I’ve had the opportunity to visit a few campus as of late, or see pictures of your libraries, and I’ve noticed that we have quite a bit of signage. Some of it is positive, and some of it has a clearly negative vibe - “Absolutely NO Cell Phones” – as an example.
I’ve changed the post below slightly to encourage a different set of responses. I’m going to post this to the blog, as well – please use that space to post your comments. I encourage ALL of you to post at least one comment. It might be time for us to develop some better signage to provide better customer service to our users.
The group he is referring to is:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bad%20library%20signs&w=all
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Stephen Abram wonders... Now think about libraries. We have alll followed the Flickr group on bad library signs. There's much to learn. If we had a good discussion about behaviours we wanted to encourage what would our signs look like?
If you accepted the research based communication results above, how would you:
1. Communicate about fines or returning books (on time)?
2. Communicate about not reshelving books?
3. Discourage the use of cell phones?
4. Encourage groups to move to the learning center or student lounge if they are disturbing others?
5. Discourage children being on the computers? (Note: this does not say “discourage children being in the library”. Unless your campus has strict children’s policies AND made students aware of those policies. Children will come in the library. Please don’t fight that battle).
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14 comments:
I love signage. When I make create signs, I try to use the following criteria:
*Less is more.
*People SCAN posters (and emails and posts and blogs) rather than read every word.
*Reminding people to be RESPECTFUL of others seems to work rather than telling people NOT to do something.
*When in doubt, use the verbage I would use with my 5-year old without being condescending. (Can be tricky, but it works.)
*If signage doesn't work, tweak it until it does.
The only signage I put up is when I have to proctor a tester in the library--I put it up on the (closed) door, above the handle, so people can see it when they are coming in -- Quiet Please, Testing taking place inside -- I don't think I've had to 'shush' anyone coming in when it is posted. Other than the book section signs, not much else.
My signage is very minimal, partly because two walls are entirely glass, and a third has a lot of glass. (I do put suction cup Plexiglas holders on the glass when advertising workshops and other events.)
Near my desk are two signs: "Please return books here" and "Self Checkout Forms." Otherwise, that is about it -- but I really like your "Testing taking place" idea, Sara, so thanks for that.
I have very little signage- since I have learned that no one reads anything anyway! We've got one by the door w/hours and asking that cell phones be muted/off and to please take calls outside the library. We have a small similar sign in the library, re: cell phones/food and also reminding students to keep their personal belongings with them (for some reason, some students just leave their stuff).
I don't use many signs that stay up all the time. There is one on the door with my hours on it and a few that are on the wall that were here before I ever got here. I confess that I had to look over to see what they were, which reinforces the fact that signs are not read. I do use signs for my workshops and try to make them appealing. The campus director does not like a lot of signage. I ask students to take cell phone calls into the hallway and ask them to be considerate when there are people studying or taking tests in the library. That usually works. I did have to ask a group of students the other day if this was a library or a locker room because language was starting to get out of hand. That seemed to do the trick.
I have a bit of signage about appropriate use of the computers as we have had some issues with this. I use a self-check out sign and a sign about information literacy. I do agree with Karen that less is more, most give just signage a brief look, so the more visual the better.
I have a few signs up asking students to take calls outside of the library and to remember to keep voices down. Other signs are for my hours, self-checkout and Return Books Here. Noise was a problem here until I posted signs and enforced the policy.
Love this sign! It's intended use at this particular library was to make sure people knew the closed door was not an indicator that one couldn't use it - just the opposite!
http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/04/09/open-to-all-at-all-times
I have many of the same signs that everyone else has mentioned, except for the cell phone usage one. I have been asked by the director to post one as the Lib Qual survey showed a small amount of students complaining about noise. I have not created the sign yet as I will post it starting next quarter but I am dragging my feet on this one as I am fearful this will push the Gen Xer's away. We really only have two times of the day that get noisy and that is around 11-12 and 4-5:30. These are the biggest groups of students getting ready to leave or go to class.
I struggle with the time between 4:30-5:30 as well, Lisa. That is definitely the noisiest time in the library. This is in large part because it's a gathering place for students on campus, AND since we have a wall of windows it's easy to see if their friends or classmates are in the library.
Generally speaking, I don't ask people to be quiet unless they're REALLY loud. If I do "shush" people, I try to do it very quietly and politely. I think they're much more likely to respond in a positive fashion if we don't embarrass them. :)
Finally, I have similar signage to what others have mentioned. I believe the signage helps somewhat. Prior to putting out the signage, it was even louder and more cell phones were being used.
It's really a difficult balance for us. Some students LOVE being able to use their cell phones in the library, while others absolutely loathe having cell phones in the library and possibly interrupting their work.
Ultimately, I belive Rasmussen Libraries have an even more unique challenge than other libraries due to our size and location in our schools. If our libraries were larger, we COULD have cell phone designated areas, but as it is... that's not possible!
Only make a sign if it is really needed.
A cleverly written sign is noticed more and often remembered.
If you have a sign that is displayed every day, change it's look in some way every other week or so and more folks will read it.
I have small signs (3x5?) in acrylic stands between the computers. One reminds students to log out when finished so that others do not have access to their info, and the other sign ask students to silence phones and make calls from the hallway. The signs are small and simple.
My main wall is The Wall of APA, and it gets a lot of use. I have color-coded reference citations for the various types of sources. Authors in blue, titles in pink, etc.
The APA wall sounds like a great idea, Chandra. I like it! :) I wish I had a bulletin board to do something like that with!
Chandra it would be great if you could take a picture of the APA wall and put in on Flicker.
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