Budgetary caution slowed down the refill of Kanopy's coffers, but it is back in action! Kanopy is a streaming video database that works a little like a gift card: we fill it up each year, and then the entire collection is available! When a certain number of people watch a certain amount of time on a single movie, it triggers a purchase, and so it goes until the "gift card" is empty. At that time, only licensed films will be available, but you can contact the librarians or our director, Shannon Hausinger, about how to purchase additional films.
- High quality documentaries & many big-name titles... not purely obscure documentaries
- Students can simultaneously stream movies -- no need to fight over access to one "copy"
- You can install the Kanopy channel to Roku, too, or download the Kanopy app to easily stream from your phone
- All movies are captioned and provide transcripts
Want more films? Also try...
We're nearing the end of the American History database trial, part of a promotion from the provider Infobase in support of civic education for the national elections! As the name suggests, this database is focused on American history, from colonial (with a scant bit of pre-colonial and exploration info) through the present. The trial ends Friday, November 20.
Why You Might Love It:
- Very browse-friendly interface could be helpful for students discovering research topics to start with.
- Primary source documents accompany the descriptive essays on eras and topics.
- Essays include breakdowns of daily life in each major time period, including social attitudes and urban vs rural life.
- Helpful topic introduction for students to read as you transition time periods.
- Supplemental secondary resources include maps, images, and videos.
Why You Might Not:
- The search isn't very supportive of a new user of databases. It does take Boolean searches (this AND that NOT those) but the user has to know how to write the query out themselves.
- Highlighted collections for Women and Latino-Americans excludes a browsable link for African- and Asian-Americans. Content is available: just not in the same 'stumble upon' way.
- Primary sources are not the focus of the collection.
I Have Opinions On This!
Wonderful! Please email Elaine.M.Patton@LoneStar.edu to explain why you think we should or should not pursue purchase of this database. Even if you don't teach history, but there's something your classes could get out of this resource, please chime in!
Once Upon a Pumpkin 2020 Winner:
- See all the entries for this year and previous in our Flickr collection.
Bare Bones Scary Story Contest Winner:
