Downey Library now offering free streaming video

DOWNEY — The Downey City Council approved an agreement with Kanopy, Inc. on Tuesday, opening up significant streaming opportunities to Downey Library patrons.

The agreement provides library cardholders with over 30,000 independent and documentary films, specializing in content of unique social and cultural value. This includes hundreds of award-winning college-level courses, as well as a dedicated Kid’s channel.

Kanopy services have been offered through the Library since April 1 within a one-month free pilot. The service will now become a permanent offering offered to Downey City Library cardholders through the library’s website and apps.

The library will be charged for actual uses as opposed to purchasing titles outright.

The current adjustable annual cap is set at $9,500.

The library will receive a month invoice for all titles streamed by patrons that month, and will have the ability to set monthly caps on the number of movies and series that may be watched per library card per month. When patrons reach their monthly cap, they – as well as the library – are notified. The library may choose to override the month’s usage ceiling.

The council also unanimously approved a renewal agreement with Califa, connecting the library to potentially higher quality internet access.

Downey had entered into the original agreement with Calia in 2015, which provided high-speed internet access to the library and citywide virtual library at a substantially lowered cost through the federal E-Rate program.

Now locked in for another five years, the library has the potential to obtain internet service that is 10 times faster than its existing service, making use of the City’s fiber optic network.

The agreement also allows for funding to cover the needed firewall upgrade to the library’s network.