Movie Review: 'Ex Libris' proves libraries are the greatest community centers on earth

Zipporah

Ex Libris- The New York Public Library (2017, directed by Frederick Wiseman. U.S.A., English, Color, 197 minutes) "Ex Libris- The New York Public Library" is one of, if not the most important films in years. This over three-hour examination of the largest library system in the country reinforces the crucial role that a library serves to a community. With approximately 90 branches serving millions in the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island from all walks of life we see that people rely on their local library for all sorts of things. It's a safe haven from the outside troubles; it's a learning center for children; it's a job resource center for the unemployed; it's a building that records all levels of history; it's one of the great cultural institutions that costs next to nothing for the public to use. Libraries are the greatest things in the world and "Ex Libris" reminds us of that.

For almost 200 minutes we appear to have unrestrained access to all facets of running the system which includes administrative meetings and special events with prolific speakers. We get a feel of how one system can provide so much to such a varied population. From helping Asian American patrons download pictures to their computers at a Chinatown branch to helping blind persons read at an exclusive library dedicated to braille text and talking books, "Ex Libris" covers it all without invasive or special interviewing techniques. The camera is usually stationary and let's the action unfold naturally. It sits and observes like a book on a shelf.

Watching "Ex Libris" tapped into my own love of libraries. Since I was a little kid I always loved them. I loved running to the children's section to pick out another colorful adventure to dive into and entering summer reading contests to win cool prizes. I'm old enough to know how to use the card catalog, now a bygone system that has moved to an electronic system. Some of my most distinct memories were checking out vivid picture books about the Statue of Liberty and iconic landmarks from around the world. This was how I became acquainted with some of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Even through college the library became one of the best tools in the world. Nothing ever seemed out of reach with the limitless databases at the tips of my fingers. Libraries provided sanctuary from reality and that one perfect source I needed to round out a paper. This, friends, is what "Ex Libris" shows in great detail.

The scenes that resonate so well in the documentary are the ones where we see executives of the NYPL meeting to discuss a bevy of issues including use of public and private money, allocating resources for students and teachers, policies of dealing with the homeless who come to their branches, e-circ and physical circulation, among other things. These scenes peel back the business side providing these services. Libraries are more than librarians who check-in and out books and other materials. There is a lot of conversation about sustaining the materials that are already available and obtaining more in a world where technology is outpacing paperback demand. These meetings show the dedication that is made by people who know how much they're dependent on to provide so much more than we could ever expect.

"Ex Libris" isn't a documentary created to see what's wrong in society; it looks at what makes it right. Libraries are truly the lifeblood of a community. There is so much to be said about what they can provide and yet we may risk losing them when money gets tight. That should never be an option. The New York Public Library system may be bigger than those of entire states but the message is universal: libraries are invaluable tools that are more than educational spaces, they're cultural hubs. Ideas are collected on the bookshelves that are attainable by anyone person who needs it, and it's free. We not only learn about what historians have to say, we learn from each other at events that encourage us to think, feel and create in the open. 

This is a documentary that is needed right now and forever. We focus a lot on what our elected leaders do for us. The focus should be what can't libraries do for us? I won't forget "Ex Libris" anytime soon.

Rating: A+