hold to reserve your place in line. Once you download the app and sign up for Hoopla using your library card number, you can head to the Movies or Television section of the app on your smart devices to browse what’s available. If you are using Hoopla on your smart television, the movie collection will appear on your tv. Once you press “Borrow” on a movie, your credits will go down by one, and you will have the movie to view on all Hoopla-enabled devices for 3 days.
Hoopla recommendations from your local Librarian Paige:
KANOPY
While Hoopla has the bells and whistles of your favorite books added on to it, Kanopy is reserved solely for movies and television series. Kanopy is known for having special collections within the streaming service, such as Criterion Collection movies and the Great Courses. Kanopy is also available on all mobile devices and smart televisions, so download these apps, then sign up for Kanopy with your library card number. Once you’re logged in, you’ll have 12 tickets to use for the month to check out materials. Your tickets reset on the first day of the month, and unused tickets don't roll over to the next month. You can see your remaining tickets for the month in the top-right corner of the homepage. Many movies are 2 tickets, but newer or longer movies may use more tickets. With tv series, users can see what content the tickets unlock (e.g., “Season 1” or “all.“ ) Users have access to a Continue Watching shelf so they can pick up where they left off and see how much time is remaining.
Kanopy recommendations from your local Librarian Paige:
This blog post was written by Paige Greer, Marketing Librarian.
