diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index 8712d968..b6e66558 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func Connect(parameters ConnectionParameters) (c *Connection, err error) {
 
 	for {
 		var t byte
-		var r *messageReader
+		var r *MessageReader
 		if t, r, err = c.rxMsg(); err == nil {
 			switch t {
 			case backendKeyData:
@@ -93,17 +93,17 @@ func (c *Connection) Close() (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) SelectFunc(sql string, onDataRow func(*messageReader, []fieldDescription) error) (err error) {
+func (c *Connection) SelectFunc(sql string, onDataRow func(*MessageReader, []FieldDescription) error) (err error) {
 	if err = c.sendSimpleQuery(sql); err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 
 	var callbackError error
-	var fields []fieldDescription
+	var fields []FieldDescription
 
 	for {
 		var t byte
-		var r *messageReader
+		var r *MessageReader
 		if t, r, err = c.rxMsg(); err == nil {
 			switch t {
 			case readyForQuery:
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectFunc(sql string, onDataRow func(*messageReader, []fie
 // pattern when accessing the map
 func (c *Connection) SelectRows(sql string) (rows []map[string]string, err error) {
 	rows = make([]map[string]string, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, fields []fieldDescription) error {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, fields []FieldDescription) error {
 		rows = append(rows, c.rxDataRow(r, fields))
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func (c *Connection) Execute(sql string) (commandTag string, err error) {
 
 	for {
 		var t byte
-		var r *messageReader
+		var r *MessageReader
 		if t, r, err = c.rxMsg(); err == nil {
 			switch t {
 			case readyForQuery:
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func (c *Connection) Execute(sql string) (commandTag string, err error) {
 			case rowDescription:
 			case dataRow:
 			case commandComplete:
-				commandTag = r.readString()
+				commandTag = r.ReadString()
 			default:
 				if err = c.processContextFreeMsg(t, r); err != nil {
 					return
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func (c *Connection) Execute(sql string) (commandTag string, err error) {
 // Processes messages that are not exclusive to one context such as
 // authentication or query response. The response to these messages
 // is the same regardless of when they occur.
-func (c *Connection) processContextFreeMsg(t byte, r *messageReader) (err error) {
+func (c *Connection) processContextFreeMsg(t byte, r *MessageReader) (err error) {
 	switch t {
 	case 'S':
 		c.rxParameterStatus(r)
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func (c *Connection) processContextFreeMsg(t byte, r *messageReader) (err error)
 
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxMsg() (t byte, r *messageReader, err error) {
+func (c *Connection) rxMsg() (t byte, r *MessageReader, err error) {
 	var bodySize int32
 	t, bodySize, err = c.rxMsgHeader()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -239,14 +239,14 @@ func (c *Connection) rxMsgBody(bodySize int32) (buf []byte, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxAuthenticationX(r *messageReader) (err error) {
-	code := r.readInt32()
+func (c *Connection) rxAuthenticationX(r *MessageReader) (err error) {
+	code := r.ReadInt32()
 	switch code {
 	case 0: // AuthenticationOk
 	case 3: // AuthenticationCleartextPassword
 		c.txPasswordMessage(c.parameters.Password)
 	case 5: // AuthenticationMD5Password
-		salt := r.readByteString(4)
+		salt := r.ReadByteString(4)
 		digestedPassword := "md5" + hexMD5(hexMD5(c.parameters.Password+c.parameters.User)+salt)
 		c.txPasswordMessage(digestedPassword)
 	default:
@@ -262,75 +262,75 @@ func hexMD5(s string) string {
 	return hex.EncodeToString(hash.Sum(nil))
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxParameterStatus(r *messageReader) {
-	key := r.readString()
-	value := r.readString()
+func (c *Connection) rxParameterStatus(r *MessageReader) {
+	key := r.ReadString()
+	value := r.ReadString()
 	c.runtimeParams[key] = value
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxErrorResponse(r *messageReader) (err PgError) {
+func (c *Connection) rxErrorResponse(r *MessageReader) (err PgError) {
 	for {
-		switch r.readByte() {
+		switch r.ReadByte() {
 		case 'S':
-			err.Severity = r.readString()
+			err.Severity = r.ReadString()
 		case 'C':
-			err.Code = r.readString()
+			err.Code = r.ReadString()
 		case 'M':
-			err.Message = r.readString()
+			err.Message = r.ReadString()
 		case 0: // End of error message
 			return
 		default: // Ignore other error fields
-			r.readString()
+			r.ReadString()
 		}
 	}
 
