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—Can you say, "Paradigm Shift?" said Helena. We all laughed. —No, really. Repeat after me: Paradigm Shift. A dischordant muttering and mumbling came from the staff. —PAR-A-DIGM-SHIFT!, Helena commanded. A look like I’d never seen before was on Helena’s face, the tendons of her neck taut, jawclenched in grim determination. —Paradigm shift! Cody shouted back at her, and everyone laughed with relief. Whatever Paradigm Shift meant, it was something to shout about. On screen, the moving arrow circled, paused, then double-clicked on the golden key. The icon started spinning, then launched the first internet connection in the history of River Bend Library. There was a series of high-pitched telephone beep-beep-boops, followed by a crackling, hissing sound before the image finally resolved to this message:
KeyCo® presents..... A 21st Century Library SYSTEM
269 Spiritual renewal
Onscreen, a montage of high-tech industry photos mixed with images of libraries, pummelling the senses in rapid fire sequence, zipping and darting while the soundtrack played the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. —We live in an age of wonders, said Helena, but it’s important to know when to turn down the volume.