Netflix, Prime, Apple TV, oh my! The major streaming platforms offer a wealth of content, from indie hits to prestige dramas, slapstick comedies to buzzworthy binges. But when you factor in the rise of the smaller, niche streaming services — Acorn, BritBox, Shudder, Crunchyroll, etc. — the viewing options, and the prices, start to pile up.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by choices and subscription fees, it might be time to simplify. Your local library may provide a treasure trove of free movies, TV shows, documentaries, and much more — all digitally accessible, and all totally free.
Your library card is the key that will unlock this treasure chest of entertainment. Here, we’ll explain digital streaming options available through many public libraries, the types of content you can find on each, and how to get started streaming safely in just a few clicks.
What Streaming Services Can You Access With a Library Card?
Several streaming platforms are used by many public libraries to provide patrons with access to digital content. You might find that your local library uses one or all of the biggest free streaming apps, which include:
Kanopy
Kanopy offers thousands of recent, classic, and critically acclaimed films to stream for free via their iOS or Android app. Once you sign up for a Kanopy account, you can start streaming right away. Kanopy partners with both public libraries and universities to offer a wide range of entertainment and educational content, which can be streamed to your TV, tablet, phone, or online. If you have little ones, you can also check out Kanopy Kids, a library of child-appropriate streaming shows and movies for young viewers.
Hoopla
Hoopla is one of the premier library apps with a vast amount of digital content, but it isn’t just streaming. You can also check out books and download them to your ereader, or choose from a selection of classic and new-release audiobooks. On the Hoopla app, you can browse through libraries of comics and graphic novels, browse current and past issues of popular magazines, or choose a favorite TV show or award-winning film. Plus, Hoopla now offers the BingePass for several themed collections. BingePasses can be checked out for seven days and offer access to unique content packages, like the Great Course BingePass, which provides dozens of video courses and educational content. Other BingePasses include the Hallmark+ pass, the Puzzle Palace pass, and the PBS Kids pass.
Libby (by OverDrive)
You may have heard of the OverDrive library app, which was the predecessor to the Libby app. OverDrive is the parent company of Libby, which is a robust platform containing thousands of ebooks and audiobooks in every genre. There are a couple of ways you can use Libby to access streaming content as well. First, if your library offers Kanopy, you can connect your Kanopy account to the Libby app and access your content in one convenient spot. Alternatively, you can simply click the “Extras” section of the Libby app to access video content providers like IndieFlix or Qello Concerts.
What Kind of Content Can You Expect?
When using your library apps to access streaming content, you can expect a wide range of films, TV shows, educational courses, games, and much more. Whether your entertainment preferences are geared toward music documentaries, the latest streaming movies, or hit TV shows, you’re likely to find something that appeals to your taste on all of the free library apps. Here are some examples of what you could discover in your library’s collection:
On Kanopy:
- Moonlight, Oscar winner for Best Picture
- Amy, the Amy Winehouse documentary
- Clue the Movie, a cult classic mystery-comedy
- The Central Park Five, a PBS documentary
- Let the Right One In, a Swedish horror film
On Kanopy Kids:
- Blippi
- Masha and the Bear
- CoComelon
On Hoopla:
- True Grit, a film by the Coen brothers
- Recipes for Love and Murder, an Acorn TV show
- The First Wives Club, a hit comedy starring Diane Keaton
- BingePasses for Hallmark +, Midsomer Murders, Pokémon, and more
On Libby:
- All Kanopy content if your library offers it
- IndieFlix movies, featuring independent award winners and little-known foreign films
- Qello Concerts, featuring full-length concerts from a wide variety of performers, plus music documentaries in all genres
Why Library-Based Streaming Is a Smart, Safe Alternative
All you need is your library card number, and you can open the vault to beloved favorites and undiscovered classics for your viewing pleasure. Why start streaming video content from your library?
It’s Legal, Free, and Funded by Communities
Illegal streaming is more than just breaking the law: it’s a risky behavior that could result in a cost you aren’t able to pay. Streaming content from your library is totally free for cardholders, and the apps offer ad-free viewing — something you can’t even get with paid streaming services these days. Plus, you can rest assured that checking out new TV series or on-demand content through your library will signal your support, which helps these institutions receive more funding from local government.
It’s Safe for Children
The kids’ content on library apps is often selected by librarians to provide educational and age-appropriate viewing options specifically for children. If you have little ones, you can rest easy while they browse the app, knowing that all of the content there is chosen for them. Kanopy Kids provides the most options for younger viewers, but both Hoopla Digital and Libby offer a robust children’s section.
No Surprise Charges or Data Harvesting
Library streaming apps for free for all those with an active library account to use. Getting a library card is free and easy, and once you have it, you can access whichever streaming apps your library supplies. You won’t pay a cent for the service, and best of all, because it’s all digital, the content can be renewed or automatically returned without garnering any late fees or additional charges. Best of all, streaming through your library protects your data and your identity — something that can’t be said for illegal streaming sites.
Safe streaming with a cost-saving alternative
Take advantage of your local library’s streaming services to enjoy premium content at no cost; all included with your free library membership. As long as you’re a library cardholder, you should never be bored. You might even discover a new love, like a passion for podcasts or a mood-setting playlist.
Pro Tips for Getting the Most from Library Streaming
If you’re ready to get started, we’ve got all the advice you need. If you’re already a cardholder at your local library, you’re good to go. If not, all you have to do is sign up. You can do that by visiting your local branch, or sometimes just by visiting the website. You may need to supply an ID or phone number to get your card, but once you have it, all you need is your mobile device and a Wi-Fi connection. Here’s what you can do to enjoy your library’s streaming services even more:
- Check all of the apps listed here to see if your library utilizes them. If not, speak to a librarian and request that they consider adding them.
- Download all of the apps and get set up for viewing. You’ll need your library card number to log in on most of the platforms.
- Learn the borrowing rules of your library and each app. There may be different limits for each one regarding how many items you can check out at a time, how long you can keep them, and how many holds you can have.
- Learn Kanopy’s ticket system. Users receive a bank of tickets or credits at the start of each month to use toward viewing the movies or shows of their choice. Plan new viewing at the beginning of the month when tickets refresh so you can get the latest films.
- Explore other apps. Your library may have other services available for educational content, online courses, music streaming, and more.
- Check to see if you can add multiple library cards. Some streaming apps will allow you to add more library cards under one account to check out more titles at once, or access different offerings from different libraries.
How StreamSafely Helps You Discover Legit and Free Entertainment
Sure, pirated content may be free, but there could be unexpected costs down the road. Illegal streaming can result in identity theft, malware, and exposure to inappropriate content. StreamSafely is your partner in finding free entertainment that doesn’t come with strings attached. So fire up your library cards and check out our FAQs to learn even more about safe streaming!
