Patrons or Customers?

Well, I promised a little discussion about patron v. customer...

First, I looked up the definitions, to see if my assumptions about the subtle differences were correct. Patrons, according to Merriam Webster, are defenders and supporters, sometimes wealthy, of an institution, an individual, or a cause. From the Latin patron, meaning defender. Most people use this term in relation to patrons of the arts, someone who supports non-profit institutions such as museums, operas, symphonies, or ballet companies. My question is--do libraries belong in this list? My heart says yes, for several reasons. First of all, libraries are nonprofit institutions, they provide social enrichment by way of reading materials, educational opportunities, and access, much like a museum. Libraries are the great equalizer--not fire arms. Anybody can use a public or school library to change their circumstances, to pull themselves up as it were by their own bootstraps by taking advantage of the materials and services offered there. Libraries should be defended, championed, and supported by patrons.

Customers, on the other hand, are defined as those puchasing a commodity or service. People are not purchasing anything at the library. It is a free public institution. The literally minded in the group will point out that technically, people pay taxes to support libraries, so they are in fact purchasing something. A sticky wicket. My contention is that though everyone deserves great service, library service, from public and school libraries anyway, is free. It is not a transaction for money--no money changes hands. Not everyone who in fact uses the library has paid taxes to that specific institution. I also opine that we cheapen ourselves and lower the value of libraries by calling people customers. Patrons love and revere their causes, customers are just there for an exchange, in which both sides benefit. Philosophically, even though library workers benefit by serving society, and let's face it, we are paid, it is not a tit for tat relationship. They receive service no matter what. And further more, we are providing something that patrons cannot find anywhere else. Not a bookstore, not Starbucks, not even on the Internet. We are a cultural and society enhancing institution. We preserve culture and we add to it by being a part of our society. Librarians should proudly call our visitors patrons, and should offer the kind of service that would create defenders of libraries in future generations as well as the current users.

**Shield Image used is in the public domain--wikimedia commons