Marfa
Marfa Public Library has announced its new partnership with Kanopy—the library streaming service which offers free access to thousands of movies and shows with a library membership.
Kanopy is available to both academic and public libraries and has films, television series, educational programming and documentaries. Users need a Marfa Public Library card, available to any resident of Marfa, and their library card number (found on the back of their library card) and password (user’s phone number with no dashes) to access the ad-free content. Content can be streamed on any tablet, smartphone, computer or streaming-enabled TV—you just need to sign into the Kanopy app.
Each Marfa Library cardholder has 25 tickets for the month (some films and shows require more than one ticket to view), and a rental period is anywhere from 48-72 hours for most titles. Kanopy Kids programming doesn’t require any tickets.
Films and series available include Harold and Maude, Clueless, the Agnes Varda film Faces Places, and Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, as well as Sesame Street and other PBS Kids programming.
Library Director Nicki Ittner said, “We are thrilled about Kanopy! We’ve been considering it since 2019, but couldn’t make the leap. We hope this will offer patrons inspiring new resources––plus all the kids programming is free, which is awesome.”
Ittner says a patron asked the library about Kanopy seven years ago, before she took on the role of director. In the years since, other patrons inquired about the service and showed a “real sustained interest.” But last year, a grantor stopped funding DVD purchases, and it felt like the time to pursue it, despite the expense (Kanopy generally partners with much larger libraries that can cover the cost more easily). The library is also still acquiring new DVDs as they are able, and has a Blu-Ray player available to check-out.
In addition to Kanopy, Ittner emphasized all of the other services and activities the library offers to the community. There are at least 20,000 volumes of books, including children’s and Spanish-language books, free wi-fi and several computers to check email or research, et al. An impressive DVD library and several periodicals and area newspapers are also available for check-out or browsing, as well as puzzles, games, and take-away craft kits.
The library also offers fax, copy and printing services; you can even print out a color poster and have it laminated!
One of the busiest sections of the library is the children’s area, filled with books and toys for curious, growing minds. Make Believe Marfa, the library’s beloved children’s program in which librarians and talented volunteers build new immersive play environments every few months, has currently transformed the children’s area into Bookworm Cafe, a restaurant and kitchen play experience featuring a cardboard brick oven, short-order cook kitchen, dress-up clothes, and more.
Story time for young children takes place at the library every Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Other weekly programs include Xbox Mondays in the theater room, movie nights on Wednesdays (email marfalibrarystaff@gmail.com to get on the list to find out what’s playing), self-led Ashtanga yoga and meditation classes in the Community Room during the week, Coffee in the Courtyard on Fridays, and citizenship classes on Saturdays.
As always, a great way to support Marfa Public Library is by browsing and buying a few gems from the Book Barn, open regular library hours––Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.
If you’re a Marfa resident and don’t yet have a card, the librarians would love to help you register for one. All you need is a photo ID and proof of residency. Kids under 16 may apply for their own card but need a parent/guardian signature.
Marfa Public Library’s annual Patron Appreciation Party will be Friday, February 13. Ittner encourages everyone to “stop by for doughnuts and coffee all day as a thank you to our wonderful community.”
There will also be a special Valentine’s Day story time with a make-your-own-stuffie element on Wednesday, February 11. Please email marfalibrarystaff@gmail.com to RSVP.