The document summarizes a webinar on effective library signage best practices. It outlines the webinar topics which include why signage is important, how to perform a signage audit, different types and categories of signs, and tips for design, replacement, and maintenance. It also provides examples from the presenters' library of outdated versus new sign designs and the results of student preference surveys. The webinar advocates for clear, simple signage with images and messaging over text-heavy or punitive signs. It stresses the importance of stakeholder input, templates, placement, and ongoing evaluation.

1. Effective Library Signage: Tips, Tricks, &
Best Practices Workshop
An ALA Webinar
Wednesday July 12, 2017
Mark Aaron Polger
Assistant Professor & First Year Experience Librarian
College of Staten Island, CUNY
MarkAaron.Polger@csi.cuny.edu
Amy F. Stempler
Associate Professor & Coordinator of Library Instruction
College of Staten Island, CUNY
Amy.Stempler@csi.cuny.edu

2. 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
● New Data
● Conclusion

3. The College of Staten Island (CSI) Library
College 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

4. Discussion
What are some of your signage problems?
What do you hope we address today?

5. 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

6. 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

7. Types of Signs
1. Promotional/informational
2. Policy
3. Directional

8. Categories of Signs
1. In-house (DIY)
2. Permanent (institutional)
3. Temporary (i.e. out of order signs)

9. Discussion
Have you ever conducted a signage audit?
If yes, what problems did you discover?
What did you learn?

10. Audit Results = Mass Removal
As a result of our audit, we removed:
● outdated and punitive signage
● signage that was text heavy
● handwritten signs

11. 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

12. Phase 2 of Assessment
Signage preference questionnaire (N=325)
Students received 6 signs with identical messages
in both old and new designs
Students were asked to select their preferred signs
Solicited open ended comments

13. Cell Phone Policy Signs

14. Calculator Signs

15. Textbook Signs

16. Noise Policy Signs

17. Replacement Strategy
Created design templates
Tracked signage location
Replaced with half the number of signs

18. Design Guidelines
1. Consistency
2. Font type
3. Font color
3. Sign orientation
4. Branding
5. Language/Controlled vocabulary
6. Tone (is it punitive?)
7. Visuals (photos)
8. Placement
9. ADA compliance

19. Avoid…
ALL CAPS
Clutter
Signs with no images
Walls and Furniture
Visible Tape
Handwritten signs
Fancy fonts (not legible)
Passive Aggressive Tone
Confusing/Contradictory Signs
Glare (ADA compliance)

20. Avoid all caps…

21. Avoid Clutter

22. Avoid Clipart

23. For example

24. Avoid Handwritten Signs
Handwritten signs are:
Unprofessional
Unwelcoming
Often illegible and are not considered
official

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

26. Avoid Glare and Use Contrast

27. Avoid Contradictory Messages

28. Avoid Passive Aggressive/ Punitive Signs
Threatening message? Construction zone? All caps = yellingRed stop sign?

29. Create Templates & A Signage Policy

30. Embrace Simplicity

31. Another example
Our “Code of Conduct” used to resemble the U.S. Constitution,
so we created a simpler R.E.S.P.E.C.T. awareness campaign

32. Use Images
Before After

33. Strive for Inclusivity

34. Signage Should be Large Scale

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

36. Discover Bump Points

37. Create a Signage Locator Map

38. Keep Track of Your Signs
Fake Real

39. 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

40. Mounting Tips Part 2
Mount at eye level
Be mindful of sightlines
Make use of holders, frames and bulletin boards
Avoid mounting on furniture

41. Getting Buy-In
Be patient, this takes time
Listen
Compromise
Hold in-person meetings
Designate a signage contact/team
Rely in data driven decisions
Partner with other campus groups

42. Maintaining Effectiveness
Policy signs are ineffective if not enforced
Understand your audience:
>Ask questions of your patrons, use focus groups,
and try to partner with campus groups
Signs are living things!
>Continuously evaluate signs by performing
a weekly, ongoing assessment of signs
>Assess bump points
>Revise and improve signage
Revisit your signage policy

43. Discussion
What are some of your challenges and obstacles at your institutions?
Do you have trouble getting buy-in?

44. Our Challenges
Enforcing policies
Lack of buy-in / support
Signs often go unread
Vandalism
Culture shift might be slow

45. Lessons Learned & Recommendations
Be friendly and consistent
Avoid jargon, all caps and the word “no”
Develop a clear message with few words
Incorporate realistic images (avoid clipart)
Placement is key
Create a signage policy
Create signage templates
Create a library brand
Get buy-in from your department
Don’t forget about ADA compliance
Revisit your signs and bump points regularly
Signs are living documents--be flexible and embrace change

46. New Data
In June 2017 we conducted a
questionnaire of 87students
and focus group interviews of
11 students

47. Q1: Please rate your level of awareness to the
specific library policy signs

48. Q2: Please rate your level of awareness of our
promotional signs

49. Q3: If you eat in the library, what are some
the reasons? (check all that apply)

50. Q4: If you speak on your cell phone in the
library, what are some the reasons?(check all that apply)

51. Thank you!
Mark Aaron Polger, Assistant Professor & First Year Experience Librarian
MarkAaron.Polger@csi.cuny.edu
Amy F. Stempler, Associate Professor & Coordinator of Library Instruction
Amy.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.

52. Questions?