The 9th Annual Meeting of Connecticut Library Consortium took place May 17, 2012 at Water's Edge in Westbrook, CT. CLC Executive Director Jill Dugas Hughes moderated the event, featuring a keynote address by CT Secretary of State Denise Merrill.

Secretary Merrill's keynote highlighted the current challenges of our time, including changing forces (technology!), updating workflows (innovation!), and the decrease of civic engagement (community!), both in Connecticut and nationwide.

"We're fighting against forces that are changing the way we do everything." 

- Denise Merrill, Connecticut Secretary of State, @sotsmerrill

Meeting summary and photos coming up next week.

Related Resources:

• Connecticut Library Consortium
• Connecticut Library Association
• Connecticut Library Jobs
• CLA Today: The Journal of the Connecticut Library Assocation
• Connecticut Secretary of the State

It’s a sad day for New Haven’s music lovers. Cutler’s Record Shop, the venerable establishment that introduced generations of fans to a lifetime of incredible music, announced yesterday that they’d be closing shop at the end of June 2012 after 64 years of business. The breaking news reached me via Edwin Bartlett of CT Out and About. Trusting that Ed would break the news easy, I clicked through to read his article. I encourage you to do the same if you want the details. 

Since the news broke, I’ve been watching it spread across social networks as New Haven natives, Yale colleagues, local alums, musicians, artists, promoters, producers, students, faculty, adults, teens, and kids alike all mourn this loss. And truly, there’s mourning. Everyone has a Cutler’s story. It’s personal. 

"Very sad to learn the Cutler's in New Haven is closing. A very special place for me.... I used to ride the bus down there all the time after school and was even in their first (only) TV commercial. I learned so much about music hanging down there... very sad indeed." - Andrew Higgins

"I remember we were there when we heard the news of Jerry Garcia's passing." - Chris Serapiglia

"Cutler's is closing. What can you say. That sucks." - Karen Kupiec

Yep. I’d already been thinking a lot about Cutler’s as of late, thanks to Record Store Day and another thing that I’m writing. I made a recent visit there after a long break and it was a place completely different from the Cutler’s of my memory. The storefront appeared diminished next to the bright, energetic, glass walls of the new Apple Store a few doors down. Where was the vibrant energy? The pumping bass? The unknown-but-catchy tunes streaming from the overhead speakers? There was once a time when I’d go to Cutler’s every day. I’d enter the store, say hi to the clerk, grab a New Haven Advocate, and walk past all of the listening stations to the very back, admiring cover art and listening to the tiny, tinny sounds from the headphones one after the next as I anticipated listening to every single one on the walk back to the front checkout. I couldn’t wait to discover a melody, a hook, a track that would change my day for the better. I could always rely on Cutler’s to catch me unsuspecting and surprise me with an album I couldn’t leave without. At Cutler’s, I discovered Elliot Smith, Aimee Mann, Gillian Welch, Jonatha Brooke, Erin McKeown, The Beta Band, Bright Eyes, Mates of State, and so many other artists that came to represent ages and stages of my life.

My visit in February was a special visit, to bring my son to the store and share the joy of treasure hunting among the used CDs. He was about a year old the first time we went there together and he got a blue egg shaker from the assortment near the cash register. This time, he selected Bruce Springsteen’s Greatest Hits. When we checked out, our music was placed into a white plastic shopping bag. “What happened to Cutler’s trademark yellow bag?” I asked.  Too expensive. I almost saved the receipt for that Bruce Springsteen CD, to commemorate the visit. I didn’t, because it seemed trivial and unnecessary. How many yellow Cutler’s bags and receipts did I once have? Countless.

So with Record Store Day just last month, I re-watched High Fidelity, and visited Cutler’s again. I went to explore it from a sociocultural perspective, and with my librarian glasses on, researching my next Social Eyes column, “The Case for Place.” Digital content is pushing libraries and bookstores out of existence, and record stores have suffered this fate, too. Cutler's struggled to maintain relevance as the market changed. This is a difficult truth, which former customers are acknowledging in the wake of yesterday's announcement. 

