Speaking Librarianese

Librarians have their own jargon, like any other profession. We use “jobbers” to order books, we “circulate” library materials, perform “ILL”, create “MARC” records, and provide “ready reference”. One term that has been a bone of contention for years is what to call you, dear readers! Are you a client, a customer, a user, or a patron? Some librarians say that “client” and “user” are too cold and dehumanizing. Others point out that “customer” is inaccurate; you aren’t buying anything. We use the term “patron” here; it seems to harmonize with our century-old, traditional library building, and we appreciate your esteemed patronage. A few librarians protest that this is much too stuffy a term. So what about it? Do you consider yourself a client, a user, a customer or a patron of the Dover Public Library?