What are Kanopy and Swank?
Kanopy Video Streaming Database and Swank Digital Campus are both video streaming databases available to the University of Denver. They contain documentaries, educational films, historical films, contemporary movies and TV, and even Hollywood movies and network TV shows.
Searching for Content in Kanopy/Swank?
The best practice for searching titles in Kanopy/Swank would to access them directly via the links in the Database A-Z list (use search bar to find specific databases); OR from the Kanopy link or Swank link in their Compass records.
This will allow the Kanopy/Swank sites to recognize you as a DU patron, and will only provide search results for content available to us (either for immediate viewing or for requesting access).
DO NOT try finding a Kanopy/Swank page by doing web search (Google, Bing, Duck Duck Go, etc.) with the film/show name plus "Kanopy" or "Swank" in the search as this can potentially bring back pages for content that may not be available to DU due to market restrictions placed by the rightsholders (e.g. content only available in certain geographic locations). Just because you can find content on these databases doing a web search does not mean that content is available to DU.
What Content is on Each Database?
Kanopy: Transforming learning through video. Subjects covered include Business/Training, Health, Media/Communications, Sciences, Humanities, Education (K-12). Users can search, browse and see previews of videos. Kanopy is a mediated resource through which DU faculty, students, and staff may request feature films for purchase, and DU affiliates may view library-licensed films.
Kanopy is more dedicated to educational and informative streaming media that has research and classroom applications.
Swank: Digital Campus by Swank Motion Pictures, Inc.® allows students the flexibility to legally view course-assigned films outside the classroom. Swank Digital Campus is a mediated resource through which DU faculty may request feature films for purchase, and DU affiliates may view library-licensed feature films.
Swank is more dedicated to looking for “Hollywood” feature film type content and network TV shows. Please keep in mind Swank is not like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. and will not have everything available. You may also have to request content be licensed by DU before viewing.
Additional Questions About Streaming Content at DU?
Please contact the University of Denver Research Center if you have additional questions about Kanopy or Swank.
We are located in the Anderson Academic Commons room 240.
