September 2018 | Rebecca Rego Barry

"Ex Libris" on PBS

Director Frederick Wiseman's 2017 documentary on the New York Public Library, Ex Libris, premieres tonight at 10:00 p.m. on PBS. 

Featuring Patti Smith, Richard Dawkins, and Elvis Costello, as well as librarians, library staffers, and patrons young and old, the documentary covers (or makes a valiant effort at covering) the breadth and depth of the NYPL's ninety-two branches in just over two hours. One reviewer called it "The Best Thing to Happen to Libraries Since the Dewey Decimal System." Watch a two-minute preview here. 

Best teaser: "Andy Warhol stole lots of stuff from us."