How you can access media legally for free
Not specifically a Montreal story, but I think it’s worthwhile circulating this l’Actualité piece on how residents of Quebec can access so much media at the BAnQ for free – legally. “Stop paying for what you already have!” says the headline.
Blork 10:33 on 2022-03-18 Permalink
I’m surprised more people aren’t aware of this, or use them more. Kanopy in particular is great. Streaming movies from classics to obscure arthouse films from around the world, etc. I run it though AppleTV, so it’s big and bold on the livingroom TV and not just something to squint at on the phone or iPad. BanQ access only allows four free movies a month, but there are two of us in this house so that makes eight (we both have memberships).
In our case it doesn’t replace Netflix, Prime, Crave, and AppleTV; more like an adjunct. But a nice one!
Daniel 12:01 on 2022-03-18 Permalink
Yeah, it’s very nice to have access to at least the “simulacrum print” versions of magazines such as Cook’s Illustrated or the New Yorker. I do find that digital subscriptions to some publications (the NYT, for example) are still worthwhile.
(And FWIW I say this as an author who makes his money from book sale royalties.)
And the lecture series on Kanopy on the plague made for interesting and excellent early-pandemic viewing!
Poutine Pundit 13:29 on 2022-03-18 Permalink
@Daniel
You can access the online New York Times for free with your BAnQ card: https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/ressources/details/NYT
Daniel 14:32 on 2022-03-18 Permalink
That’s awesome. I also find value in their newsletters, crossword puzzle app, etc. I think I’m better off with my own account, but I love that that’s available.
j2 14:41 on 2022-03-18 Permalink
There’s also Consumer Reports as well as OReilly (previously Safari) tech books. And of course the Libby app makes the Overdrive book section usable.
mblack 09:20 on 2022-03-19 Permalink
The BAnQ services are amazing. If what I need is not included in their collection, I use their Interlibrary loan service. They will search for and obtain material from other institutions for members. They also have a very responsive purchase suggestion form.
Orr 11:42 on 2022-03-20 Permalink
@Daniel thanks for the headup on digital magazines. I had done digital newspapers here but forgot all about magazines. Cooks Illustrated always an interesting read and I had stopped buying it a few years ago.
Banq & Banq Digital is so useful in the 21st century way, so much better than Montreal’s previous iteration of a central library, which was very 1910s in it’s user-services model.