 	panic("Unreachable")
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxBackendKeyData(r *messageReader) {
-	c.pid = r.readInt32()
-	c.secretKey = r.readInt32()
+func (c *Connection) rxBackendKeyData(r *MessageReader) {
+	c.pid = r.ReadInt32()
+	c.secretKey = r.ReadInt32()
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxReadyForQuery(r *messageReader) {
-	c.txStatus = r.readByte()
+func (c *Connection) rxReadyForQuery(r *MessageReader) {
+	c.txStatus = r.ReadByte()
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxRowDescription(r *messageReader) (fields []fieldDescription) {
-	fieldCount := r.readInt16()
-	fields = make([]fieldDescription, fieldCount)
+func (c *Connection) rxRowDescription(r *MessageReader) (fields []FieldDescription) {
+	fieldCount := r.ReadInt16()
+	fields = make([]FieldDescription, fieldCount)
 	for i := int16(0); i < fieldCount; i++ {
 		f := &fields[i]
-		f.name = r.readString()
-		f.table = r.readOid()
-		f.attributeNumber = r.readInt16()
-		f.dataType = r.readOid()
-		f.dataTypeSize = r.readInt16()
-		f.modifier = r.readInt32()
-		f.formatCode = r.readInt16()
+		f.Name = r.ReadString()
+		f.Table = r.ReadOid()
+		f.AttributeNumber = r.ReadInt16()
+		f.DataType = r.ReadOid()
+		f.DataTypeSize = r.ReadInt16()
+		f.Modifier = r.ReadInt32()
+		f.FormatCode = r.ReadInt16()
 	}
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxDataRow(r *messageReader, fields []fieldDescription) (row map[string]string) {
-	fieldCount := r.readInt16()
+func (c *Connection) rxDataRow(r *MessageReader, fields []FieldDescription) (row map[string]string) {
+	fieldCount := r.ReadInt16()
 
 	row = make(map[string]string, fieldCount)
 	for i := int16(0); i < fieldCount; i++ {
-		size := r.readInt32()
+		size := r.ReadInt32()
 		if size > -1 {
-			row[fields[i].name] = r.readByteString(size)
+			row[fields[i].Name] = r.ReadByteString(size)
 		}
 	}
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxDataRowFirstValue(r *messageReader) (s string, null bool) {
-	r.readInt16() // ignore field count
+func (c *Connection) rxDataRowFirstValue(r *MessageReader) (s string, null bool) {
+	r.ReadInt16() // ignore field count
 
-	size := r.readInt32()
+	size := r.ReadInt32()
 	if size > -1 {
-		s = r.readByteString(size)
+		s = r.ReadByteString(size)
 	} else {
 		null = true
 	}
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ func (c *Connection) rxDataRowFirstValue(r *messageReader) (s string, null bool)
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *Connection) rxCommandComplete(r *messageReader) string {
-	return r.readString()
+func (c *Connection) rxCommandComplete(r *MessageReader) string {
+	return r.ReadString()
 }
 
