ALA Webinar on Library Signage

Effective Library Signage: Tips, Tricks, & Best Practices

WorkshopAn ALA WebinarThursday January 5, 2017

Mark Aaron PolgerAssistant Professor & First Year Experience LibrarianCollege of Staten Island, CUNYMarkAaron.Polger@csi.cuny.edu

Amy F. StemplerAssociate Professor & Coordinator of Library InstructionCollege of Staten Island, CUNYAmy.Stempler@csi.cuny.edu

Webinar Outline● Introduction and background● Why is signage important?● Why perform a signage audit?● Types of signs● Categories of signs● Audit Results● Phase 1 of Assessment● Phase 2 of Assessment● Replacement strategy● Before & After Examples● Do’s and Don’ts● Maintaining Effectiveness● Adopting New Signage Values ● Conclusion

The College of Staten Island (CSI) LibraryCollege of Staten Island is one of the 24 colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY).We are a comprehensive college and one of the seven senior colleges within the system.

● 14,000 students ● 204 acre campus● New student residences● 30,000 square foot library● 14 full time librarians, 10 adjuncts● 65 staff in total● We offer a popular, one-credit course

Discussion

What are some of your signage problems?

What do you hope we address today?

Why is Library Signage Important?

Signage is targeted communication with your patrons that:

● promotes Library events, programs, and courses

● outlines Library policies

● provides directions to Library materials and facilities

Why Perform a Signage Audit?Performing a signage audit allows you to quantify and better understand your current signage, as well as to help identify issues that may be leading to less effective signage, such as: ● Too many signs● Poorly placed signs ● Unclear/mixed messages ● Punitive or passive aggressive tone● Inconsistent design● Too much text

Types of Signs

1.Promotional/informational

2.Policy

3.Directional

Categories of Signs

1.In-house (DIY)

2.Permanent (institutional)

3.Temporary (i.e. out of order signs)

Discussion

Have you ever conducted a signage audit?

If yes, what problems did you discover?

What did you learn?

Audit Results = Mass Removal

As a result of our audit, we removed:

● outdated and punitive signage

● signage that was text heavy

● handwritten signs

Phase 1 of Assessment

Approximately 60 library employees participated

Faculty and staff identified preferred font face, font size, and language preference

Buy-in was challenging

Phase 2 of Assessment

Signage preference questionnaire (N=325)

Students received 6 signs with identical messagesin both old and new designs

Students were asked to select their preferred signs

Solicited open ended comments

Cell Phone Policy Signs

Calculator Signs

Textbook Signs

Noise Policy Signs

Replacement Strategy

Created design templates

Tracked sign location

Replaced with half the number of signs

Design Guidelines1. Consistency2. Font type3. Font color3. Sign orientation4. Branding5. Language/Controlled vocabulary6. Tone (is it punitive?)7. Visuals (photos)8. Placement9. ADA compliance

Avoid…

ALL CAPS ClutterSigns with no imagesWalls and FurnitureVisible TapeHandwritten signsFancy fonts (not legible)Passive Aggressive ToneConfusing/Contradictory SignsGlare (ADA compliance)

Avoid All caps…

Avoid Clutter

Avoid Clipart

For example

Avoid Handwritten Signs

Handwritten signs are:Unprofessional

Unwelcoming

Often illegible and are not considered official

Avoid Mounting on Walls, Doors, & Furniture(use frames, bulletin boards or easels)

Avoid Glare and Use Contrast

Avoid Contradictory Messages

Avoid Passive Aggressive/ Punitive Signs

Threatening message?

Construction zone?

All caps = yelling

Red stop sign?

Create Templates & A Signage Policy

Embrace Simplicity

Another exampleOur “Code of Conduct” used to resemble the U.S.

Constitution, so we created a simpler R.E.S.P.E.C.T. awareness

campaign

Use images

Before After

Strive for Inclusivity

Signage Should be Large Scale

Create a User Friendly Experience(trying to avoid “no”)

Discover Bump Points

Create a Signage Locator Map

Keep Track of Your Signsfake real

Mounting Tips

Avoid Visible Tape

Use double sided tape.If unavailable, create temporary double sided tape by looping regular tape together

Avoid crooked signs

Mount signs in a straight and centered manner

Mounting Tips Part 2

Mount at eye level

Be mindful of sightlines

Make use of holders, frames and bulletin boards

Avoid mounting on furniture

Getting Buy-In

Be patient, this takes timeListenCompromiseIn-Person MeetingsDesignate a Signage Contact/TeamData supports decisionsPartner with other campus groups

Maintaining Effectiveness

Policy signs are ineffective if not enforcedUnderstand your audienceAsk questions & use focus groupsConsistency (design, brand, fonts)Always revise and improveContinuously evaluate signsPartner with campus groups

Maintaining Effectiveness

Weekly signage strollSignage is effective when currentOngoing assessmentTry different sizes Revisit signage policyTweak templatesAssess your bump points

Discussion

What are some of your challenges and obstacles at your institutions?

Do you have trouble getting buy-in?

Our Challenges

Enforcing policiesLack of buy-in / support Signs often go unreadVandalismCulture shift might be slow

Lessons Learned

Avoid jargonDevelop a clear messageUse few wordsIncorporate realistic images (avoid clipart)Avoid “no”Avoid all capsSigns are living documents--be flexible and embrace changeSigns should be continuously evaluated Placement is key

Recommendations

Revisit your signs continuously Be ConsistentBe friendlyCreate a signage policyCreate signage templatesCreate a library brandGet buy-in from your department Don’t forget about ADA compliance

Thank you!Mark Aaron Polger, Assistant Professor & First Year Experience LibrarianMarkAaron.Polger@csi.cuny.edu

Amy F. Stempler, Associate Professor & Coordinator of Library InstructionAmy.Stempler@csi.cuny.edu

Stempler, A. F., & Polger, M.A. (2013). Do You See the Signs? Evaluating Language,

Branding, and Design in a Library Signage Audit. Public Services Quarterly,

9(2), 121-135.

Polger, M.A., & Stempler, A.F. (2014). Out with the Old, In with the New: Best

Practices for Replacing Library Signage. Public Services Quarterly, 10(2),

67-95.

Questions?