Tricks of the trade: it's empowering to share tips for finding complex texts.(The NEXT BIG Thing)

A librarian's ability to find quality texts, like all good magic acts, blends art and science to amaze the audience. We can accomplish things with Google and databases that exceed the ability of the average user. But should we keep this magic to ourselves?

Performers Penn and Teller have built their careers on the novel idea of divulging the secrets behind their magic tricks. If there are no secrets, how can there still be magic? The real power here is the ability of the practitioner to connect with his audience. Even when the science is revealed, the art remains the critical part of the show. Watching Penn and Teller perform what they've explained stays magical because of …