Faculty and Staff Services

Due to cost, Parkside librarians mediate all requests for access to Kanopy films.

Films in Kanopy are leased for one year; the Parkside Library does not own them. In many cases, we can purchase a DVD for less than the price of a one-year license.

While we appreciate the convenience of streaming, Kanopy’s subscription model has proven unsustainable. See a recent piece in Film Quarterly about the issue.

We are among many academic libraries dealing with this problem, and we regularly explore other options for streaming video content. 

Can I use Kanopy?

See a list of licensed titles and their expiration dates below. If you go to Kanopy you will only be able to play films for which we have already purchased a license. If we have not purchased a license, you will see a request form when you try to play the film.

What if a film I planned to use this semester is no longer available on Kanopy?

If you were planning to use a film that is not currently activated on Kanopy, or if the license for the film will expire before you need it, please contact your Library Liaison or email askus@uwp.edu as soon as possible. Consider finding alternative media to use with your courses; a list of other streaming media databases is available here.

Requesting Films via Kanopy

If you choose a title for which we do not already have a license, you may fill out the request form. Librarians will give priority consideration to films requested for online courses. Use your Parkside email address, and include the title of the course for which you need the film and any other relevant information in the free text box on the request form. Film licensing is at the discretion of the UW-Parkside Library collection development team, and the team will not approve requests from students.

Search the Kanopy database

You will need to scroll to the bottom of search results to see films for which we do not yet have licenses.

Please allow a week for us to process your request.