A Critique of the Student as Customer Metaphor in Higher Education and Academic Libraries

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  • February 28, 2019
Creator
  • McGuigan, Niamh A.
    • Affiliation: 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.
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  • In Copyright
Advisor
  • Carr, David W.
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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  • 33 p.
Access right
  • Open access
Date uploaded
  • December 10, 2010

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