Is there a specific film you'd like to show students for your courses or your area?
Find Streaming Video from the ARC Library
Search in OneSearch or browse the ARC Library Video Databases page to see all the streaming films we currently offer from 8 different databases. Individual films in each of our Video Databases are discoverable in OneSearch.
Films on Demand (FOD) is the library’s largest streaming video database package. It contains documentaries in the humanities, history, health, technical education, archival films, and much more from producers like PBS, BBC, NOVA, National Geographic, and more.
See the ARC library Films on Demand guide: Sharing Links & Embedding for step-by-step directions for using the FOD app in Canvas to embed streaming video from this database in your Canvas course, as well as how to find titles and segments, creating playlists and custom clips, and details about closed captions and transcripts.
Request Films
The library provides access to streaming video database packages (such as Films on Demand) as well as our Kanopy and Swank databases where we must purchase and license each film for a 1-year license (these must be renewed).
- Faculty, classified professionals and administrators can request streaming films to license that we do not already provide access to either from within Kanopy and Swank (directions below) or by emailing librarian, Kate Williamson at williak2@arc.losrios.edu.
- Please see "Other Film Requests" below for more information about films that are not available in Kanopy, Swank or any of our other video databases.
- There are films that have already been requested and are available in Kanopy and Swank as well as films that are available through the platform, but the library has not yet licensed/purchased that can be requested.
- You can find the expiration date for each film that has been licensed in these two databases by searching for the film in OneSearch.
Please be sure to include how you plan to share films with students when you make requests (e.g., will it be required viewing in a course?). The purchasing of streaming film is contingent on the availability of funds. Films required for a course will be prioritized.
*Note: Librarians are off contract for winter break and in the summer - there will be a delay in response to requests during these times.
- Kanopy – In addition to documentaries this database offers access to feature films.
- See this Kanopy guide for more information about requesting a film not already owned in Kanopy.
- The library must purchase each film in Kanopy individually, and can only license films for a 1-year license initially.
The library added Swank for access to films from major motion picture studios. The library must purchase each film individually for a 1-year license (we can only do 1 year at a time).
To see what is available and request a film not already owned in Swank:
- Go to the ARC Swank Digital Campus database
- Authenticate with your WID and password
- Click Login in top right
- Username: ARCFacultyStaff
- Password: facstaffrequest8458!
- After logging in you can Search to see what is available to request that is not already licensed by the library.
- You can request from within Swank.
Other Film Requests
We regret having had to make the difficult decision to suspend acquiring steaming films that are not available from our current video databases (this does not include films you can request from Kanopy and Swank). Our full-time faculty librarian levels are at the lowest they've been in 20 years, and we're unable to sustain all the services we'd like to be able to offer.
Not all films are available for libraries to license. Subscription based streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime do not have licensing options for libraries. Unfortunately, there is no way for us to license original content from these platforms (but see Netflix information on Educational screenings of documentaries).
For any questions about accessing films through the library email Kate Williamson at williak2@arc.losrios.edu.