"I've been going there since I could drive. They used to have EVERYTHING and recently, in the last five years, I have struggled to find the most basic indie rock music. What is the point of Cutler's if they aren't going to supply their customers with what they should have? I dont need a SubPop t-shirt or a Charlie Sheen t-shirt a bunch of novelty toys. All I wanted was the new Dirty Three Record or ANY Damien Jurado records." - Tom Nolan 

My friend Matt Scott observed, “at least Cutler is retiring, not being shoved out.” Good point.  But I can’t help but think about my February evening visit, and that other Broadway store, so full of bright energy and shopping customers. While Cutler’s may not be literally shoved out of its retail space, it’s been figuratively shoved out by the winners in the digital music space. And less than a year after Apple moved in right next door.

Cutler’s, thanks for the music and the memories. We’ll miss you.

Related Stories:

• Cutler's Record Shop Announces Retirement Celebration
• Cutler's Closing Doors
• Cutler's Record Store in New Haven Closing After 64 Years in Business

Think fast! Here's 50 Awesome Things! Presented at the 2012 Connecticut Library Association conference, this program is a crash course in all things awesome for libraries.

"Highlighting innovative ideas and concepts from in and outside of librarianship, this fast–paced panel presentation is guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing and ignite a new passion for librarianship. Speakers from both public and academic libraries will talk about the motivating forces in the work they do, and the importance of participating in popular culture to stay relevant with library communities. This dynamic program is about identifying, harnessing, and exploiting the awesome that is all around us!"

"Your workshop (50 Awesome Things) was awesome!  I went out totally inspired and have been quoting all of you and will continue to do so." - Alice Knapp, Executive Director, New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT

The second in my "Designing the Imperative" series, this presentation is a discussion of libraries & innovation. Four themes are presented: innovation ingredients, innovation ideas, innovation (ad)ventures, and innovation (in) practice.

Features: SXSW, #sxswLAM, Brian Mathews' "Think Like a Startup," Library Renewal, Gluejar, and the Great Library Roadshow.

Thank you to IGI Global for inviting me to the Online Educational Symposium Series!

Mobile library services are a leading trend in libraries. New products on the market are responding to growing user demand for self-service via mobile devices, as well as support for service providers and integration with existing library technologies and social networks. The newest features demonstrate an increased emphasis on interactivity, including SMS text announcements and alerts, patron account management tools, self-check, seamless search and access to ebooks and other e-resources, as well as advanced options supporting QR codes, augmented reality, and geolocation.

In this Library Journal article, Product Watch: Mobile Services, I review current mobile products by Boopsie, Fanggle, Mosio, and SirsiDynix.

Bibliotech is a new audio podcast about "all things digital technology" in libraries. Hosted by Kayhan B., Erin Anderson, and Doug Mirams, Bibliotech features in-depth interviews and commentary on current topics. Check out the incredible list of guest stars they've had on the show already:

• Bibliotech 5: Real-Time Chat for Real-Time People with Jan Dawson
• Bibliotech 8: Dude, Where's My Privacy? with Sarah Houghton
• Bibliotech 9: Welcome to the New Normal with Michael Stephens
• Bibliotech 10: Digitized and Virtualized with David Lee King
• Bibliotech 11: Be a Lover, Not a Hater with Paul Biba
• Bibliotech 12: Transliterize Me! with Buffy Hamilton
• Bibliotech 13: Show Me the Money! with Michael Porter
• Bibliotech 14: Writing Recipes from Planet Akron with Stephen Abram
• Bibliotech 15: Library Automation for the Rest of Us with Marshall Breeding
• Bibliotech 16: Looking for Lights with Sue Polanka

I was interviewed this week for Bibliotech 17: Be Kind, Please Rewind. We talked libraries and mobile culture, adapting to change and determing priorities when new technologies hit the scene, books and ebooks, social media and authenticity, what to think about when applying to library school programs, ways to develop your creative ideas when your job doesn't allow it, four generations in the workplace, and the business of Design Think Do. And more! Including what I learned from two important mentors at the Yale University Library, and how kindess can change the course of a career. 

