Ex Libris

To set up Ex Libris, each player receives a personal library board, three worker meeples (one main, two assistants), and a secret library focus card. Players draw six book cards to start their hand. The main game board is placed in the center, and two public location tiles are revealed from the location deck for the current round. The remaining book cards are shuffled to form the draw pile.

The objective of Ex Libris is to become the Grand Librarian by accumulating the most prestige points. Players earn points by building a well-organized library, which involves arranging book cards alphabetically and numerically on their shelves, collecting the most books of a designated 'prominent' type, ensuring a diverse collection of book types, and successfully fulfilling their secret library focus.

On a player's turn, they place one of their three worker meeples. They can place a worker on their personal library board to either draw a new book card into their hand or play a book card from their hand onto their shelves. Alternatively, they can place a worker on one of the public location tiles. Each public location tile offers a unique action or benefit, such as drawing multiple cards, playing multiple cards, or manipulating cards in various ways. Some locations have immediate effects, while others have delayed effects that trigger at the end of the round. Only one worker can occupy a space on a public location tile unless otherwise specified.

At the end of the game, prestige points are calculated based on several criteria. Players score points for the alphabetical and numerical order of books on their shelves, with any out-of-order books being flipped face-down and not contributing to this score. Points are also awarded for the largest stable rectangular area of books on their shelves. Players gain points for having the most books of the 'prominent' type (determined by a public goal card) and lose points for 'banned' books. A 'variety bonus' is given based on the number of books in their smallest category. Finally, players reveal and score points for their secret library focus card, which provides additional points for specific collection goals.

The game concludes when any player has placed a certain number of book cards on their shelves: 16 cards in a 2-player game, 14 cards in a 3-player game, or 12 cards in a 4-player game. Once this condition is met, players complete the current round, and then play one final round. After the final round, all players proceed to the scoring phase to determine the winner. The player with the highest prestige points wins, with ties broken by the player who has the most books on their shelves.