Student Training

Display Design

1. Decide on both a verbal theme and color themes (don’t use too many colors and don’t use more than two fonts!). Make sure all lettering is clear and readable.  Use contrasting colors.  Locate construction paper and other materials from the display storage.  The internet is a great tool for finding visuals, but make sure you aren’t stealing; cite all sources, and if you have any questions ask your supervisor.  Any clip art in Microsoft Works or at creativecommons.org is okay to use.

2. Do all work for the displays during July.  Store your materials in a folder labeled with the theme of the display and placed (with all needed items included) in the appropriate file drawer. Add the display into the master list and move any that are being replaced to Items in Display Cabinet.

Yearly Maintenance

Each June the displays will be evaluated by the Library Assistant, the Library Director and the Reference Librarian. In July updates will be made accordingly.

1. Evaluate effectiveness and condition of displays used during the year

2. Suggest replacing displays using existing displays located in the storage cupboard

3. Generate new displays using the Display Map, the Ideas by the Month , Anytime Ideas and Resources to Find

4. Move displays that will be replaced by “new” ones into storage cupboard

5. Prepare replacement displays: existing and new (link to 2013 Summer Plan ps)

   Note: Existing Displays in the south cupboard will need to be checked to see that all items are included and are in good condition.

6. Update the Master Display Calendar and attach to the back of the Display Room door. Label any unlabeled storage containers in the Display Room.

General Rules of Thumb:

• Remember K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple, silly! - With bulletin boards, most people want a really basic guide to what you’re telling them.
• Find a theme and stick to it - your theme will convey the message you’re trying to send
• Always draw a simple sketch of the bulletin board before putting it up - it will show you any basics and you may note some design problems
• Create focus by making one or two items different from the others (i.e. make one bigger or a different color) – this is called emphasis
• Use similar elements to create unity among the items (if you’re using all cartoon graphics and then you throw in an actual picture, it will usually look funny) – A good idea is to use at least three of a similar item, whether it be shape, color, size, etc.

Audience

• When creating a bulletin board, first think about who the bulletin board is for, this will give you an idea of what types of graphics, typography, and etc. you’ll choose (you wouldn’t design the same bulletin board for a 25 year old as you would a 7 year old).

Layout

• With bulletin boards, you’ll want to make it easy to read and use, so the layout should be simple and balanced

• Keep in mind the “weight of items” – bigger items have more “weight” than smaller ones
• Two types of balance – symmetrical (exactly the same elements on both sides) and natural (is balanced but not exactly)

• Keep in mind people read left to right, top to bottom
• Frames are a great way to create unity (if you frame everything) or emphasis (if you want one thing to stand out)

Typography

• The fonts and sizes of the wording is important to the visual aspect of the bulletin board

• Do NOT use more than three fonts (usually two is even enough)
• Only use stylized fonts for the title and make sure it’s BIG enough to read from far away
• All other wording, you’ll want to use an easy to read font like Ariel or Times New Roman
• Make sure you can read the text on the bulletin board from about 20 feet away (if you’re not sure, try walking about 20 feet away and checking)

• Remember KISS, you want to convey your message as simply as possible! - use only short statements, no long sentences!

Images

• Try to keep the same style for the images
• If you have one or two different pictures (i.e. one is a photo and one is an illustration), use frames to unify them

Color

• Color follows very similar rules as font – don’t use too many different colors and balance bold colors with more muted tones
• Color Wheel (see below)

• When working with color, it’s a good idea to know the basics of the color wheel
• Colors opposite one another create contrast and colors next to one another create unity
• Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) come towards you and cool colors (green, blue, violet) move away from you

Resources to find ideas:

• Library Promotional catalogues
• URLs – Please use academic/verifiable sources like:

• Library of Congress – http://memory.loc.gov//learn/ or http://www.loc.gov/families/
• New York Public Library – http://kids.nypl.org/index.cfm
• History Channel – http://www.history.com
• New York Times – http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/index.html
• American Library Association – http://www.ala.org

• Library Resources

• In the 027’s on the 3^rd Floor
• Ideas for holidays/events in J808.068 B326 and R394.26 T377h
• Library Sparks magazine (or almost any of the library magazines, they’re located on the magazine rack right in front of the Circ Desk)