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You can borrow all kinds of media at your local public library, from audiobooks, to albums, to films on physical discs. But some libraries, like the Los Angeles Public Library, offer streaming films through Kanopy, a video streaming service specializing in independent films, documentaries, and classic cinema. And now, Kanopy is expanding its offerings into the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library systems, as well.


Kanopy offers over 30,000 films for viewing, including the Criterion Collection, a series of a few hundred “classic and contemporary” movies. To use the service, you’ll need a valid NYPL or BPL card. Brooklyn Public Library patrons can watch up to six films per month, while New York Public Library patrons can watch up to ten, with your limit resetting at the beginning of every month.

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You also have three days to view it from the time you press play, an improvement over traditional streaming video rental offerings that usually allow only 24 hours to view a film. You can view your free movie rentals on your PC, or your Roku, iOS, and Android devices.

Anyone With A Library Card Can Now Stream Thousands Of Feature Films, Including The Criterion Collection | Gothamist