Step inside the world renowned New York Public Library and explore its many facets, from newspaper archives to photo collections to after school classes to excerpts from talks featuring Elvis Costello and Patti Smith. Ex Libris also follows the high level staff as they try to balance public and private funding and face the challenges of bringing the library into the 21st century. Legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman has made a career of studious dissections of institutions but this feels closer to a love letter. Exemplifying democratic ideals, this is a truly empathetic and heartfelt tribute to the library and the advancement of knowledge.