Be sure to follow @dquarium (or subscribe on iTunes) for the latest podcasts. Thanks Kayhan, Erin, & Doug for inviting me to the program! If there's a guest you'd like to hear on the show, send a shout to Kayhan and let him know.

Coming Soon: The Great Library Roadshow!

Excited to announce this next project, organized by Josh Hadro, OCLC, and Library Journal! I'm hitting the road with Josh, and Patrick Sweeney, to talk libraries, innovation, inspiration, and community all the way from Charlotte, NC to Philadelphia, PA and PLA 2012.

From Josh: 

"With this Library Roadshow — we’re aiming to illuminate how innovation and community intersect. We hear all the time about forward-looking services, brilliant apps and platforms contributed to by coders and librarians all over, and digital labs at branches and campuses everywhere that connect users with technology generally beyond the reach of average homes and classrooms. We’re going to visit some of the places making those ideas happen."

Join us on FB: The Great Library Roadshow & on Twitter: @lisacarlucci, @hadro, @pcsweeney.

They may have only invited me to be the designated driver. But, whatever. We're on a mission. 

I love cupcakes. Everyone I know loves cupcakes. True story: I once gave a talk about how mobile tech changed my life and included a cupcake example, and all of the questions from the audience were about the cupcakes. I've used cupcake slides more than once in my presentations since. I'm a faithful follower of New Haven's cupcake truck. So when I learned that a local bakery won "Best Cupcake in the Nation" according to the Food Network, I had to go. In honor of Valentine's Day & all things sweet, I made the trip to the Sugar Bakery in East Haven, CT.

In addition to taste-testing these world famous cupcakes, there was question I needed to ask. If libraries are indeed the next big pop-culture wave after cupcakes, how should we prepare? I went to the source: Sugar Bakery's owner, Carol Vollono. Carol's words were inspiring, and she was kind enough to let me record part of our interview.  

Carol describes how important libraries have been to her life and business. 

On Libraries (& Cupcakes) from Lisa Carlucci Thomas on Vimeo.

Sugar Bakery is a proud supporter of libraries. In the clip, Carol refers to this recent cupcake donation to East Haven's Hagaman Memorial Library. Yum!

Follow Sugar Bakery on FB and give 'em a shout on Twitter. Thanks, Carol!

For the first time in history, there are four generations in the library workplace. What does that mean for Generation X & the library? Two years ago, I collaborated with Karen Sobel (University of Colorado Denver) to research this question and write a chapter for The Generation X Librarian - "Stuck in the Middle With You: Generation X Librarians." We later presented on the subject, with colleague Nina McHale, at Computers in Libraries 2010.

Check it out! Video is now available. Don't miss the audience Q & A; that's my favorite part. 

Looking forward to the next project on this subject later in 2012. Stay tuned.

Gen X Librarians: Leading From the Middle from Lisa Carlucci Thomas on Vimeo.

"Gen X Librarians: Leading From the Middle"
Lisa Carlucci Thomas, Karen Sobel, Nina McHale
Computers in Libraries Conference, April 12, 2010.

Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/lisacarlucci/gen-x-librarians-leading-from-the...
See also: http://generationxlibrarian.com/table-of-contents

Video: Joe Murphy

Announcing Design Think Do : 

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How? We provide custom creative services designed to meet the unique needs of your organization. Our targeted expertise will help you support the evolving demands and expectations of mobile, social, e-reading library communities, and develop an efficient, innovative action plan.

Let's engineer the future of libraries together. Strategic planning? Mobile services? Professional development programs? Something new with library technology and you're not sure what, why, or how? Let's talk.

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