Ellen Bosman

Signage

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MISSION:

To heighten awareness of library resources, improve library services, facilitate library safety, and assist patrons in library usage through collection and furniture arrangement and signage.

PURPOSE:

To examine the floor plan of the reference area, current collection arrangement, and signs throughout the library to identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop and implement improvement plans.

Goals

1. To evaluate the current and future use of signs in the library.

   Objectives:

   1. To alleviate congestion and directional questions at various service points through effective signage.
   2. To foster a level of independence among users through easily identified service and material location points and instructional signs.
   3. To standardize signage and create an aesthetically pleasing library environment.
   4. To increase library safety through easily identified exits, fire exits, stairs, and library rules

   Strategies:

   1. Investigate library literature for suggestions
   2. Conduct an itemized list of current signs indicating message, size, type size, format, etc.
   3. Take pictures of current signs and areas lacking signage.
   4. Possibly develop and conduct a public survey
   5. Develop a prioritized list of needed signs, suggested message, size, format, etc.
   6. Locate funding and develop budget. (ie: grants)
   7. Identify sign companies or other sign producers
   
   
2. To examine the physical layout of the reference area and the arrangement of the reference collection.

   Objectives:

   1. To assure that the reference area is easily identified and physically accessible by all those entering the library.
   2. To alleviate congestion at the reference desk.
   3. To increase the visibility of reference resources and heighten awareness of under-utilized materials.

   Strategies:

   1. Investigate library literature to determine what others have done.
   2. Obtain or develop a detailed floor plan of the reference area.
   3. Improve signs in the reference area
   4. Re-arrange furniture to accommodate computers, facilitate handicapped access and improve traffic patterns
   5. Apply a marketing perspective to reference area's layout (ie: supermarket)
   6. Re-arrange the reference collection, possibly disregarding LC shelving.
   7. Adopt a proactive attitude toward the integration of technology in the reference area
   8. Look at the reference area and collections from the perspectives of various library users (ie: handicapped, first-time user, etc.)
   9. Investigate the possibility of developing and conducting a user survey