The Ten Commandments of Library Service

A staff member handed me a little piece of paper the other day and said I might like to consider it for the blog. It was The Ten Commandments of Library Service.
The article was shared by Libby Collins from the Sara Hightower Regional Library in Rome, Georgia. Libby was a forward-thinking person, who thought "outside of the box." She was the director of the Hightower Library in the 80's, a very down-to-earth person, and known to be a shaker and mover in the library world.
Even though the Commandments were written for library staff, I feel it is important to share it with our patrons (including blog-readers). It's in working together that we make our library a destination of choice; not home, not work, and not just a third place to go.

The Ten Commandments of Library Service

Patrons are the most important people in our library.

Patrons are not outsiders. They are owners of our library.

Patrons are not an interruption of our work. They are the purpose of it.

Patrons are not cold statistics. They are human beings with feelings and emotions like our own.

Patrons are not people with whom we argue or match wits.

Patrons are people who bring us their wants. It is our job to fill those wants.

Patrons are deserving of the most courteous and attentive treatment we can give them.

Patrons are not dependent on us. We are dependent on them.

Patrons are the life blood of this library.