Streaming Video Collections: Kanopy

Kanopy offers over 50,000 films from all genres.

As of January 1^st, 2020, Kanopy titles are for instructional purposes only. Previously licensed titles will be available for streaming until their licenses expire, at which point approval will be required* for renewals. New titles will be made available for courses or learning opportunities on an individual basis by instructor request.

*The Criterion, PBS, and Media Education Foundation collections will remain unmediated in their entirety (and thus available to all Purdue users without needing to request that they be made available for specific courses).

I’m an instructor who wants to show a Kanopy streaming video title in one of my classes. Will it be available after Purdue switches to “mediated” mode?  

Yes. We realize that one of the benefits of Kanopy is its accessibility. Unfortunately, the cost has become prohibitive, and as of January 1^st 2020, Purdue University Libraries (West Lafayette campus) no longer provides unmediated access to the entire Kanopy catalog of 50,000+ videos. We are not eliminating any Kanopy videos, we are simply requiring that instructors request videos to be licensed prior to when they are needed for a course. Once a title has been licensed, access to it will remain open on the Kanopy website for twelve months from the date of activation. We will extend or re-license titles for class use when requested by instructors.

There are two ways to request Kanopy video licensing for class use: via the Kanopy website or directly via the kanopy@purdue.edu account. Detailed information about both methods is available on the Libguide.

If I request access to a video on Kanopy, will my students be able to view it on their own computers?

Yes. Purdue students can view licensed Kanopy videos through the Purdue West Lafayette Campus Kanopy site. 

You may also find it useful to embed licensed Kanopy videos into Brightspace so that students may watch videos directly from your course page. Instructions are posted later in this Libguide.

Does the Library have movies available for streaming?

Yes, with restrictions.  The largest platform, Kanopy, is restricted to educational use only. Instructors may request access to titles for their courses via the Kanopy platform or directly via the kanopy@purdue.edu account. 

Unfortunately, due to costs, we do not offer unlimited Kanopy viewing to students. If you are a student who needs access to a Kanopy title for a course, contact your instructor and ask him/her to send in a request on behalf of your class.

All requests for Kanopy titles must be made a minimum of one week in advance. West Lafayette instructors are encouraged to check on the availability of titles for their courses before every semester, as some licenses may have expired in the interim.

Option 1: Request a title through the Kanopy platform

Recommended for instructors who need a single title or prefer to browse/navigate the platform.

1. Go to Kanopy.
2. Click on the title of interest.
3. If the “Request Access” form pops up, you have selected a currently unlicensed title. Fill out the form and hit “submit.”
4. A Libraries staff member will contact you by email via kanopy@purdue.edu with further instructions for approval.

Option 2: Request a title through email

Recommended for instructors who wish to request multiple titles for a course syllabus at one time. 

Send an email directly to kanopy@purdue.edu. In your message, please include the following:

1. Name
2. University Standing
3. Kanopy Title(s) Requested
4. Course Name and Number
5. On-campus or Distance Learning
6. Date Needed

Each video from Kanopy has an embed code. 

To link to videos in Kanopy:

• Identify a video in the Kanopy database

• Click on the "Share" option below the video player
• A new gray box should open underneath the box containing the video player with the options "Share--Embed"
• Click on "Embed" and copy/paste the code provided into the course content delivery system

To embed in Blackboard:

• Select Content
• Click and hold on Build Content to select "Create" / "Item"
• Enter your selected Name
• Click on "HTML" in the Tool Icons displayed for the Text box.  The HTML code view dialog box will open.
• Paste in the embed link copied earlier
• Click "Update"
• Click "Submit" on the Create Item page
• The title of the video along with production details and running time will automatically be included above the video window in BlackBoard

Instructions: Playlist and Clip Creation Tool

1. You can access the Playlist and Clip Creation Tool from any video by clicking the "PLAYLIST/CLIP" button under the video player

2. Complete the form with your name, e-mail address and playlist title.  Click on "Create" to start creating your playlist.

3. Review your information and click "Save & Select/Edit Clips".

4. Click on "Add a new clip"

5. Choose a video by either searching or browsing

6. Finalize the clip(s) selection and "Save and Publish"

7. Your playlist has now been created and two URLs have been created and e-mailed to you.  The first URL is your published playlist to be viewed or shared with others.  The second URL can be used to edit or delete your playlist at any time.

• If you need help using the keyboard accessible video player, please contact Kanopy to assist you
• Closed Captioning and Transcripts are available on most videos (click on the "More" option under each video).  If a film is without captions and they are desired, there is a simple request option, located directly from the film page in question.

• No player is required to view the videos.  For a PC you only require Flash, which most computers already have installed.  Videos can also be played on all iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices.