Blank tape, 50 cents

When was the last time you took a good look at your local librarian? If it has been a while, you might be surprised to find that he or she has evolved into a pretty cool customer. Once upon a time, the music collection at a suburban branch library consisted of some classical, a Dylan or two and maybe some Tina Arena. But there has been an attitudinal shift and most libraries are now as cutting-edge with contemporary music as they are with contemporary fiction. This may not mean much to the file-sharing, CD-burning generation but I’m still on dial-up internet at home and cassette tapes in the car.