Fairfax County Public Library Ends Kanopy Streaming Service

Fairfax County Public Library cardholders, heads up! Starting January 31st, the library will no longer offer access to the Kanopy streaming service. The library made the announcement on January 5th, explaining that they won’t be renewing their subscription to the on-demand movie and TV streaming platform after this month.

In a social media post, the library apologized for any inconvenience this may cause and assured cardholders that they are committed to providing top-tier services and resources. While Kanopy won’t be part of the lineup moving forward, the library will be investing in other resources to better serve the community.

The library first introduced Kanopy as a pilot in February 2022 during a time when in-person hours were reduced due to COVID-19 staffing shortages. Initially, grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act covered the subscription cost for the first year. However, the cost of renewing the subscription in subsequent years has increased significantly, making it unsustainable for the library’s limited budget.

Kanopy, which started in Australia as a DVD distributor in 2008 and transitioned into a streaming platform for academic and public libraries, operates on a pay-per-view model for libraries. While users enjoy free access with their library card, the costs can add up for libraries, leading FCPL to discontinue the service due to rising costs.

Despite this change, FCPL is exploring more affordable alternatives and remains open to adopting a Kanopy-like service in the future. As of now, the library’s focus is on updating nonfiction print materials with the help of one-time funding approved last year. Stay tuned for further updates on potential new streaming services in the future!