Kanopy

  • Thrills and Chills for Winter Movie Nights

    Thrills and Chills for Winter Movie Nights

    When the sun goes down at 4pm and the weather report says ten solid days of rain, there is nothing I like more than a hot cup of tea, a blanket, a cat on my lap…and watching something scary. For horror fans, there is nothing better. Like listening to moody music when you’re feeling down,… Continue reading

  • Women’s History Through Film

    Women’s History Through Film

    Every so often, we like to remind folks about the incredible wealth of content available through the Library’s streaming databases, such as Kanopy. And what better way to celebrate Women’s History Month than watching a series of documentaries about inspiring women? For those wanting to learn more about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected… Continue reading

  • Winter Break Boredom Busters: 12 Family-Friendly Streaming Picks at the Library

    When it comes to raising kids, the years might be short, but the days are very long during winter break, especially when it’s pouring rain outside, and you’re trying to get work done or handle last-minute holiday hassles. Streaming entertainment to the rescue! Through your Library card, you can access hundreds of family-friendly films, TV… Continue reading

  • Horror movies to stream this Halloween weekend

    Halloween weekend is upon us! If you’re looking to cozy up with a frightful movie marathon, we’ve got you covered with some streaming scaries – all free to access with your library card, no need to even leave home. (Audience note: most of these films are for adult audiences; please use discretion if watching with… Continue reading

  • New Year Resolutions: Exercise in the Time of Covid

    Coming to you from the cyberpunk dystopia that will not end, a series of New Year’s Resolution-themed posts, because the only way out is through. My fellow apocalypse-sters, you and I both know the importance of exercise. It keeps your meat sack in working condition, helps you sleep better, gives you energy, and can even… Continue reading

  • What to Watch to Feel Hygge

    Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is a Danish word that describes “coziness and contentment.” With winter beginning and the stress of COVID-19, this is the perfect time to try to foster some hygge. Here are a few films to help you attain your own coziness and contentment: Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Movies About Being Outside

    What is almost as good as getting outside in the summer time? Watching movies about other people getting outside! The outdoors are a great component of so many amazing films available at the library, but there are some films in which “outside” features almost as a character all on its own. These films are different… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Music Documentaries on Kanopy

    The library has always had great resources for music buffs, but lesser known among these are the many documentaries about music, musicians, and musical history that are available on our video streaming services. Often, these include both great insights into the works of famous musicians or hidden gems that tell a particular story about music… Continue reading

  • Positive Reflections of Older Adults in Movies

    It’s not so easy to find movies about characters in the 60+ age category, let alone ones that depict older adults in a positive light. Fortunately, some are available for free viewing on Kanopy and Hoopla attesting that seniors can indeed lead interesting and meaningful lives. My Old Lady, a 2014 English movie adapted from Israel… Continue reading

  • Escapism Through the Documentary

    Documentaries gives us a peek into the window of someone else’s reality, and in these very unusual times, a glimpse into a place where the real world is not upended and devastated by a global panic sounds quite comforting. While during “normal” times, one might escape through fantasy, sci-fi, or a very engrossing drama, during… Continue reading

  • Virtual visits: Art collections and experiences online

    Uncertainty about safe and healthy travel these days has caused many of our plans to be interrupted or canceled. For hours we had planned itineraries, scheduled exhausting (but fun!) days, and made must-do, must-eat, and must-see lists, but sadly those lists will remain unchecked for now. The strolls we imagined we would take in renowned… Continue reading

  • Original Independent: John Sayles

    Filmmaker and author John Sayles has been creating excellent work for over forty years. Helming his first film in 1980 at the age of 30, he had already written two books and a few genre films for Roger Corman, including the timeless eco-parables Piranha and Alligator. Favoring stories about communities during moments of upheaval and… Continue reading

  • The Story of Film Part 5: Post War Cinema

    The Story of Film Part 5: Post War Cinema

    Our last column on Mark Cousin’s The Story of Film left us in 1939, as the clouds of war rolled in. By the early 1940’s, the world was fully embroiled in the conflict of World War 2. Film production in most countries either slowed down or closed entirely. Films still being made were full of propaganda… Continue reading

  • Learning From Home

    Homeschool is the new school for Washington through the rest of the 2019-2020 year. Teachers are finding ways to connect with parents and classes, providing online and printed resources as best they can to keep pace with their students’ need for knowledge. Families can also find valuable resources through the library to supplement their home… Continue reading

  • Horrorfest on Kanopy

    For those of us finding ourselves spending extra time with housemates or family, horror movie marathons are an excellent way to pass the days. If you’ve exhausted the movie options on your go-to streaming subscription service, Kanopy has an incredible selection of films that are free to access with your library card. Here are a… Continue reading

  • Missing the Library? Us, Too…

    There’s a good chance you are longing for the days when you could simply walk into the library to pick up a book, watch a DVD, browse the internet or peruse the rest of the endless available services and materials. You’re not alone! So, in the spirit of the library being closed but many services… Continue reading

  • A Trio of Unsettling Films

    If you like to escape times of high anxiety in this world by transporting yourself to those of another, here are three psychologically unsettling films you must visit: Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Richard Kelly’s 2001 cult classic, Donnie Darko, about an emotionally unstable high school student who is visited by a large ominous rabbit from… Continue reading

  • Dinner in a Movie: Dining In with SPL Streaming Services

    When our video streaming queue, filled with murder mysteries and whodunnit crime documentaries, no longer looked as inviting, or the pile of books we had brought home stayed unread, or the housework we said was going to get done remains as unfinished as ever, it seems many of us are resorting to the kitchen to… Continue reading