Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1901/214
| Title: | A Critique of the Student as Customer Metaphor in Higher Education and Academic Libraries |
| Authors: | Niamh A. McGuigan |
| Keyword: | Total quality management |
| Keyword: | College and university libraries -- Evaluation |
| Keyword: | Library science literature -- Evaluation |
| Keyword: | Public relations of libraries -- College and university libraries |
| Keyword: | Terminology -- Evaluation |
| Keyword: | This paper describes a critique of the trend in higher education and academic libraries to refer to students and library patrons as customers. A survey of education and library literature was conducted to trace the development of this metaphor, particularly in relation to the use of Total Quality Management in higher education. Issues examined in this paper include the role of metaphors, the applicability of business terminology and concepts to education and libraries, the effects of commodification of information and education, and the influence the student/patron as customer metaphor has on information literacy instruction. This paper concludes that usage of the student/patron as customer metaphor indicates an inability to comprehend the role of the student or library patron, and that, by continuing to refer to college students and library patrons as customers, we contribute to the sense that education, research, and access to library services are irrelevant in today’s world. |
| Issue Date: | 15-Jul-2005 |
| Publisher: | School of Information and Library Science |
| Abstract: | This paper describes a critique of the trend in higher education and academic libraries to refer to students and library patrons as customers. A survey of education and library literature was conducted to trace the development of this metaphor, particularly in relation to the use of Total Quality Management in higher education. Issues examined in this paper include the role of metaphors, the applicability of business terminology and concepts to education and libraries, the effects of commodification of information and education, and the influence the student/patron as customer metaphor has on information literacy instruction. This paper concludes that usage of the student/patron as customer metaphor indicates an inability to comprehend the role of the student or library patron, and that, by continuing to refer to college students and library patrons as customers, we contribute to the sense that education, research, and access to library services are irrelevant in today’s world. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1901/214 |
| Appears in Collections: | SILS Master's Papers |
Files in This Item:
|
All items in SILS-ETD are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved.