Patrondriven

Patrondriven is a term used to describe approaches, systems, or policies that place the patron’s needs and actions at the center of decision making. In patrondriven models, resources, content, and services are guided by direct input from users rather than by a top-down plan alone. The concept emphasizes responsiveness, transparency, and data-informed choices.

The term is most closely associated with libraries and information services, where patron-driven acquisition and demand-driven acquisitions shape what materials are purchased or licensed based on actual patron use and requests. It is also applied to museums, galleries, digital platforms, and software development, where user engagement data, requests, and feedback steer collections, exhibitions, feature development, or roadmaps.

Implementation typically involves collecting usage analytics, direct patron requests, holds, and feedback; applying predefined criteria or thresholds to trigger acquisitions, curation, or development actions; and communicating back to patrons about decisions and outcomes. Proponents argue that patrondriven approaches allocate scarce resources more efficiently, increase relevance, and boost user satisfaction. Critics caution that an overemphasis on current demand can crowd out rare, scholarly, or long-tail items, introduce popularity bias, or raise privacy and data-use concerns. Effective patrondriven programs often balance patron input with scholarly value, strategic priorities, and budget limits, using transparent governance and periodic review to maintain fairness and long-term value.

See also: patron-driven acquisition, demand-driven acquisition, user-centered design, customer-driven development.