BMCC Library Offers New Streaming Video Database

The Borough of Manhattan Community College library has unveiled its new on-demand streaming video service. The BMCC KANOPY video database features more than 26,000 documentaries, educational films and theatrical releases available free to current BMCCC students, faculty and staff.

The service also includes interviews with historic figures, obscure foreign films as well as other video projects. The service even includes a few familiar TV shows. Current BMCC students, faculty and staff can use the KANOPY service by logging onto the BMCC website, then clicking through to the library’s video section.

The films span a wide range of subjects, from global studies and business, to art and language among others.

Faculty members can incorporate the new service into the classroom by creating clips or teaching playlists. Professors can also embed videos in BlackBoard or assign students movies or clips to watch outside of class according to BMCC Professor and Outreach Librarian Jean Amaral.

“Faculty are finding that videos engage students in different and complementary ways to textual course materials,” said Amaral.

She said faculty who are moving from commercial textbooks in their courses to open educational resources, in particular, have been finding videos as an invaluable resource in creating learning activities that engage their students.

The database also includes film projects from BMCC faculty members including Media Arts and Technology professor Shari Rothfarb Mekone as well as six films by English and Developmental Skills professor Rosemarie Reed.

Amaral says the library is looking forward to developing partnerships with departments and student groups to offer movie nights and film series, such as the brown bag lunch screenings the library will host during the upcoming De-Stress Festival that starts November 30.

“We hope these kinds of events will contribute to creating a sense of community and connection on campus,” said Amaral.