 func (c *Connection) txStartupMessage(msg *startupMessage) (err error) {
diff --git a/connection_select_column.go b/connection_select_column.go
index 1f516ef0..7d6442fb 100644
--- a/connection_select_column.go
+++ b/connection_select_column.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectAllString(sql string) (strings []string, err error) {
 	strings = make([]string, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, _ []fieldDescription) error {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, _ []FieldDescription) error {
 		s, null := c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
 			return errors.New("Unexpected NULL")
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectAllString(sql string) (strings []string, err error) {
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectAllInt64(sql string) (ints []int64, err error) {
 	ints = make([]int64, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, _ []fieldDescription) (parseError error) {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, _ []FieldDescription) (parseError error) {
 		s, null := c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
 			return errors.New("Unexpected NULL")
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectAllInt64(sql string) (ints []int64, err error) {
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectAllInt32(sql string) (ints []int32, err error) {
 	ints = make([]int32, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, fields []fieldDescription) (parseError error) {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, fields []FieldDescription) (parseError error) {
 		s, null := c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
 			return errors.New("Unexpected NULL")
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectAllInt32(sql string) (ints []int32, err error) {
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectAllInt16(sql string) (ints []int16, err error) {
 	ints = make([]int16, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, _ []fieldDescription) (parseError error) {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, _ []FieldDescription) (parseError error) {
 		s, null := c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
 			return errors.New("Unexpected NULL")
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectAllInt16(sql string) (ints []int16, err error) {
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectAllFloat64(sql string) (floats []float64, err error) {
 	floats = make([]float64, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, _ []fieldDescription) (parseError error) {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, _ []FieldDescription) (parseError error) {
 		s, null := c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
 			return errors.New("Unexpected NULL")
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectAllFloat64(sql string) (floats []float64, err error)
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectAllFloat32(sql string) (floats []float32, err error) {
 	floats = make([]float32, 0, 8)
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, _ []fieldDescription) (parseError error) {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, _ []FieldDescription) (parseError error) {
 		s, null := c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
 			return errors.New("Unexpected NULL")
diff --git a/connection_select_value.go b/connection_select_value.go
index 84a667d0..d6516715 100644
--- a/connection_select_value.go
+++ b/connection_select_value.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (c *Connection) SelectString(sql string) (s string, err error) {
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, _ []fieldDescription) error {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, _ []FieldDescription) error {
 		var null bool
 		s, null = c.rxDataRowFirstValue(r)
 		if null {
diff --git a/connection_test.go b/connection_test.go
index 3af6a6ed..50415157 100644
--- a/connection_test.go
+++ b/connection_test.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func TestSelectFunc(t *testing.T) {
 	conn := getSharedConnection()
 
 	rowCount := 0
-	onDataRow := func(r *messageReader, fields []fieldDescription) error {
+	onDataRow := func(r *MessageReader, fields []FieldDescription) error {
 		rowCount++
 		return nil
 	}
diff --git a/message_reader.go b/message_reader.go
index 0da93e1f..932e7ed1 100644
--- a/message_reader.go
+++ b/message_reader.go
@@ -5,38 +5,38 @@ import (
 	"encoding/binary"
 )
 
-type messageReader []byte
+type MessageReader []byte
 
-func newMessageReader(buf []byte) *messageReader {
-	r := messageReader(buf)
+func newMessageReader(buf []byte) *MessageReader {
+	r := MessageReader(buf)
 	return &r
 }
 
-func (r *messageReader) readByte() byte {
+func (r *MessageReader) ReadByte() byte {
 	b := (*r)[0]
 	*r = (*r)[1:]
 	return b
 }
 
-func (r *messageReader) readInt16() int16 {
+func (r *MessageReader) ReadInt16() int16 {
 	n := int16(binary.BigEndian.Uint16((*r)[:2]))
 	*r = (*r)[2:]
 	return n
 }
 
-func (r *messageReader) readInt32() int32 {
+func (r *MessageReader) ReadInt32() int32 {
 	n := int32(binary.BigEndian.Uint32((*r)[:4]))
 	*r = (*r)[4:]
 	return n
 }
 
-func (r *messageReader) readOid() oid {
+func (r *MessageReader) ReadOid() oid {
 	n := oid(binary.BigEndian.Uint32((*r)[:4]))
 	*r = (*r)[4:]
 	return n
 }
 
-func (r *messageReader) readString() string {
+func (r *MessageReader) ReadString() string {
 	n := bytes.IndexByte(*r, 0)
 	s := (*r)[:n]
 	*r = (*r)[n+1:]
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func (r *messageReader) readString() string {
 }
 
 // Read count bytes and return as string
-func (r *messageReader) readByteString(count int32) string {
+func (r *MessageReader) ReadByteString(count int32) string {
 	s := (*r)[:count]
 	*r = (*r)[count:]
 	return string(s)
diff --git a/messages.go b/messages.go
index 28b4b975..24ba294f 100644
--- a/messages.go
+++ b/messages.go
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@ func (self *startupMessage) Bytes() (buf []byte) {
 
 type oid int32
 
-type fieldDescription struct {
-	name            string
-	table           oid
-	attributeNumber int16
-	dataType        oid
-	dataTypeSize    int16
-	modifier        int32
-	formatCode      int16
+type FieldDescription struct {
+	Name            string
+	Table           oid
+	AttributeNumber int16
+	DataType        oid
+	DataTypeSize    int16
+	Modifier        int32
+	FormatCode      int16
 }
 
 type PgError struct {