As the end of the semester approaches and online coursework ends, students with more free time on their hands can explore the recently-expanded movie database, Kanopy.
In response the stay-at-home order, Kanopy, one of the many databases to which LSU Libraries subscribes, temporarily expanded its film selection until the end of May.
The vendor-driven enlargement affords LSU faculty, staff and students a larger selection of films and documentaries to watch from the safety of their homes.
Associate Dean for Public and Collection Services Lois Kuyper-Rushing elaborated on Kanopy’s expanding its selection of films, courses and other titles available in the “Kanopy’s Spotlight” section.
“It’s an especially meaningful addition right now,” Kuyper-Rushing said. “There are just all sorts of materials for class or just for pleasure.”
Kanopy only serves as one example of film databases made available to students and faculty through the LSU Libraries. Other databases range in specificity and cover various topics useful to different areas of study. In addition to Kanopy, LSU Libraries subscribes to the Louisiana Digital Library, Black Studies in Video and BBC Shakespeare Plays.
Kuyper-Rushing noted the database’s uses amid social isolation restrictions and the switch to online coursework.
“Mainly, the Kanopy offerings are for classroom support,” Kuyper-Rushing said. “Now that we are a completely online environment for instruction, faculty and students can access the database for their classes.”
She said that various courses may utilize the database’s range of educational content.
“It’s not just film studies [professors] that would be interested in this,” Kuyper-Rushing said. “There are historical [documentaries] and medical [documentaries] and all sorts of opportunities for classroom use.”
Kanopy’s expansion allows students to watch classic cinema, blockbuster hits and even award-winning indie movies like Lady Bird and Moonlight.
“There are some really great films in it,” Kuyper-Rushing said. “You can see the wide variety.”
Kuyper-Rushing continued to highlight The Great Courses— Kanopy’s educational videos similar to Masterclass— and the variety of knowledge the materials offers both students and faculty.
The Great Courses range from episodic descriptions of historical events, such as the creation of the CIA and the age of Benjamin Franklin, to classes covering how to paint or even master the art of tai chi.
“Everyone wants to improve themselves during these times,” Kuyper-Rushing said. “These are great self-improvement films that can be easily accessed.”
Anyone on the LSU campus can access these materials as long as they are logged in to their school account.
Students and faculty may gain access to Kanopy through the myLSU homepage under Library Resources.
LSU Libraries’ Kanopy film database expands until the end of May
May 2, 2020