By Gloria Wahl

Special to the Homer Independent Press

Today I’m taking the opportunity to tell you about a feature that I recently learned about—video streaming via the website Kanopy.  That’s Kanopy, spelled with a K.  The following information is directly quoted from its website:

“Kanopy is the best video streaming service for quality, thoughtful entertainment. Find movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos that inspire, enrich and entertain. We partner with public libraries and universities to bring you an ad-free experience that can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phone, tablets and online.”

While Kanopy streaming is free, it is not unlimited.  Library card holders need to create an account—with the usuals—a username and password.  Each library card holder gets 10 “tickets” per month.  I recently watched “The Biggest Little Farm,” a documentary I had seen twice on the big screen in a bigger town—because I think it’s that good. It tells the story of a married couple who, over seven years, transform a completely arid landscape in Ventura County, California, after leaving their home in Los Angeles County, where they had been evicted because of their noisy shelter-adopted dog. I happily paid two Kanopy tickets to view this wonderfully uplifting movie a third time.

Kanopy also has a kids collection that allows unlimited play after parental controls are set, leaving Kanopy Kids free to explore enriching, educational and entertaining films and TV series.

You, of course, can learn more about all that Kanopy offers at its website, Kanopy.com. Again, that’s Kanopy with a K.  Be prepared to provide your library card number to create your personal account to access their selections.

More news on the library/movie front: The Homer Public Library has partnered with The Porcupine Theater to celebrate the library’s 20th anniversary in its current building. All throughout 2026, look for “Homer Public Library’s Page to Screen” to find outstanding movies based on your favorite works of literature. 

Recently, I had the great pleasure of watching this month’s offering, “Murder on the Orient Express,” featuring none other than Hercule Poirot, the fictional Belgian detective who appeared in half of Agatha Christie’s 66 books.  If you missed seeing “Murder on the Orient Express” on the big screen at The Porcupine, you can check out the video from the Homer Public Library, where you can also check out a DVD player.  The title is also available as a book or an E-audio, for those who prefer to listen to their books.  The next Page to Screen is “Curious George,” with two showings on Thursday, June 25.   Search “homer public library page to screen” for movies after that.  

Even more news on the library/movie front: The Porcupine Theater donates five passes a week to be “checked out” by the community. As Porcupine Theater co-owner Susannah Webster wrote to me in an email when I asked her if it was OK to mention the passes during this Reading Between the Lines, they want the Porcupine Theater to be accessible to the entire community, regardless of ability to pay for a ticket. Ask at the circulation desk regarding availability.  

That’s all for now . . . 

Reading Between the Lines is a co-production of KBBI AM 890 and volunteers with the Friends of the Homer Public Library and airs on KBBI every Sunday at 9:35 a.m. These reviews are reprinted with permission from KBBI and the Friends of the Homer Public Library. Program recordings can be found at Reading Between the Lines.